Weeding! It's not so bad. In fact, I enjoy it.

Finally, the plants are maturing enough that I can see what belongs and what doesn't. That means it's time to start weeding!

Readers, did you notice I didn't complain? Weeding is productive and therapeutic and even enjoyable. I searched through old posts and found out that I've discussed the positives of weeding in the past.

Here's one from June, 2007.

I enjoy weeding because I can see progress. My garden is divided into small sections, set apart by my stepping "stones" made from old deck and fence pieces. I set a goal of weeding one section at a time. When that's done, I can quit weeding or choose to finish another section. This is a managable goal; I feel productive when I can see the results in one part of the plot. It spares me the frustration of not "finishing" the whole thing, which is of course an impossible goal. Today I chose one triangular section of the garden and weeded out the many mini maples that flew in from the lot behind ours. If I ever abandon this small plot of ground behind my garage, I predict the mini maples will take over, leaving room for a blanket of clover underneath. But for now, look out maples! I have garden gloves and I know how to use them.

Here's an older post from July, 2006.

Weeding feels good because:

• I can't hear the telephone.
• Digging in the dirt is fun.
• It doesn't matter if I'm all sweaty and grimy.
• I can appreciate the growth of my vegetables by comparing them to the weeds I'm pulling out.
• I see the little flowers that mean the plants will bear fruit -- some time.
• I can laugh at the tiny "stray" tomato plants that grew where the rotten fruit dropped last fall.
• The science teacher in me looks at all the clover and thinks, "Wow! There's a lot of nitrogen in this soil! Who needs fertilizer?"
• I notice the little grubs and worms that aerate the rich soil; and they're not, I said NOT, yucky.
• I notice how dark and rich the soil is, thanks to our home-grown compost.
• The weeds (well, most of them) will become part of the cycle of life by decomposing in the compost bin.
• Progress is noticeable. Every little bit of weeding shows results.

I heard a garden expert on the radio recommend that serious gardeners spend about 30 minutes a day weeding and maintaining. I don't come near that, so I guess I'm not "serious" by his standards. I do keep it up, though, and get my hands dirty and produce good things to eat. My garden makes me happy. Isn't that enough?