Is there a virtue in laziness? I want to tell you about the way we’ve been gardening. Don’t get started until June – leave the garden alone. Don’t turn the soil in the fall, but do that just before planting your heirloom seeds, mixing in the composted soil. Don’t weed the volunteers. You’ll enjoy the bounty of greens springing up by themselves in full vigor alongside the perennial plants all spring long.

You don’t need to water. They’re self-sufficient around this time of the year. Culinary interests such as arugula, lettuce, spinach and parsley will grow themselves in their own perfect timing. And yes, don’t forget the nutritious dandelions in their tender stage.

Many root vegetables and onions are biannual, and you’ll see what they look like in the second year with flowers and seeds. We see many bees swarming in the white flowers of arugula and yellow flowers of second-year turnip. Birds still feed on the last year’s sunflowers, and we’re eating delicious vibrant salads every day.

There’s a lesson to be learned here.

Chyako Hashimoto

Durango