There's nothing quite like the smell of soil and the wonder of
watching things grow. I've written before that I find the optimism of
this season altogether refreshing when contrasted against the myriad of
woes the world is facing, and what's most distressing about our problems
is that they are largely self-inflicted! Changes in lifestyle that are
necessary against the backdrop of climate change, consumerism and the
mindless pursuit of excess are difficult because of the pervasive
influence of "spin" that we have discussed many times in this forum.
I'd like to add that sloth plays a role in this as well, and few things
illustrate this better than my recent experience with a mechanical
tiller . . .
I use a gasoline powered rotovator to till my garden. It makes
quick work of the job, which in my case happens to be a large plot of
weed-infested soil on a north facing slope behind the house. I could,
and probably SHOULD, do this by hand, but laziness gets the best of me
and every year I find my feet standing at the counter of a local "rent
it" center to obtain a machine for work that could be done with a
shovel. My waistline would benefit. My cardiovascular system would
benefit. I might even derive a measure of pride in a job well done,
knowing that I've done a small thing to avoid adding to atmospheric
carbon loading.
But I'm weak-willed and perhaps, a little bit lazy. So I picked up
the machine last night. Since the days are lengthening around here and
my last student happens to be off in Toronto right now, I thought I'd
get the job done in the early evening, before sundown. But I couldn't
get the rotovator to work. It would start and run for a minute or two,
then simply die . . . For the most part I get along with machines and
equipment pretty well. I've tinkered with engines for years, and the
supercharger project that has brought new life to my 2.3 liter Ford
Ranger has afforded me the opportunity to learn more about fuel
injection than I've ever cared to know . . .
Yet I couldn't get this silly, carbureted rotovator to work! My
hands quickly blistered and my shoulders now ache from pulling on the
thrice accursed starting rope. The vexatious machine soon taxed my
patience and I found my mind wandering toward all manner of vile and
evil thoughts, which seems the antithesis of what I'm trying to
accomplish by growing things in the first place. In the midst of my
anger, however, I did manage to wonder how much LESS energy I'd have
exerted in simply using a shovel on the garden, rather than yanking on
that uncooperative and hateful starting cord.
So early this morning I put even MORE carbon into the air driving
back to the rent-it center, where I dutifully complained about the
non-functioning rotovator. To my great relief, THEY couldn't get it to
work properly either. I loaded up a different, heavier machine and
drove home again. This particular unit worked well for me, though when
the PTO is engaged it sometimes made a rather disconcerting metal on
metal grind akin to what I've done when trying to operate a two speed
rear end on an old truck. (I never DID get the hang of double clutching.)
My garden is now tilled, awaiting seeds. My sweetheart has used the
spade on one of our raised beds, so there are two more of those to do
before we plant them in earnest. I also inspected my trees this morning
and discovered, to my dismay and distress, that the spray treatment I
gave them two weeks ago has done NOTHING to stop the aphid and moth
infestation. I don't know if it's because the treatment itself is
simply ineffective, or whether the heavy rain that followed my spraying
a day or so later simply washed the soap and baking soda mixture into
the soil before it could work.
At any rate, I'll have to get back out there and do something with
my trees before the municipality gets on my back and insists that I use
some horrid organophosphate, like Diazinon, to "control" the infestation
of my fruit trees.
robert luis rabello
"The Edge of Justice"
"The Long Journey"
New Adventure for Your Mind
http://www.newadventure.ca
Ranger Supercharger Project Page
http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/
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