DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN

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Fickle Folk

Driveways

Damage Assessment

Becoming Less Verbal

Independence

Tomato Plants

Thank Goodness for Butterflies

Recognizing Alarms

A Way to Play Today

On Performing

Mother's Day

Waiting for the Rain

Just Say Oops

Remember To Breathe

Posed To Do It

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PLANTING SEEDS

You have to plant the right seed to get the fruit you desire. You can weed and till and fertilize the soil. You can plant companion crops and keep predators away. You can even talk to your garden more than most folks would think normal. But if you don't plant the right kind of seed, you're in big trouble. And, if you don't pay attention, it's easier than you think to plant the wrong seeds.

Obviously you can't grow squash by planting thistle seeds; and, if you want a really good crop of squash, it's probably not wise to use that package of hybrid seed from three years ago that you got for a bargain at last year's garage sale. You have to make sure you have viable seed for the type of plants you desire.

However there's more to this seed issue than that. Many a would-be farmer has discovered what happens when popcorn and sweet corn are planted too close together, or when bell pepper seed is cultivated next to the chilies. Even though type and viability of the seed were not a problem, cross pollination can cause a dominant variety to overcome the others. Furthermore, even the best tomato seed won't produce ripened fruit if there isn't enough sunshine and heat. Yet, after a long period of sun and heat followed by too much rain, the tomatoes will split open on the vine.

Serious farmers and gardeners study before planting. They develop a plan and carry it out carefully. Yet most of us scatter seeds indiscriminately every single day without even being aware of it. We say things to people that get planted deep into their psyches where they grow and produce fruit. Maybe we need to look at the quality and type of seeds we are sowing in others.

• Have people said things to you that they don't remember saying?
  
  
• How have those words affected you, positively or negatively?
  
  
• Do you pay careful attention to the words you say to others?
  
  
• What seeds do you want to plant intentionally, and how will you plant them?

© 2006 David Bentley

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David Bentley, M.Ed., is an avid observer of people, places and events. He uses his storytelling and questioning skills to help himself and others think outside the box in an ever-changing world.

Comments about his column can be sent to davidbentley@sanjuanislander.com.

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