Reap What You Sow

On the eve of a developing trade war between the US and the rest of the world, I thought it would be prudent to share some reflections I’ve had over the last 18 months or so. But also this will be about seeds.

Generally speaking, we aren’t very good at understanding risk or preparing for crisis. People are incredibly optimistic, which is good and necessary and creates so much of the things we call good in this world. But it is also a blindspot, assuming that things will always work out for no other reason than we feel we should. On the other side of the street, rehearsing for disaster constantly can also rob you of every simple joy in the things that are good in this world.

So I am in the middle of all of that and choosing what seeds to start and what my priorities in food growing in 2025 will be. As inflation is sure to rear its ugly head once again, I’m thinking about how we make careful but hopeful choices in the face of deep uncertainty and chaos. And in many ways, I feel like this has been the lesson of the last few years. Failing to plan for the worst is a failure of imagination and ignorance to just how precarious things are. And yet we must rise each morning and carry on.

I think, for a start, I will stick to something that has served me well and brings me great joy: my paprik peppers. There’s the urge of course to introduce new varieties and “spice” (sorry) thing up a bit but in food growing, biodiversity is good, getting stretched too thin on too many unknowns is a fools errand I’ve been on many times. So stick with my old standby that has provided me with good harvests even in off years. What indeed is an “on” year anymore?

I do also want to balance this safe choice with something adventurous because I do need a dash of optimism too. This year will be there year I try for the hundredth time to grow lettuce. I know. “It’s so easy! Anyone can grow lettuce!” Well, some of can’t okay, and we feel a little self conscious about it. I have a few warm but slightly shaded spots and a dream, I just really want some fresh greens this year. I’ve had success with spinach and chard before but lettuce and leafy greens of other stripes have always eluded me. I hope to bring you some positive updates on that front in a few months.

But until then, while world leaders sow discord and destruction, I will continue to look for ways to sow seeds of bounty and creativity. And maybe I will double down on learning about community food security and how we can move past over-reliant food chains.

Good luck!