Regular readers of my blog will know that I quite enjoy the process of growing food. That there is much to learn from the process, and it often brings up unexpected results and analogies. Here’s another.
Last year I planted a great deal of herbs. These included basil, mint and oregano. But I had a very frustrating year. In fact, I lost more than 90% of my plants due to the heavy rain and relative increase in insects who seemed to gobble them up as soon as they sprouted. Which I would rather have happen, than use pesticides. But it did annoy me. It annoyed me to the point, where this year I didn’t bother. I didn’t plant any seeds for my summer herbs. I was cranky and decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Until yesterday, when I noticed that nature has been far more generous this year.
Without any attention, effort or otherwise, 3 little basil plants popped up, in good health.
I was pretty stoked for getting something for nothing, until I realised it was simply a delayed reaction. In fact, last year I put in a lot of effort for very little return, and this year I quit. Turns out I quit too early. Imagine the yield I would have received with just a little more effort than none at all? It would have been a bumper crop (as far as you can have a bumper crop in four pots on a decking).
There are a couple of clear take outs for me:
- Nature doesn’t work to our timeline, it has its own.
- Yield is not always seasonal.
- We eventually reap all that we sow.
- The birds will always get some…
- Stay the course, it is usually longer than we estimate.
- When flower blossom, it’s not too late to start working the field again.
All startup entrepreneurs should learn through the art of growing food.
Nice Steve. The message is right on. Dave B.
Really great analogy, so true. Who would’ve thought that a basil plant could be so wise?!