An Age-old Co-adaptive Agreement
Seeds are typically two life forms in one. The old parent (evidenced in the genetic profile) becomes the endosperm and the food to nurture the new life. The baby is a miniscule small part of the seed which can be called the embryo and which is a new genetic profile. So even plants nurture their tiny vulnerable offspring into a run in the adventure we all share which is life!
Planting seeds for me follows with all the elements of my life. It is not about control, but only contribution. Control in relationships, for the wild souls can’t go the places we want to go. With gardening and farming we are only a tiny drop in the pact of life that builds and creates and becomes over millennia. There is a co-adaptive agreement that we would all do well to enter and practice. The adaptation of things in ecology allows each one a time and a place to live…, to attempt to be. Nature makes no promises of the future to any single one including you and I. So In my world view it is not about control but about contribution. We want with traditional Western and Eastern farming for example, to control the outcomes when we should instead contribute to outcomes since that is all we do anyway.
Today is an example. I have so many seeds. I select the best seeds I can find of the plants I love to grow and eat and share and sell. I reach across the world and everywhere to find the start of adaptation. Today I planted snow-peas and flat-beans. I have loved vigorous climbing flat beans and have 2 particular varieties that I brought from Italy to nurture what might develop in the future from my farm seeds. Peas are another story. I love snow peas but I am always disappointed with their climb compared to other peas. Today I planted 9 non-typical varieties from several continents, Oregon, and New York. All are known for their vigorous climbing, some claiming 12 feet high or more. Non-snow-peas climb so amazingly and germinate from cool soils. Most snow-peas grow unimpressively and take warm soil to germinate. I love vigor and life in my friends and I want it in my seeds and the creatures of the farm too. So, I don’t force any, but I plant many. I don’t make the conditions ideal, but I do my part to give them a chance. Today I went with a small digging hoe to the Northern margin of a newly formed field around a high area surrounding an ancient stump with some trees but no low branches and rich decaying forest soil. I surfaced the soil going over and around the periodic roots in a big ark. On one side I splanted white seeded climbing romano beans, on the other black seeded romano climbers.
My shoes and shirt were still on. I hadn’t gotten too serious, but I never plant without an unspoken and sweet agreement to the seed, the soil, and the space, that I am giving each seed a shot at life! I had the space prepared and I thought of how to begin with the snow-peas that I hope will finally wow me with their vigor. It was hot so I took off my shirt and my shoes and rolled up my pants. Then I poured all the seed I had brought into a sack and mixed up the bag, too much for the space, but that was ok. I also had saved back a little of each one. Then I sprinkled the seed a little too heavy and intentionally a little random so as not to que in the mice and birds too much. Then I came back and walked foot by foot wiggling my toes and pressing in the seed. Finally, I took the rich forest soil and scattered it across the top. Done, the pact… the co-adaptive agreement to give others a chance and to contribute just enough so those who really want can be.
Let’s let go of the need to control outcomes. Let’s let go of the need to control other people and creatures. And let’s thrive and live as a tribe and community in the bewilderment of what tomorrow might be. Let’s all be a little wild and let’s live the adventure, co-create, and contribute to the future!
Relax the control and breath in beautiful and unique outcomes not of your making.