A Common Life of Ordinary Qualities.

"The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means, and the exercise of ordinary qualities. The common life of every day, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind; and it's most beaten paths provide the true worker with abundant scope for effort and room for self-improvement. The road of human welfare lies along the old highway of steadfast well-doing; and they who are the most persistent, and work in the truest spirit, will usually be the most successful."

--Samuel Smiles

As evidence of my common life of ordinary qualities, it's time to start planning for the coming year's garden. Last year was a dismal failure, and thanks to Steve Solomon, I think I know why. (Mr. Solomon writes a variety of excellent books on gardening. He used to live in the Pacific NW, but now resides down under in New Zealand.) My area is prone to a build up of nasty little insects called Symphylans, that live in tunnels up to five feet below the ground. They live on the roots of vegetable plants mostly, and can't be gotten rid of unless you let the area go to grass for a year or two. Hmmm. In my small area of raised beds that can be a problem. Therefore, I'll need to out think the little monsters.
In the meantime, I will concentrate on growing the crops that they dislike.

So, I'm sitting here with a copy of Steve's book, "Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades" along with Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew, and the Territorial Seed Company catalog (origianlly started by Steve Solomon--what a small world) and plotting out our seed buy. It's a great way to spend a cold and cloudy day.