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Re: Question

Duncan McAlpine wrote:
> 
> Why do you grow your own vegetables or edible plants?
> --
I would like to be able to say it's noble reasons like encouraging life
and biodiversity by providing a food source for beneficial insects and
to protect those that exist.  Achieving good health by consuming produce
free from chemical pesticides.  Promoting environmental sustainability. 
Participating in the continuation of God's creation.  Enjoying the full
natural flavor of home-grown produce. etc.

But my motivation is not so altruistic and not complex.  With the
possible exception of tomatoes, the flavor of commercial supermarket
produce is okay with me.  

It's the tilth and smell of the garden soil that feels just right when
crumbled in my hand.  It's fascination that such tiny seeds can hold all
of the genes that determine the plant's  ultimate characteristics if
provided with proper nutrients and growing conditions.  It's the music
of the insects during the darkness of the early evening.  It's the avian
activity in the garden during the early morning hours - the occasional
robin with a grub in it's beak sitting on the garden fence.  The curved
bill thrasher searching (and finding) loopers and horn worms.  The ever
present juvenile cactus wrens crashing into the broccoli and Swiss chard
during their flying lessons.  The humming bird temporarily leaving its
nest in the coral vine to bathe in the spray from the sprinkler head. 
The territorial mocking bird asserting his domain from high up in the
lemon tree at the south end of the garden and the challenge from a
second mocker in the pecan tree at the north end.  The perky verdin that
warily watches these bizarre goings-on from his perch in the palo
verde.  And the foraging wild honey  bees industriously going about
their business pollinating the plants in bloom.  

It's the peaceful harmony of the plant and animal life that just seems
to happen when I plant a vegetable and flower garden.   The simple
pleasures learned as a country boy growing up on a farm that have
sustained me during hectic periods of my life.

Geez, I hope this wasn't off topic!

Olin Miller <millero@worldnet.att.net>
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