Bucket Brigade

'There’s gotta be an easier way.’ The volunteer is surveying the huge pile of leaves. No truer words spoken.

It’s 10:30 in the morning, 86 degrees and the four of us are sweating. We’ve shoveled, carried and spread leaf mulch through six walking paths of the summer garden.

The idea is to block the weeds with a thick layer of leaf mulch. Over time the mulch breaks down and adds organic matter to the soil. Yes, the work is tedious. Yes, there is an easier way. But when I committed to growing organically, I said goodbye to shortcuts.

As I see it, there’s only three resources one can access when facing life. Money. Energy. Time.

I have the distinct advantage of having very little Money so it makes the resource choice easier.

My Energy, for a woman facing 50, is respectable but Time is my true ally.

The land I work is on the five-year plan. Every growing season it is layered in leaves, grass clippings and aged manure. When the soil isn’t growing crops it is covered in buckwheat or crimson clover. Daikon radishes drill deep into the ground each fall, opening up hard packed clay to air and water. Most of the daikon will be left to rot, further feeding the land.

Weeds face the constant harassment of mowers, weed-eaters and the scuffle hoe. This year a sub-soiler will break through the hardpan areas as gypsum is added to further loosen the clay soil.

Every time I ask the land to feed me, I must feed it first.

But when that volunteer looks at me, exasperated and sweaty there isn’t time to explain all of this. She can’t see what I see in five years. All I can do is to thank her for her help, hope I didn’t push her too hard and then silently wish that in five years she will know she’s been a part of turning the land into something truly life-giving.

As always, thanks for stopping by,

Carolyn

#FarmLife