Why So Small

It was the end of February. “Got any garden in?” a buddy asked me.

“I got a few early salad greens and a few peas.” I answered and then hesitated and added almost apologetically, “You know Joe…I only put out a small garden; about 25’ by 50’.”

He looked at me silently as if to say, “Frank, why so small? You do live in the country.”

“I do put out about an acre and a half of melons” I added to counter his silent question.

Joe comes from a farming community. He probably used a utility tractor to put in his garden. To put in a small garden in the country probably seemed kind of pointless to Joe. Still the unspoken question “why so small?” bothered me.

First I have neither the desire nor income to buy a tractor and implements to garden; that would be counter to my economic incentive to save money by gardening. I like to keep life simple and power equipment is all about complexity to me. I love hand tools…their quietness, low price and guaranteed startability. I’ve never taken a spade to a mechanic and told him I couldn’t get it to run. I get my exercise quota using hand tools. Some times I have to start up the old tiller to work the melon field, but I don’t like it…can’t hear the birds.

Working a small plot also allows me to concentrate a lot of organic material in a small area to raise soil fertility. Concentration is important. I don’t put the whole garden in in one day but add small sectors all through the spring and summer. I savor my time outdoors.

I’ve always admired those who produced a lot with a little, like those citizens who grew the Victory Gardens of WWII.

I think I have in the back of my mind that one of these days, maybe within the next ten years, I’ll have to leave the country to go to the suburbs to be near doctors and health facilities. I want something that will be doable (by anyone) in a city back yard lot…something I can take with me. Maybe the suburb plots will someday become the new garden lands for local markets instead of shipping produce from an average of 1,500 miles away.

So I guess I am just a small guy who likes to think small and simple. To do otherwise seems too much like work.