It was that simple. I had not been watering enough. Everyone who received plants from me had amazing robust plants producing robust fruit in their gardens, but all my plants were scrawny and unhappy. My body had a rough June; so watering adequately was physically difficult. But more significant was the experiment this season was soaker hoses.

For this environment and backyard habitat, soaker hoses were not the right instrument. The robins pecked through them trying to get the worms that nestled underneath the hoses, and they had to be left on for three or four hours to adequately irrigate the soil in this semi arid zone. Leaving them on would be fine because they are very water efficient, but with so many bird-holes from the robins, they could not work properly.

Thus far, and year after year, the most effective irrigation system for this backyard garden is ditches. You fill them, let it overflow into the vegetable beds on either side, and give extra water with the hose to the opposite side of the ditch so that the front and back the vegetables get a good soaking. Leave it alone for three or four days, come back and do it again. It’s meditative. One can do pruning, tying, and picking while the ditches fill. It is also fun listening to the soil talk as it drinks up the water.

My neighbor has had zucchini for two weeks and has been sharing. Most of my plants were not even flowering. All the plants were so beautiful and full-bodied before going in the ground. But, they also were watered every-other day inside on the racks or during their three hours outside. Wah-wah. They just needed more water.

It’s been an interesting contemplation now that the simplicity of the situation is understood. Water IS life. And, as any intelligent person knows, fresh, clean, accessible water has become a challenge for too many people and animals in the world. The green-beings are suffering also. All life forms on Earth are struggling to be properly hydrated, while monocrop fields run irrigation sprinklers – often- at the worst times of the day. The water just evaporates. (It should be a crime to do so.)

Happiness is this body accomplishing a task. Early morning (sun up hours are best) and then as the sun is low and evening temperatures are dropping, this body can do what needs be done. The vegetables popped within a few days of deep watering. I swear the tall things grew inches overnight! Purple beans and snap peas came on and are being picked. Tomatoes are responding with full clusters. Winter squashes have fruit on the vines and, yes, the zucchini are beginning to produce.

Below:

• Amalio’s broccoli: Belstar heirloom
• Amalio harvesting potatoes in my raised bed. About 5 lbs. of Yukon Golds
• turn up the volume to hear the bees in the short Holly Hock video
• and a morning video as the sun was rising in the garden