Nov 8th, 2024 Friday Sunny
I believe plants have so much to teach us.
My husband and I have been gardening for a few years, more if you count the indoor aero-garden, a hydroponic system ideal for microgreens and herbs. We have had mixed successes, even with the same plant. When we first started growing vegetables outdoors, we faced a challenge that should have been expected yet we never fully considered before – the critters eyeing all our crops. Squirrels, rabbits, probably a raccoon family, sometimes a woodchuck…adorable as they are, they drive me mad whenever we find half-chewed stems or empty spots where baby bean sprouts used to be.
We try to handle this in the organic way, so any deterrent we applied must be green. Ultimately, we make sure to sow enough so that hopefully some seedlings survive for us to savor 😛
There is, fortunately, one plant that we never have to worry about – the garlic. Being in the allium family, the stem and leaves naturally repel any pest, and most animals either cannot digest them or could die from nibbling too much. We breathe a sigh of relief – finally one less headache.
Garlic, however, possesses its own quirk. Unlike most vegetables, it must be buried in the ground in the fall, before the frost seals the earth but after any potential unseasonably warm days have passed, preferably covered with layers of fallen leaves, underneath which it will wait for the first signal of spring to sprout, ready to bask in the sun and absorb all the power to enlarge the bulb again.
This process is called “overwintering”. While some other plants have the same habit (e.g. lavender), garlic is somewhat unique in that it needs to endure the harsh winter outside in order to flourish. Even though overwintering can be achieved by storing the seeds in a damp, cold setting with little draft (like in a refrigerator drawer), I have never heard of anyone doing that with garlic. It seems essential that garlic extracts its strength from lying in the frigid soil.
I imagine this is similar to hibernation of many animals. Unlike humans who, with the aid of heating, artificial lighting and modern technology, could stay productive all year long, animals and plants understand seasons. They know, that during part of the year the environment is hostile, that even moving would cost more energy, that it is wiser to rest and stay dormant than to run around and fight. When possible, they prepare for this period by stocking up, either in their little hideout or in their body, enough to last until the next warm episode.
They also know that, however long and seemingly endless this frozen era is, it will pass. The day when they can safely forage, hunt, thrive, and enjoy various adventures, will eventually come. Be patient, and you will be rewarded in the end.
Humans ought to learn from nature. Much as we are used to having the circumstances under our control, there are times that we cannot change much, at least not immediately. But as long as we take care of ourselves and those we love, sooner or later the tide will turn in our favor.
Living through the low temperature often impart a more pungent flavor in garlic, making them more suitable to spice up any dish. Likewise, people that recover out of adversity will gain the resilience and wisdom necessary for a longer journey.
So, these little brave garlic cloves, are you ready to plunge into this exciting cycle?