Growing organic vegetables

When I commenced my apprenticeship, there was a strict emphasis on vegetables, fruit, and ornamental trees. Despite my early enthusiasm for flowers, shrubs, and lawns, I was advised to concentrate on the vegetables.

I still recall the words of the Head Gardener at the time. “Learn to grow a decent vegetable and you’ll have earned the respect of your trade”. Very outdated I suppose, but wait, there’s more. On the third Saturday of each month a formal dinner was held. We were given the weekend’s leave but the Friday beforehand was dedicated to finishing touches on the grounds in addition to a selective harvesting of seasonal produce. We literally filled the kitchens with an assortment of our best vegetables. They were carefully laid on rough oak tables. Onions, carrots, parsnips, and string beans so crisp they virtually exploded when you snapped them apart. Butter squashes with their delicate white flowers attached, new potatoes, celery, aubergines, and spinach. Deep golden pumpkins and cream tinted cauliflowers. Like a still life painter, I was entranced by their shapes and colour contrasted against those ancient oak tables.

Over subsequent years, I managed to gain some insight on organic principles and many of the practical applications associated with vegetable gardening. While there are several important rules which should be observed, it is my belief that too much technical information can quickly confuse and restrict the novice gardener.

I often introduce my gardening discussions with first hand accounts emphasising the intrinsically human qualities of this activity. There is little doubt, for example, that an ability to supply foods from the garden can generate a complex sense of achievement and security for many individuals. My parents maintained a productive garden which provided our family with plenty of fresh vegetables during and immediately after the Second World War. These were challenging times in Britain, and families like my own were often dependent upon home grown vegetables.

Today, self sufficiency remains an attractive concept, one that is frequently associated with organically grown produce. The degree of planning and effort required to produce the variety and quantity of fresh vegetables to support a large family is considerable and would probably discourage many enthusiastic beginners. A more realistic expectation might be the reduction of weekly grocery expenses in addition to regular supplementations of fresher and superior quality vegetables compared with those available from local supermarkets. Whatever the quantitative outcome, there is always a quiet sense of fulfilment when home grown food is delivered to the table. Maintaining this positive outlook helps to overcome minor setbacks and ensures that growing vegetables becomes an enjoyable rather than laborious effort.

According to medical and lifestyle surveys, there is now a widespread tendency for modern families to miss out on the nutrients required to sustain their long term health and wellbeing. There are numerous reasons why growing vegetables organically, at home, makes good sense. Consider the superior nutritional content of organic produce. Combined with the fact these foods are pure and wholesome, with no genetic tampering or chemical residues, home grown organic vegetables are the ultimate prescription for good health, vitality and longevity.

As a bonus, these nutritional factors are coupled with convenience. Once the organic vegetable garden is established, it’s possible to maintain a continuous supply of seasonal produce. When your basic ingredients are readily available, it’s much easier to prepare a range of nutritious and time efficient meals. Garden fresh salads in spring and summer then rich vegetable soups, pasta, or casseroles in autumn and winter.

Gardeners can also receive additional health benefits from the gentle physical exercise required to look after their plants. The amount of exercise depends upon the size of the garden, soil structure, and the types of vegetable being raised. Careful planning is of course essential to reduce unnecessary work for individuals with strict limits on the amount of time available for gardening activities.

It’s a fast paced world now and many individuals are restricted by their daily schedules. I’ve met plenty of people who commence their days at six in the morning then work steadily until ten in the evening. While establishing a large organic garden might be unrealistic under these circumstances, there is every reason to attempt a modest vegetable plot. During tenure with my local organic gardener’s society, I received correspondences from several individuals who described their personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment as gained from their gardening activities. In reviewing these, I remain convinced that personal benefits are rarely specified by the number of hours allocated to a garden, or the volume of produce generated. Here’s Mr J’s experience. (I obtained his permission to reproduce the following)

I’ve never considered myself the gardening type. Until recently, my life was devoted to a career which provided adequate social and financial incentives. I use the term adequate to emphasise concerns that my life somehow lacked a sense of balance. As a younger person, I pursued a competitive interest in rugby and maintained various recreational pursuits with close friends and family members. At a certain stage, the mental and physical demands imposed by my career forced me to focus inwards. By the time I reached forty, my schedule involved extended office hours and regular meetings abroad. I spent less time at home and began to lose intimacy with my family. I was constantly committed and never available. The pattern continued for nearly twenty years, before an unexpected event provided me the opportunity to re-evaluate my goals. My firm’s corporate sponsor was accused of tax evasion and other acts of financial impropriety. During an enforced absence from work, I became increasingly frustrated and anxious when my name was linked to false and damaging allegations.

My correspondent describes his disillusionment with the corporate environment before introducing the topic of gardening.

I waited near the far end of my section holding the spade while it rained steadily from heavy grey skies. A chorus of internal doubts encouraged me indoors. I nearly succumbed to the repetitive comforts of my newspapers and telephone. The rain eased slightly so I commenced digging the earth with the spade. The freshly broken soil was dark like Belgian chocolate. I crumbled a small clod between my fingers and it immediately stained them.

With his hands already dirty, it wasn’t long before Mr J ventured into the realm of organics. He obtained a newsletter from his local organic society and borrowed several books on soil management and vegetable gardening.

Upon planting my initial crop of vegetables, I was overwhelmed to encounter the generous support and advice of local gardeners and society members. I attended several society meetings and found myself participating in topical discussions about the advantages of organic whole foods, fair trade policies, and the long term sustainability of organic production methods. It wasn’t long before I found myself absorbed in the concept and principles of recycling and self sufficiency.

He goes on to describe a positive resolution to his career difficulties and the subsequent decision to establish new priorities in his life.

I rationalised my current situation and decided to undertake a part time consultancy role. This enabled me to work from home to a large extent and provided more time for previously neglected leisure activities like sailing, golf, and the occasional cross country hike. My organic vegetable garden sustained me through a difficult period so I was more than pleased to allocate several hours each week toward its maintenance.

The next passage illustrates that the benefits were largely independent of his overall efficiency and volume of production.

Upon demonstrating my capacity to produce a small selection of fresh vegetables, I was tempted to increase the size of the garden. After some reflection, I decided not to. The positive outcomes were already substantial so there was no immediate incentive for me to raise the stakes, so to speak. My vegetable garden provided valuable lessons regarding the integrity of physical effort and modest achievement. Since undertaking board certification, my entire career had depended upon establishing a reputation based on overstatement and exaggeration. This was continuously reflected in a lifestyle of excessive consumption and accelerated ambition. Organic gardening provided me with sufficient space to discover alternative inspirations.

Mr J describes a renewed pleasure in simple events. He finds himself breathing fresh air, mentally focused and well prepared to appreciate the seasonal influences, and subtle rhythms of nature. This new perspective on life encourages him to rest adequately and replace his stressed out eating habits with relaxed dining and wholesome meals. He concludes his correspondence with an observation on gardening’s impact upon his personal relationships.

My wife still teases me about the organic society, although she’s quick to admit that gardening helped me become a nicer person. I rarely experience anger these days, and my friends have noticed the difference. At work, I’m more patient with clients and have improved my ability to evaluate outcomes from their perspective. I’ve become less hostile on the road and have even stopped swearing at parking attendants.

And the postscript?

My son lives abroad and rarely contacts us. Yesterday I received a call several hours before dawn. He was thinking about planting some asparagus and wondered if I could provide any helpful advice. I laughed then told him to make sure the tips were pointing towards the sky.