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Some Mid-Year Reflections
(by Alexandra Heath - August 10, 2009)
Well, were about mid-way through the planting season and have covered a number of topics in the Getting Started series of columns for this year. Now that summer is reaching its zenith and there are a few hints of the fall and winter to come, Id like to stop for a breather and think about some of the things Ive encountered in the garden so far.
Even though I plant open-pollinated seed for most of my vegetables Ive had a number of surprises that I would only have expected from either hybrid or modified seed. Mainly, mutations. Well, perhaps they arent true mutations, but Ive ended up with some weird vegetables this year. Is it the weather? Pollutants in the environment? Escaped genetically modified organisms? Its a puzzlement.
Specifically, my summer squash has produced a significant number of conjoined fruit, as if two separate squashes are growing together. Same with the melons. I have one that looks like a portion of the map you get when you lay a globe of the world flat. Youve probably seen one of those odd maps. Ive pulled a number of ears of corn that contain several ears growing together or baby ears clustered at the base of a regular-looking ear.
Several of the carrots look like the old woodcuts of mandrake roots. Mandrake is a European plant whose root bears a striking resemblance to a human body. Legend says that when a mandrake root is pulled from the ground the plant shrieks so loudly and in such a way that the person pulling the root dies. As far as I know none of the carrots made a sound when they were pulled.
Now, Ive been gardening for many years and this is the first time Ive encountered this phenomena.
The weather appears to be fluctuating in ever increasing cycles. June was by far the strangest. The temperature was up then down then up again. Many of the heat-loving plants in the garden freaked out. Just now the tomatoes are beginning to ripen and the pepper plants to set fruit. I do have a nice crop of huckleberries that seem to like whatever is happening just fine. But my flour corn has barely reached four-feet high and is setting ears. I dont think the harvest will be very good.
Ive got volunteers from plants that Ive never planted. Maybe the birds are responsible or the wind. Its always a surprise to find a plant taking hold in odd corners of the garden where last year I had planted their cousins in beds far away. Or when tomatoes and melons sprout vigorously from the compost heap.
In spite of these oddities Ive had a pretty good harvest of corn and carrots and there are some really nice melons that are just about ripe. But it does make me wonder—what next? Given that there is no political will—anywhere in the world--to make the changes needed to spare the earth (and ourselves) the devastating consequences of our addiction to fossil fuels, I despair to think where we are headed. This year was the first that I had to string up shade cloth over the planting beds to keep the leaves from burning. The suns influence is increasing in intensity. Many days I can only get into the garden during the early morning hours—really before noon—and then again just before the sun goes down.
Humans are very good at adaptation. I wonder if we have the ability to adapt to a world that may soon become out of control. All I know is that Ill keep gardening until I cant anymore. You, too, I hope.
New Moon Herbs
Bringing plants and people together
Oroville, CA 95965
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