I planted some herbs today and reflected on how much easier weeds are to pull early in the season than later when they've taken root. The correlation to socio-political life is too obvious to name. Your post gives me two tips that I hadn't thought about before: 1) the root slayer! I had no idea this tool exists (for my garden... and I think I'll start looking for slayers in politics too. ha.) and 2) the nourishing value of weeds as mulch; all living beings have value. Thank you for taking us on a short "pause" and re-centering journey w/you today! (Melissa S)
I love this. I found myself right there with you and your crops. We treat many weeds as cover crops. Not always ideal. But the idea that we have to have completely weed free crops is often more about selling an input than production. I call beneficial weeds "uncultivated companion plants."
I just did a pernicious weed purge of my Berkeley garden--the oxalis had taken over the grass and planting beds. While this was a huge relief, abundant with analogies and thought time, planting six new fruit trees and spring seasonal vegetables felt like an actual antidote to the vitriol of our current political atmosphere--feeding family and friends counters hatemaking. Thanks for your evergreen example, Denise.
Apparently I've not been fully utilizing the multitude of opportunities available as I "just pull weeds". Thanks for opening up these possibilities, Denise!
Oh Loni, yes I do remember our days at the Midwest Sustainable Ag Working Group! It is hard to believe, well not maybe, that the things we dreamed about for a balanced and healthy agriculture is being trashed. Thank you for being in touch. Good luck with finding peace in your garden.
This article so speaks to me this morning. I so need to get out into my gardens and do some weeding and dig plants so they can go to a new home that has more space for them. My mind and body needs the release, and I need to make order out of all the thoughts and competing priorities flooding my brain. Thank you!!! ❤️
I planted some herbs today and reflected on how much easier weeds are to pull early in the season than later when they've taken root. The correlation to socio-political life is too obvious to name. Your post gives me two tips that I hadn't thought about before: 1) the root slayer! I had no idea this tool exists (for my garden... and I think I'll start looking for slayers in politics too. ha.) and 2) the nourishing value of weeds as mulch; all living beings have value. Thank you for taking us on a short "pause" and re-centering journey w/you today! (Melissa S)
You are so welcome! I love hearing from you.
Zen and the art of weeds. Thoroughly enjoyed this descriptive piece of reflection that proves everything is meaningful. Everything art.
I love this. I found myself right there with you and your crops. We treat many weeds as cover crops. Not always ideal. But the idea that we have to have completely weed free crops is often more about selling an input than production. I call beneficial weeds "uncultivated companion plants."
I appreciate you so much. Thanks.
I just did a pernicious weed purge of my Berkeley garden--the oxalis had taken over the grass and planting beds. While this was a huge relief, abundant with analogies and thought time, planting six new fruit trees and spring seasonal vegetables felt like an actual antidote to the vitriol of our current political atmosphere--feeding family and friends counters hatemaking. Thanks for your evergreen example, Denise.
Love the words pernicious and vitriol! So appropriate for these times! We have to concentrate on local now more than ever.
Apparently I've not been fully utilizing the multitude of opportunities available as I "just pull weeds". Thanks for opening up these possibilities, Denise!
I, too, am enjoying the return to gardening this year, as a touchstone to relieve my daily anxiety about our country. Today I’ll plant onion sets!
Remember me from our days at MSAWG? It has been a while… thanks for sharing your stories.
Oh Loni, yes I do remember our days at the Midwest Sustainable Ag Working Group! It is hard to believe, well not maybe, that the things we dreamed about for a balanced and healthy agriculture is being trashed. Thank you for being in touch. Good luck with finding peace in your garden.
You might want to read some of my and others’ stories on Root River Current, our own local online magazine at rootrivercurrent.org.
This article so speaks to me this morning. I so need to get out into my gardens and do some weeding and dig plants so they can go to a new home that has more space for them. My mind and body needs the release, and I need to make order out of all the thoughts and competing priorities flooding my brain. Thank you!!! ❤️
You are welcome, friend.
Yes, Denise. Peace and anger coexist and that is good.
Thank you Deb.