Zen Gardening
In Gladiator's opening scene, Maximus is daydreaming while walking through a wheat field, lightly brushing his hand against the golden grain. We soon learn Maximus is on a stark battlefield. Even so, he has the presence of mind to notice a small bird perched on a nearby branch. Just before the battle ensues, we see Maximus kneel and grab a handful of dirt, rubbing it through his hands, holding it up to his nose to smell the wet earth.
This scene always intrigued me. Maximus seems to contemplate what is important in life, the return to his home and family where he farms the land. It is also a reminder of what we fight for and what is precious: dirt. Working with the soil provides us with sustenance. In this way, dirt is life itself. It is where we come from; where we go after we die.
Agriculture has long been a vital part of our existence; a technology, if not a ritual, that both connects us with the past and provides us energy to move into the future. Farming the land is also an indicator of stable times, a sign of peace. It is the perfect juxtaposition for the warrior. A stable landscape is the thing we fight for and the end goal we wish to achieve. When war becomes a profession, then peace is sure to elude us.
History has inextricably linked the way of the warrior with the way of the farmer. Before the movie Gladiator, Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, combined his fierce warrior skills with his avid love of farming. Before him, Miyamoto Musashi, Japan’s most famous ronin, was said to have tended the fields after mastering the way of the sword.
In modern times, most people are far removed from working in the fields that produce the food we eat. I think this is a good thing because our population has grown so large that without commercial farming, we might all starve to death. Still, there is some connection between humans and the soil, whether it is from our cultural past or embedded deeply in our DNA.
Dirt has something for every human being. Whether you’re a farmer, gardener, or take care of the plant that sits on your desk, there is something special about feeling the earth in your hands, its rich organic scent awakening memories of our ancient past. Gardening, while no longer a necessity, can be a powerful ritual that reconnects you with your humanness, if not your humanity.
My wife enjoys gardening and last year we had a large area set aside for growing fruits and vegetables. This year, however, she’s in a tough graduate program that requires most of her time. She spends about 6-8 hours each day in classes and then studies another 3-5 hours. This happens every day, so when Spring arrived, we decided to downsize, but not forego the garden. We instinctively knew the stresses of her schooling and my work meant that the garden was even more necessary.
This year’s goal was to create a small garden that would include a sitting area for reading or relaxing. This lead us to build wooden frames that housed garden beds arranged in a horseshoe pattern. In the middle of the horseshoe, we filled the area with tiny rocks and added two outdoor chairs. Last year, I spotted a large, metal tractor rim half buried in the woods, and I used it to make a sunken fire pit. We fenced the area to keep the dogs and wild animals out and hung solar light bulbs around the area, connecting them to a tall post we fashioned out of a fallen pine tree. I added a bottle opener and grill made to cook over campfires. Most of the materials we used were found scattered about the property which we repurposed for our project. There was fencing stashed in the barn, and an old horse stall that provided the lumber we needed to frame the garden beds. We used rocks, both large and small, from the property, and used a small dog door we made a few years back, which now serves as the gate to the garden. I think the only things we paid for were the seeds, plants, dirt, bottle opener, and cooking set. The total cost came in under $200. Labor, as always, was free.
This area has become our favorite outdoor sitting area. When we completed the garden area, we sat outside every evening for a week straight. It was refreshing to gather firewood during the day, light a fire in the evening, cooking hotdogs, marshmallows, and even ribeye steaks while listening to music and sipping, if not slurping, suds. You know what else we did? We talked. There was no television, no distractions, nothing to do but sit down, relax, stare at the fire, and talk. The soil has a way of slowing life down and reminding us of what is important.
I hope you are gardening now, and if not, you consider planting a garden, large or small. There is something about sweating out in the dirt and getting things planted that promotes a sense of accomplishment and hope for the future. As the season progresses, you’ll marvel at the small green stems pushing through the soil, watch them grow strong, and bud their first fruit. It will get you outside looking at nature, if nothing else, and pull you away from life’s busyness while you water your crop babies. One day, you’ll pick a vegetable out of your garden and it will be the most amazing thing you’ve ever tasted. It will be fresh, full of vibrant color and flavor, with strong hints of satisfaction and self-sufficiency. Things will be a little more grand as you realize life is stable enough to stop and plant a garden. This, my friends, is a time of peace.
2023 Garden List
Red, green, and black bell peppers.
Five species of tomatoes, including Better Boy, Big Beef, and Cherries.
Jalapeno, Habanero, and Poblano peppers
Cilantro and Basil
Watermelon
Yellow squash and zucchini
Corn