It’s science. Plants grow from seeds with adequate water and light. It’s a delicate balance that can have unsatisfactory results if there are the wrong proportions of either. Uneven growth can result in plants that don’t meet the expectations of those beautiful pictures in seed catalogs. More serious gardeners count on additional resources to insure growth.
My grandfather had a beautiful vegetable garden in our backyard. His hobby provided an abundance of side dishes to our meals, got him out of the house everyday, and made good use of his gardening knowledge. But what I remember most was the manure.
Every spring, me or one of my siblings made the trek to the local hardware store on the next block pulling a large wagon alongside our grandfather. Pop-pop ordered the bags of manure and paid for them at the old wooden counter inside. The smell of wood, metal, oil, and assorted weird spills permeated the air. Men leaned heavily against the counter discussing important subjects and giving unsolicited advice to all who entered. I was mostly invisible since I was small and female. There was an endless array of unmarked drawers, displays of paint, small equipment, and rolling ladders against the walls. What we were buying was waiting for us on the back dock.
We made our way around to the back and my grandfather lifted the bags onto the wagon. I must have been too little to do that kind of heavy lifting and was just there as a guide and companion. We tested the load and headed back home. Did it smell bad? I don’t remember ever gagging or being offended, but it had a farmy scent. I was a suburban kid but not easily grossed out. I had brothers that built up my resistance, and I wasn’t particularly girly anyway. I knew we were headed home and at that point, Pop-pop was on his own with the fertilizer.
Pop-pop applied the dark concoction to the rows of plants using some kind of ancient math known to sons of farmers. I never really thought about how that extra step affected the garden. The plants produced dramatically with a little bio-poop. Our neighbors benefitted from some of the excess, and I can still recall seeing my grandfather standing up in the garden after plucking a red tomato off a plant and biting into it. In my memory, he stands in the sunshine, tall amongst his spoils. That manure did its duty, and the earth seemed happy.
Personal everyday growth is a lot like manure. Taking one new thought and adding it into an everyday good system speeds up growth and develops better results. Like fertilizer, it’s magically gradual and doesn’t smell or taste bad.
Take two minutes to consider a new area of personal growth. How can you apply one new thought to increase your output or boost your enjoyment? Sprinkle enough over many days and gradually better results will just occur. If you need help with the heavy lifting, just ask. I’m a big girl now and strong enough…
