Today I want to talk about weather. It is always a safe topic, right? We all have it and we all are affected by it. It is the same for everybody next to us, and everybody can say something about it.

But there is a but. It is one the key elements in farming and gardening, and usually quite opposite to short term enjoys. For example, in spring it is good to have sunshine so that the soil gets dryer after winter, but if it continues for too long, the seeds will not get enough of water and start to grow. And if it rains all the time and temperature is low, the seeds will rotten. And at the same time people who are having their holidays, want to enjoy easy, sunny weather.

The same pattern follows in autumn. If there’s a lot of rain, there will be a lot of mushrooms, but it may be difficult to harvest the crops as the soil can’t carry the load of the big machinery. One thing is good for one and one thing is for another. As it’s so easy to see, it needs balancing in there. Globally in north we need mostly warmth and in south we need more water. If the balance is off, there will be no crop to harvest and it will make it more difficult for humans to survive.

This is a perfect place for a poem Gardener’s Prayer by Karel Čapek. It tells so profoundly how important it is to have balance. Because all we want is not good for everyone.

‘O Lord, grant that in some way it may rain every day,
say from about midnight until three o’clock in the morning,
but, you see, it must be gentle and warm so that it can soak in;
grant that at the same time it would not rain
on campion, alyssum, helianthemum, lavender, and others
which you in your infinite wisdom know are drought-loving plants
– I will write their names on a bit of paper if you like –
and grant that the sun may shine the whole day long,
but not everywhere
(not, for instance, on spiraea, or on gentian, plaintain lily, and rhododendron),
and not too much;
that there may be plenty of dew and little wind,
enough worms, no plant-lice and snails, no mildew,
and that once a week thin liquid manure and guano
may fall from heaven.
Amen.’ 

In search for balance

Joana