You Have Situation Awareness

Far from Organic Gardening –

I dare say I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that the vast majority of people today don’t believe for a minute that our world (and that includes all of us in it) are being permanently and unfavorably effected by the tons and tons of herbicides and pesticides used.

And although common sense would dictate the opposite, there are many reasons that people close their minds to what’s taking place.

Some of the Reasons

• One of the easiest reasons to understand and relate to is that we’re all limited as human beings.  We have various things that we’re interested in and things that haven’t been part of our lives — we tend to ignore — be that politics,  big agri-business or the food industry.  It’s all most of us can do to keep up with earning a living, pursuing a career and day to day chores.

Nonetheless, the food that goes into our bodies is life giving — or life taking.  Food is important to all of us.  How sad that we’ve left the most important necessity of our life to others who have no knowledge themselves of what real food is. And for the most part, have no real concern for the health of those eating what they offer.  I don’t think they do it with evil intent. But out of ignorance —-fall into what is being done without questioning.

• Then there is the fact that what is taking place flies so in the face of reason that it’s beyond belief to accept that it’s being done. It seems far-fetched, dubious, improbable, unrealistic and hard to swallow.

• And there is the normalcy bias which has been big in the news of late.  This human tendency – for whatever reason – leads people to delay taking action in a clearly life threatening situation.

Situation Awareness

I think the best approach is situation awareness which leads us to make better decisions for ourselves and our families.

In order to be aware we have to take responsibility to guard our own life. In order to do that we have to search for the knowledge of what is taking place and what may come about in the near future. When we see danger coming we need to take action that will insure (to the best of our ability) that we’re out of harms way. We’re responsible for doing what is within our reach to do.

When I first created TendingMyGarden.com, I wrongly underestimated the number of people who were aware and searching for information.  Information on how to garden more with nature, how to better feed their families and in short anything that would help keep their families as safe and healthy as possible.

Enhanced by You

I have what I consider a wonderful life, but it has been even more enhanced by you who write to me and share your lives with me.  You tell me that I have helped you and yet it seems to me that you have helped me more.

Actions of the Student

One of my readers whom I have had the pleasure of meeting gives me all kinds of wonderful credit for helping to change the way she gardens.  But as we all know, a teacher can teach but the information has to be received and acted on in order to bear fruit. The teacher is hopefully one of the catalysts but the student who takes the action gets the credit.

Gardening Organically

This young woman has done just that.  In only her second year of gardening organically (as close as you can get in this age) what she had accomplished has amazed me.  She has pushed (mentally and physically) everyday since I’ve known her — towards achieving a better reality for herself and her family.

Change – Difficult and Ongoing

As with most of us — it has not been easy. Changing a way of life and old habits is difficult.  Money is always a consideration. And it takes some doing to get facts and priorities straight. As if that were not enough — she has a 3 year old daughter and one on the way.

In spite of the long hours her husband works, he has created 3 new garden beds for her this spring which will — for the time being — complete her garden design.

Change is an ongoing process, so they’re not where they want to be yet.  They’re still eating things that she knows to be unhealthful but she is always (and I do mean always) looking for ways to change and improve.  She could easily be the icon for situation awareness!

Seed Starting Successful

I received pictures of the garden via email yesterday.   Aside from a few lettuces, everything she’s planted was grown from seed this year.  (And – I might add – without any so-called “proper” set up for seed starting.)

Her vegetable crops include onions, garlic, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans. corn, melons, potatoes, and winter squash.  She’s way ahead me!

Carrots Didn’t Know the Rules

This will bring a smile to your face: She couldn’t get carrots to germinate in the garden.  So, she started them inside, transplanted them, and they’re huge. No one ever told those carrots that carrots don’t like to be transplanted!

Final Words

Do you realize dearest reader — that your efforts give hope to the world? Just hearing of them makes me want to have a parade, a marching band, fireworks, and banners telling of your accomplishments — all to honor your efforts and your attitude.

Keep going forward with the zeal you have shown me.  There may come a day you have to show others how it’s done. You’ll be ready.

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