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At 11:56 AM 11/16/01 -0800, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I agree with the need for a
different metaphor, but I don't that gardening is it. The point
about water and fertilizer kind of underscores my point: gardens (in the
commonly accepted sense) do not self-organize. Not at all.
They require a tremendous amount of planning, cultivation and work.
You must beat back weeds and nurture the things that you DO want to
grow. You must water if your chosen plants are not native to your
area. You must mulch if they fear cold. <br>
<br>
In short, gardening is, in my mind, the very antithesis of the new
metaphor. It requires a large amount of energy from outside the
system to be put into the system. </blockquote><br>
Ah Chris -- you have fallen into my trap, made my point -- and my day.
The gardening you are talking about is that practiced by an
auto-mechanic. Everything according to the plan. Bolt on a new plant and
forget its natural habitat. After all that is what it says in "Home
and Gardens" -- and every homeowner MUST follow the rules. And for
sure take some exotic creature that can't stand cold and plant it in the
Arctic. After all it is a part of the plan. Wheeeeew -- hard work for
sure. But is that the only way??? You could see what grew naturally --
all by itself. And then help it along. That is really what I am talking
about. Look before you leap. Don't fix it if it ain't broke -- and I am
sure some other trite phrases would cover the issue. <br>
<br>
ho<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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Harrison Owen<br>
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