A truck pulls up the the curb, radio blaring. Four people pile out onto the sidewalk. Twelve seconds after the engine is turned off, a variety of two-stroke motors cough and sputter to life, fumes of burnt oil and gasoline trailing noxious black clouds behind the workers.
The lawn is mowed and edged, and synthetic fertilizers are spread. De-mossing agents and other herbicides are applied. Trees and shrubs, products of millions of years of evolution, are quickly sheared into balls and cubes, the process mechanized by an abundance of fossil fuels and an absence of care. The surface of the soil is disturbed by steel rakes, for the illusion of fertility. Those tasks completed, leaf blowers make their appearance, and an artificial hurricane passes across the property, to make absolutely certain no troublesome organic debris are left lying around. Cleanliness is next to godliness, right?
Some people are looking for more from their gardens, and from those who work them. A knowledge of plant species, growing conditions, and the soil food web. An understanding of the garden's place in the surrounding environment, and the environment's place in the garden. The ability to prevent and solve problems. Gardening is my passion, and I strive to share it with all who appreciate the infinite potential of living soil and healthy plants.
Transform your lawn! Click Here for information about this spring's vegetable gardening workshops
