The Easy Edible Garden: What is "easy" and how do we REALLY feel about that?
If there is such thing as an Easy Edible Garden, what is it, really? How is it designed? What does it look like? How does it feel to work in? How is it organized? What plants grow there? How is it maintained? What does it smell like? Taste like?
What makes it easy? Is it easy to design? Easy to install? Maintain? Harvest? Easy to motivate yourself to work in? Easy to stay on top of? Easy on the eyes?
Before we can answer these questions, first we must understand what the word “easy” means.
easy
[ee-zee]
Adjective, easier, easiest.
1. Not hard or difficult; requiring no great labour or effort.
A book that is easy to read; an easy victory.
2. Free from pain, discomfort, worry, or care.
He led an easy life.
3. Providing or condusive to ease or comfort; comfortable.
An easy stance; an easy relationship.
4. Fond of or given to ease; easygoing.
An easy disposition.
5. Not harsh or strict.
An easy master.
6. Not burdensome or oppressive.
Easy terms on a loan.
Adverb
Informal. In an easy manner; comfortably
To go easy, take it easy.
Synonyms
Tranquil, comfortable, contented , quiet, uncomplicated, undemanding, unchallenging, untroubled, effortless, painless, simple, straightforward.
I used Dictionary.com to find this definition, as I no longer own a physical dictionary. I did not choose the example sentences, but they give us an interesting point to jump off from, so I’m going to run with it. But before I start getting into these definitions, I’m called to address a few cultural memes and adages about “easy”.
“Nothing good in life comes easy.”
“Easy come, easy go.”
“If it’s easy to come by, it’s not worth having.”
“If it comes too easy, you’ll never appreciate it.”
I’d like to note that these are all words, created by humans, and they do not represent some lofty Universal Truth or Law of Nature. These are perspectives, and while there may be some truth in them, there is a great sickness in a society that holds these to be untouchable.
Consider for a moment, a gift. How do gifts relate to these ideas? Gifts can come easily, and are they not good? Gifts can come into one’s life easily, does this mean it will disappear easily too? Surely not, some gifts may be enjoyed for a lifetime. One’s breath for example. Just because a gift comes easily, does this mean it is not worth having? Clearly not. And just because it comes easily, does this mean it is not appreciated?
Our relationship to ease, and that which is easy, is truly fascinating, and ridden with contradictions. In our own lives, we experience this dilemma frequently. When is it time to push, and when is it time to just let go and surrender. It may seem that we can never have a definitive means of knowing, but I can’t help but think of a quote by Geoff Lawton in this moment:
“All the world’s problems can be solved in a garden.”
What if gardens could teach us about the true nature of ease? Let’s revisit those definitions and break them down a little bit more. Maybe we will find some answers.
1. Not hard or difficult; requiring no great labour or effort.
A book that is easy to read; an easy victory.
Anyone who says that gardening doesn’t require labour or effort is lying. There are certainly times when it becomes difficult. This does not mean that a garden cannot create a greater ease in one’s life, and in fact, I can promise that it will. The lessons learned will translate into every facet of life. As for requiring “no great labour”, great labour need not be difficult or hard. After all, many hands make light work, and great labour may be accomplished without breaking any single individual. Ask for help! Many hands…
2. Free from pain, discomfort, worry, or care.
He led an easy life.
If gardening is painful, you’re doing it wrong. Perhaps you’re using the wrong tool, have incorrect posture, or you just haven’t asked for help. In any case, gardening doesn’t need to be painful, nor should it be. As for discomfort, gardening can certainly be uncomfortable, but I would argue that this is largely due to poor design. By following sound design principles, knowing your habits and limits, and fitting your garden design to yourself, and not the other way around, most discomfort can be avoided. As for worry or care, this is entirely up to you. These are internal states, and while it may seem like you have no control over them, especially when that unwanted weed starts running rampant in your garden, perspective is everything. By understanding our place in the big picture, we can let go of worries and fear, and simply be with what is. Gardens can be incredible teachers. We can live a life of grace and ease, even if our outside circumstances are not easy.
3. Providing or conducive to ease or comfort; comfortable.
An easy stance; an easy relationship.
Our gardens provide us with more than just calories, they are places that nurture us, that provide comfort. Comfortable places to unwind after a long day, and comfort in the knowing that the needs of our body, of our immune system, of our family and community, will be provided for. How much easier would we stand, how much easier would our relationships be, if there was always an abundant harvest waiting for us?
4. Fond of or given to ease; easygoing.
An easy disposition.
I can’t speak for everyone, but before I discovered the joy of growing my own food, I was an entirely different person. Easygoing would probably not be a word I would use to describe myself. I am an intense person by nature, but gardening has seemed to round off my sharp edges. While I’m still a work in progress, I give major credit to my gardens for transforming me. Each year I become more in tune with the natural cycles and rhythms, more trusting of the ebb and flow of life, and I imagine that I am far more pleasant to be around as a result.
5. Not harsh or strict.
An easy master.
Let’s be clear about one thing: we are not the masters of our gardens.. Our gardens are our masters, and for this we are blessed. Much of the suffering that people experience while getting started in gardening is because they have this backwards. So long as we listen to them, provide for their needs, and are open to what they offer us, they will shower us in gifts greater than we could imagine.
6. Not burdensome or oppressive.
Easy terms on a loan.
Far from being burdensome or oppressive, and unlike a loan, an edible garden is truly the gift that keeps on giving. An edible landscape or garden is an investment that needs to be monitored and cared for like any other investment, but unlike a financial investment, the dividends can be shared by every being on Earth. A well-designed edible garden feeds the soil, provides fresh air, habitat for nature, filters water, restores groundwater, and radiates beauty that can be enjoyed by all, in addition to all the incredible food that it provides. Money doesn’t grow on trees, but food does, and with today’s rising food costs, it may as well be money. For those with some patience and imagination, a moderately sized, but well-planned garden can provide thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of income. This may seem outrageous, but not only is it possible, it is far easier than most would imagine.
So… We have gone deep into what “easy” means. But what about those questions we asked at the beginning? What does it look like? How does it feel to work in? How is it organized? What plants grow there? How is it maintained? What does it smell like? Taste like?
What makes it easy? Is it easy to design? Easy to install? Maintain? Harvest? Easy to motivate yourself to work in? In the next blog post we will venture into the forest, and explore this in greater depth!
Thanks for tuning in, wishing you a beautiful and nourishing future!
Interested in your own edible landscape? Curious about working together? We'd love to hear more about you and your project. The first step is scheduling a 20 minute "Good Fit Call". We guarantee all our work, so finding a great fit is very important to us. If it's a good fit, great! If we feel like someone else could better serve you, we will be happy to refer you, and we always make sure you receive some great "next steps" and takeaways during these 20 min calls. Please CLICK HERE to visit our Contact Page and Tell Us About Your Project & Book A Good Fit Call. Thanks again for reaching out, looking forward to chatting!
- Joshua