I want to have a very serious conversation about something that is definitely not a metaphor, and that is the Science of Weeding
I am worried because it seems like people think we should all learn to weed the same way. And that weeding is concrete formula.
Now I am not saying that I don't have more to learn about weeding! And sometimes a concrete formula can support certain types of weeding. I mean, I think about how much I have learned about weeding in my past 20 years, and I know I have eons more to learn in my craft
But like, aren't all gardens different? How would one way of weeding- any ONE way of weeding- help every plant and every garden? And like, it seems like we have not all agreed on a definition of what it means to weed.
Wouldn't it make more sense to focus on how each gardener can get better at seeing the strengths and weaknesses of the garden, and how weeding is vastly different across even the same garden? And inclusive structures that support this?
And how we start with an image that the garden is quite capable of incredible acts, and we look at each space and we draw from our weeding knowledge to be responsive to each part of the garden?
I just worry that if I adopt one single philosophy of weeding that I'm going to lose a some plants along the way. I don't argue that I don't need to know more about weeding. I am just not certain that 1 formula of weeding is right for one garden, let alone ALL GARDENS EVERYWHERE
I guess what I am saying is weeding is hard. The gardener needs flexibility in tools and techniques, time to study, time to learn, and to be trusted. I ask myself, what happens to a garden's essential diversity when one technique is used.. in weeding and watering and fertilizing?
I want to be an inclusive gardener, that means flexibility above all else. I want to learn from people who know about different kind of weeding, so I can add it to my toolkit so I can do best for every plant.
But sometimes people in the field of weeding get SUPER aggressive. And sometimes we forget the long lasting gardens are the ones with the most amount of diversity and that multiple things can be right at the same time
That is the end of my literal, non metaphorical thread about weeding.
