At 11:56 AM 11/16/01 -0800, you wrote:
I agree with the need for a different metaphor, but I don't that gardening
is it. The point about water and fertilizer kind of underscores my point:
gardens (in the commonly accepted sense) do not self-organize. Not at
all. They require a tremendous amount of planning, cultivation and
work. You must beat back weeds and nurture the things that you DO want to
grow. You must water if your chosen plants are not native to your
area. You must mulch if they fear cold.
In short, gardening is, in my mind, the very antithesis of the new
metaphor. It requires a large amount of energy from outside the system to
be put into the system.
Ah Chris -- you have fallen into my trap, made my point -- and my day. The
gardening you are talking about is that practiced by an auto-mechanic.
Everything according to the plan. Bolt on a new plant and forget its
natural habitat. After all that is what it says in "Home and Gardens" --
and every homeowner MUST follow the rules. And for sure take some exotic
creature that can't stand cold and plant it in the Arctic. After all it is
a part of the plan. Wheeeeew -- hard work for sure. But is that the only
way??? You could see what grew naturally -- all by itself. And then help it
along. That is really what I am talking about. Look before you leap. Don't
fix it if it ain't broke -- and I am sure some other trite phrases would
cover the issue.
ho
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-469-9269
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh
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