Our Learners will be planting a new garden in a few weeks. They had a gardening quest a few months ago and very few of the seeds they planted in their garden had made it to what the world would consider "ripeness." Their watermelon grew but not big enough by market standards or sweet enough or red enough yet it is picked and devoured as soon as they seemed large enough. The berries were picked while still hard and green. They also received an abundance of water. More than the plant needed. What started as 30 plants went down to 5.
We often mention that plants, after planted must be watered just enough but left alone that it might have the chance to grow into its optimum size and sweetness.
As much as they know this to be true, it was a little too hard to wait. Our adult wisdom also tells us that picking the leaves and pulling up the plant, even if we don't pick all the leaves or immediately plunge the roots back into the soil, the plant is liable to be stunted, if it even survives. We know that overwatering or the wrong amount of sun, will result in a plant that does not grow up to its potential. The key to growing healthy plants is to start with the right soil and season, to water judiciously, to protect it from pests, but to otherwise leave it be to allow the plant to grow in its own way in its on time. No amount of leaf tasting or root checking will benefit the plant, although that is often what we do to children in the name of testing and assessment. We forget, that these children, like plants, are already fully formed and complete as they are.
Our children are born to grow. Our main job is to keep them safe, provide the optimum environment and let them be.
Imagine what they might become.Â