Decay is not a one way process. Decay of one object is a requirement in the creation of another. A plant or animal decays when it is broken down by bacteria, animals or sometimes other molecules into its component parts to create something entirely new. There can be no change without decay.

My neighbor takes yard clippings from both my yard and his and adds them to his compost piles in which he facilitates the process of decay to create excellent, rich soil. Four pumpkins left over from Halloween have been added to his piles. (I know it’s May, but the pumpkins were orange and pretty and reminded me of my favorite holiday.) Recently, he generously gave me some of this soil to add to my garden. When I turned out the buckets, I found the contents to be soil mixed with grass and leaves, teeming with worms. It smelled kind of swamp-like.

The worms munch on the clippings, turning the once-whole grass into dark brown rich soil from which my tomato plants can grow lush, green, and productive. Decay tastes delicious.