The left hemisphere plans, incidentally. The right hemisphere flows.
Carol Deppe draws an autobiographical distinction in The Tao of Vegetable Gardening between "Planning Carol" and "Doing Carol." PC lays out elaborate plans that DC later disregards as she gardens. I can relate . . . big-time. Deppe's solution is to plan in ways that she won't disregard when the time comes for gardening. It strikes me as a reasonable approach to respect the different ways the hemispheres operate, but of course, I think gardening itself is the best way to bring the hemispheres together harmoniously.
My approach? I try not to plan at all, even though it's not possible. I look at garden planning like a look at eating: it's nearly impossible to fast too much. In the modern world, we can eat all the time and are programmed to do so. Likewise, in the modern world (since it's dominated by our left hemispheres), we are programmed to plan all the time.
But when my brain won't turn off and stop planning (i.e., 24/7 at the height of gardening season)? I keep a 3"x5" notecard and just jot down the things I need to do that day: the absolute minimums, then I try to focus on more important things, like gin.
Eric Scheske
Eric Scheske
