The Growing Mind…

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.”

~Donald Rumsfeld

As I sit on the precipice of the start of my 50th year of life (49th birthday), I have come to the realization that I am compelled to re-embrace my roots as a “renaissance man.” (Not the movie directed by Penny Marshall, starring Danny Devito); although, it would be cool if it were the Star Trek Voyager episode …) Also known as a polymath, for this purpose we’ll simply consider the term to mean someone who know some about a lot of things.

Now, many of you who know me must certainly be saying, “why yes, of course, we would expect nothing less…Timothy constantly thinks he knows something about everything,” and yet that would miss the point. With an ADD-brain and a voracious need to know about things, my recent foray into organic gardening has again emphasized the value of my curious and oft-unsettled mind.

At the start, I felt as if I had to know everything about growing—and just the correct stuff, the absolute answers. Over the years, I have learned that there are few absolutes in gardening and growing, and many of those are taken care of by nature. My perspective on this process that has been occurring for millions of years, mostly without human intervention, is entirely subjective, erring on the side of nature.

I fully understand that human cultivation of plants for use and enjoyment has discovered many methods of manipulation that benefit humans (and, coincidently, the plant…I suggest Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan, either the book or the PBS special ).

The history of agriculture dates back thousands of years, and its development has been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies. However, all farming generally relies on techniques to expand and maintain the lands suitable for raising domesticated species.

~ Wikipedia

I have spent the last several years gathering knowledge, experience, advice, and opinions on growing, and it has allowed me to become a “gentleman farmer”—I have evolved. For example, my perspective from 2007 would have been very concerned about what my tomatoes are doing this year, but know I “get” them. They’re just being tomatoes and responding to the weather, but I have tended them well. The pumpkins? They couldn’t be more “pumpkin-y.” A couple of years ago I tried to harvest coriander seeds and got nada, but now I’m anxiously awaiting little golden nuggets of coriander-ness!

So, my goal for my fifties is to cultivate my life like I have learned to cultivate the land, by knowing how I can exert positive influence to improve the harvest; weed where necessary; work with nature, not against it; and know how to enjoy and share the bounty. Or, put another way, good soil (the medium or environment) makes good roots (the foundation of the plant) which makes good healthy plants (& bounty). You get the picture.

I have come to realize that this is just what I’ve been doing for 11 years with my relationship regardless of any aspects that I can’t control, and I do enjoy the bounties of that cultivation.

Sure, but is it urgent??

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little.”

~MLK

“What comes first, the compass or the clock? Before one can truly manage time (the clock), it is important to know where you are going, what your priorities and goals are, in which direction you are headed (the compass). Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.”

~Source unknown

My gardening/farming efforts have also helped me clarify the difference between important and urgent, specifically how most things that seem urgent simply aren’t really.

In general, the most effective and successful people spend most of their time on important things rather than urgent things, specifically things that add measurable value.

Perhaps the only really urgent thing in gardening is to irrigate. Plants can show water stress quickly, especially seedlings and recent transplants. Although established plants are more durable when deprived a bit of water (and some plants actually produce better fruits and vegetables if stressed in just the right way, like tomatoes and grapes for example), when a plant is desiccated from dehydration, it’s difficult to revive.

Oh, I concede that there are many aspects of growing that are very important to successful horticulture, but there in lies the proof of the premise, and, what the gardener considers important may not be the most important thing to the plant. A plant considers it successful to produce fruit that assures a chance at successful seed dispersion, which may not in fact produce fruit that satisfies the grower.

Any sense of urgency in the garden is established in my mind and isn’t always consistent with what is important in the garden that day, in that season, relative to the needs of the plants. I’m learning to be in tune with the garden—the garden and I must be one, perhaps—to observe and evaluate needs and priorities to respond accordingly.

Keith Haring

My adoration for Keith Haring has been sparked and is growing. I’ve always deeply appreciated and been moved by his art, and I’ve found his biography and strength of character motivating. As I begin to think more about my 50th year, I’m finding myself ever more moved by his life and work. Cut short in 1990 at age 31, his response to his AIDS diagnosis was bold and brave, and his commitment to turn his work and energy to establishing a foundation is an inspiration. You’ll do yourself a favor is you look at some of his work at the link above—whether you’re familiar with him or not. (Yes, some of his work is rated PG-13, or R, or more, but it’s easy to sort through it on the site, and the foundation has established a wonderful kid-friendly site.)

Reminders:

Upcoming events in Sonoma County

~Timothy

Our Grapes are Showing!!

After only 2 years, the organic River Myst Haven Vineyard is already producing a few grapes! Wine will follow in a couple/few years!