The Surprising Nature of Growth

There is a screech overhead, and with a quick glance up from harvesting peas I am just in time to see an adult and several fledgling hawks disappear into the cover of forest surrounding the garden. My familiarity with the general appearance of hawks allowed me to make the distinction, but I would have to converse with Chris about the detailed coloring of the birds in order to identify the species. So, intrigued at the sighting, and admittedly a bit worried about our chickens and turkeys, I make a mental note to check up later on the species, and return to the work in the garden.

With the recent heat we’ve getting, and the coming of the heart of summer, the growth of the plants has seemed exponential. Although I’m in the field every day for hours and have a mental image of how things look, I am continually surprised by the bountiful growth all around me. Some crops’ perseverance is more noticeable in vertical dimensions--in mind I’ve got tomatoes, sunflowers, corn, beans, basil, and seedlings--while others, such as squashes, strawberries, and rhubarb, give the majority of their energy to their leaves and expand horizontally. Of course, plants grow in both dimensions simultaneously, but each does so in its own proportions. In addition to healthy growth, the plants are relatively free of pests (KNOCK ON WOOD), producing well, and make a beautiful spread for us at the farmers markets.

After discussing with Chris the aforementioned hawk, and with the additional consultation of a field guide I come to an at least somewhat confident conclusion that it was a Cooper’s Hawk that screeched above me. I have always been fascinated by birds of prey because they are exceptionally adapted to their distinct abilities: with strong feet for taking off, landing, and holding prey, curved talons for catching and killing, excellent eyesight, and a sharp beak for tearing through flesh, this highly specialized anatomy relates to such a particular life mission. The heart of a bird of prey must be the color of Amaranth, the deepest of purples rich with the strongest sinew. I have not seen the Cooper’s Hawk since that first sighting, but I know she is around, looking out for her fledglings as they learn the skills of their mother. In their mixed habitat of farmland and forest, the presence of humans and our livestock is taken in stride by the undiscerning nature of these animals using their abilities to survive, while we do the same.

The goats, the chickens, the turkeys, they have a home here because we are caring for them in the best way we know how, but we must remember that if predator or pest compromises our animals and plants it is acceptable, because we can never eliminate a threat entirely. We must learn to live with these threats and to minimize their impact; if we can do this, and I believe we have been, they are diminished from threats to annoyances, which are easier to deal with. Hey California Potato Beetle! Don’t get comfortable.

- Matt