From My Garden to Yours

The initial 20 percent of effort during any project will accomplish 80 percent of the intended goals. The big trick is to respect all of these preliminary steps of the project. Taking the extra time early on during an endeavor will boost the success rate immensely. Vilfredo Pareto recognized how this principle applied to everything in the universe, including mankind. And all we have to do is apply this 20/80 rule to our daily lives and our gardens for a noteworthy increase in productivity.

“Slow gardening” is a theme I have developed, modeled after the Slow Food movement. Recognizing the importance of quality over quantity (although quantity has a quality all its own) and the historical importance of regional tradition, take the time to garden for a superior result. Try to find those crops that both grow well and taste good. Open-pollinated heirloom varieties may take longer to grow, but frequently have higher nutritional value. Long before accumulating dirt under my fingernails, I have begun my slow journey scouring the seed catalogs for crop selections of eminent value.

Organic growing methods dovetail perfectly with slow gardening. As a “dirt farmer,” I am very proud of my crop of dirt. Soil is built by the passing of seasons, not with a spreadsheet and timetable. My gardens’ soil may still have the appearance of white sand, but it’s getting better all the time. With a little extra elbow grease, an additional turn of the compost pile may accelerate the breakdown process. And avoiding the temptation to procrastinate will get any job done in proper time.

Spring days provide ample opportunities for starting all of the cold-sensitive crops while still growing the cooler season varieties. Planting everything at once will induce the rush to move on to the next project, but make sure the initial steps have been managed. Watering slowly and deeply to help seedlings establish their root systems is required during the first 20 percent of their existence.

Organic fertilizers release their elements slowly, giving crops time to deploy micro root hairs. Fast-acting chemical and hydroponic fertilizers feed crops almost like intravenous drip tubes, negating their subterranean infrastructure. But if a dry spell hits, the lack of foundation limits the crop’s survival abilities. With caustic plant foods, daily watering almost becomes a necessity, which is neither efficient nor productive.

Fred Pareto’s insights of government and economy ushered in the modern era of the 20th century. Applying his insights to our daily lives in the 21st century will ensure we are among the 20 percent who will find success and happiness. And the harvest tastes so much better!