Clean, weed free, perfectly manicured neat rows of ripe vegetables… my ideal garden. Companion planting with multiple crops interplanted, organic matter on top of the soil, multiple compost beds, plants going to seed for seed saving, heritage varieties of tomatoes planted throughout the garden that are growing in every which way… the mad gardener’s garden.

As I have traveled and worked on gardens and farms of all sizes I have seen many different ways to grow food. One observation throughout this time is that the gardens and farms that have adopted principles most in-line with nature are normally not the neat and tidy ones. The cattle operation that allowed native grasses, didn’t spray insecticides and allowed nature to do its thing, showed more biodiversity in beneficial plant and insect species. The large vegetable garden that planted beans with corn and peas and cucumbers in the same bed, is also one of the most productive gardens that I have worked on over the past five months. 

 Working in “mad” gardens and farms has taught me a thing or two about the benefits of biodiversity in an agricultural system and letting the disorder take over just a little bit. I believe that our agriculture system needs to move beyond the ideal of the perfectly manicured, weed free, mono-crop fields. I am not saying let the weeds take over, but let’s make things a bit messy…. Yes, it is extra work, and may produce lower yields but new studies are showing that it can be profitable (https://peerj.com/articles/4428.pdf).

“Yesterday’s soil is today’s food. Now that is a miracle.”