Life in Balance

It's an incredibly rainy day as I sit and write this (Thursday),
so forgive me for waxing philosophical.


I have been filling my head with garden plans...
this year's plantings will be done with more intention than in the past.

I am trying companion planting this year.
That is... planting certain species with certain other species as a way 
of giving them a more symbiotic relationship.


Certain plants help protect other plants from pests.


And some species encourage a healthier growth of other species.
Nature has a natural order... a balance.


My source for planning this year's layout is this book:


It's fascinating... and I am learning so very much.
I am hoping that this year will be the best garden year yet.
If it is not, it certainly will not be from a lack of trying!


Here is where the philosophical takes over...
(blame the rain)



I read, yesterday, that the EPA has rolled back its ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
The EPA had initiated a ban on this Dow Chemical produced pesticide
due to health risks in children.  By November of 2017 it was to finalize this ban.
However, the EPA in it's present de-regulating frenzy has decided to allow this
chemical to be used by our agricultural industry.

Another example is this country's use of neo-nicotinoid pesticides (produced by Bayer).
These pesticides were banned by the European Union because of the potentially harmful effect on honey bees.
The United States continues to use them.

Needless to say, I am heart-sick.

It is time for a paradigm shift in our agricultural system.
The same principals that we apply to small, organic, family farms must be somehow adopted by our agricultural industry.
Rather than continuing to grow huge farms of monoculture (corn or soy, for the most part)...
we need to plant a variety of crops together.
Rather than plant miles and miles of nutrient-stripping corn and then fertilizing with chemicals
and spraying with pesticides...
wouldn't it be better to plant crops with the corn that provide natural pest protection,
and other plants, such as beans, that replace the nutrients taken from the soil by the corn?

Our earth is much like our own bodies... it requires a delicate balance to survive.
It's time we pay attention and honor that delicate balance.
Survival and good health are essential.
Large greedy chemical corporations such as Dow and Monsanto 
(producer of the herbicide Round-Up)
 could care less about either of these.
Things won't change, however, until we all demand that change.

Boy, I sure hope the sun comes out again soon.
And after this blog post, I am sure you do, too!!!
(Today's photos were taken from previous years' gardens.)

Comments

Colleen said…
All I can say is AMEN!! I read an article on companion planting on fb but now on my way to Amazon to check out carrots love tomatoes.
Tracy said…
Food for thought ( :) ) literally!
I too am going to check out carrots love tomatoes! Thanks for sharing. I'm trying companion planting myself this year in some areas....and unintentionally in others
daisy g said…
I look forward to seeing the benefits of companion planting. Thanks for the book suggestion.

It is so troubling the way our agricultural system is waning. All we can do is spread the word and hope that folks come together. It is alarming to think about what could happen to future generations.

Enjoy your weekend. Just keep thinking about all that healthy produce you'll be growing!
Deb said…
I hear you, Bev. It's just common sense.
NanaDiana said…
GREAT post. The use of pesticides, growth hormones, genetic altering, etc. is just a blight upon the USA. It is so hard to even find things that are grown without the use of any of those things....and even ORGANIC does not really mean it is truly organic. Many things are labeled organic that would not pass all the 'tests'.
Happy weekend to you- xo Diana
Kim said…
I am glad that you wrote about both of these topics, thoughtful companion planting and the thoughtless, greedy reactions of the new EPA director. If we are informed, we can make choices. I look forward to your new gardening adventures via your blog!
littlemancat said…
Echoing the comments made by others - thank you for writing about this very important and underheard issue. Scary this new EPA!
Mary
The JR said…
We use to see thousands of bees. Our neighbor had hives. When he died his son gave them away because he was afraid his 2 sons (really bad little boys) would get stung. They probably would have.

anyway, after the hives were moved, we very seldom see honey bees. We see mason bees. But, not a lot compared to the fact that we have a little over 2 acres in just the yard. And the other part of our property is pasture, hay field and woods.

Short-sightedness and greed will kill us all.
farm buddy said…
You are absolutely right. Things need to change. Have you read the book Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shepard? It is really interesting, and I know you would enjoy it. Has some good solutions for large-scale agriculture. I am implementing a pollinator plan on my farm this year, and one thing I have already learned is how wild bees and wasps play a much larger role in pollination than honey bees (not that they are not very important too). Good luck with your garden! I think you are definitely on the right track.
Unknown said…
I use that book religiously and I grow better vegetables each year! My garlic is up!
We need to please the bees. When will we learn?
jaz@octoberfarm said…
don't even get me started and freaking trump will put us back 50 years. ugh! my guys are getting dressed for football to go to their first baseball game!
This N That said…
I read about that kind of thinking when it comes to gardening not too long ago..Makes sense to me..Probably harder to mass produce but I'm sure it could be done if anyone had a mind to do it..Good post..Hope the sun comes out today..

It's horrifying, what Dow and Monsanto get away with, and what we allow. It is even found in California red wines.

Lately as menopause hits me good, I've been paying even more attention to what I put in my body - so important and I have slipped off that wagon more than I'd like to admit.
An American in Tokyo said…
Thank you for your wonderful post!

I have been dealing with allergies all my life and recently wonder if it's not the gluten in wheat, but the pesticides used. Still no proof but I have less allergic reactions when I stay away from eating wheat based products (and I love bread!). But I don't seem to have many problems when eating bread made with wheat flour from France! Very confusing. Oh well...