Manure

We are farmers.

We spend a lifetime occupying our own plot of land. There may be droughts, there might be bumper crops.  But in the end, when it comes time to harvest, the yield is entirely on us.

Now of course, every farmer goes about his business as they are made.

Certain ones may  find ways to extend their growing season beyond that of their neighbor.  Methods will vary from plot to plot.  Some automate while others will choose  “old school” and harness a horse.  An engineered,  hybrid approach will suit one while taking an organic, “back to the earth” approach will become  a better fit for others. Ultimately, you have to be your own farmer.  Be true to yourself.  What may flourish for others may be just weeds for you.

Though seasons, methods,  crops and yield may differ  from field to field, being farmers we all soon share one common trait; expertise at spreading manure.

It may provide a temporary  sudden burst of excitement, color and growth.  It may assuage fear, anxiety or insincerity.  But with the next rain or two, a heat wave or cold spell, it dissipates, burns-out or becomes a stagnant mass, losing both  impact and intensity. Continual applications of manure might make you feel better, but can merely distract you from the truth.

And ruin a crop.

To  make the things  you truly want take root and flourish in your plot requires some discernment.  Patience. Courage. And honesty.  So get to  know every inch of your  acreage. Walk the fence lines over and over and over again. Learn the lay of your land.  Pry up those rocks that work their way out of the ground.  Dig up the stumps.  Know the predators.  Cut back the brush and pull out weeds that can begin to invade, choke and overtake your land.

And spread less manure.

Embrace the nature of your  soil.  Its texture, smell and even taste was made for you. Learn  what grows well and understand what crops will  enrich, invigorate and bring that piece of ground  to an uncommon level of abundance. You cannot grow the same thing year after year and expect the same yield.  In time, the yield  will drop.  The soil will become starved.  And all of a sudden, what was once your staple – will no longer produce.  Your land will become barren.

Spreading more manure won’t bring it back.

So as you begin to blossom, identify the crops that  grow with little effort or attention, harvest them religiously, build up your stores and share the abundance with others.  Attend to the crops that have been planted with the best of intentions but never seem to take root. Get them to grow.  Move things around from season to season.  Rotate. Mix.  Match. Find ways to make all of them thrive together.  Improve your soil, make things truly grow. One  bumper crop after another. Season after season.

Then, as any good farmer does, go easy on the manure.