I’ll stick to naming plants, not growing them, thanks

I’ll stick to naming plants, not growing them, thanks
                        
Growing up, I was never a part of 4-H or Future Farmers of America. I didn’t live on a farm, I didn’t take care of animals and I have never driven a tractor—the closest I got was crashing my cousin’s golf cart, but we don’t really have to talk about that. While I appreciate everything farmers do for us—I’m a huge fan of food in general, fibers for cloth and lumber for fires and houses—I just have never been introduced to the farming lifestyle. The closest I may ever get is owning a plethora of small plants. At the moment, I have an orchid that hasn’t bloomed in almost two years, two jade plants, one that has lost most of its leaves and one that is nothing more than a tiny start, a spider plant sprout I saved from demolition last summer and a leafy plant I haven’t figured out the species of yet. When I was in college, my friends took to naming them. Shelby II, Hugh II and Ramses II were dorm room favorites. Each had to be “the Second,” I don’t know why, but somehow it became a rule. And sadly, most of the time my friends took better care of them than I did. When they stopped by, they would ask if I had watered each one. If not, they would do it for me. I am the type of gardener that might require an air plant. However, despite all the mishaps and neglect and transportation my plants had to endure over their lifetime, they are somehow thriving. This is a surprise to me, as I have killed more plants than I can count—I come by that honestly through Mother. But, while a surprise, it shows me that I probably made the right choice in life to not run a farm, big or small. I like my food ripe and delicious when I pick it up at the store. Not shriveled and dead, as it would be if I had to take care of it. So while I continue to nurse my tiny plants, and hopefully add to the collection in coming years, I will think about all the good our local farmers do for us. And I will rejoice, and you should, too, that I don’t have to do their job. Anyone else feel they would be a disaster at farming? We can talk about why over email at lbrown@gpubs.com.


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