Garden Yield – Expanded Definition

“Obtain a yield” is a basic tenet of the sustainable design system permaculture. Many moons ago I took a permaculture design course and incorporate some of those concepts into my backyard sanctuary. One idea is to design for ease of care. This includes focusing on plants that are perennial, disease resistant, and do well naturally in one’s geographic area. When those are aligned, the yield can be substantial. The permaculture stars in my garden are the currant bushes that are overflowing with berries every year.

When I first moved to Denver, I researched fruits that might grow easily here, dealing with the harsh summer sun, the dry winds, and the winter temperature extremes. Currants came up as winners. They have not disappointed.  Alba  is a beautiful white/pink translucent berry that grows in small bunches like grapes. The other is  Crandal, a dark purplish tart berry. Both are loaded with nutrients. I have only two bushes and yet they fill up the freezer and jam jars for the year. I toss the fresh ones into muffins, pancakes, oatmeal, and yogurt.

But it is more than the currants that have me thinking about this whole “obtain a yield” idea. It is August after all so lots of plants are wildly producing: rhubarb, collards, basil, pole beans, tulsi, zucchini, cucumber, tomato, eggplant. But sadly, there are no apples this year as the blossoms were all killed in a late spring 16-degree evening. Did I fail at obtaining an apple yield?

And that’s when it occurred to me that “obtain a yield” could have an expanded definition. There are non-tangible yields from my garden that are harder to quantify. Even though I have no fruit on the apple tree this year, just having the tree in my yard makes me happy. It reminds me of my father who tended apple trees for as long as I can remember. Marigolds and roses remind me of my mom and grandmother. When I brush against the tomato plants and they release their distinctive fragrance it reminds me of my grandfather’s garden and running through the rows of tomatoes and corn.  Connectedness to my family of gardeners is a definite yield for me. But there is more.

We know that tending a garden and being among green living things is good for us. Many of us know this intuitively, but research is also confirming this idea.  Gardens and green spaces are peaceful, satisfying, calming, and centering. It makes sense to include these benefits as part of the yield.

I know that I have the luxury of expanding the definition of obtaining a yield because I am not dependent on my yard as my only food source. I might be sad that my apple tree has no apples but I can also buy organic apples at a nearby store. My grandparents who were raising kids during the Great Depression, might find it curious that I’m not hyper focused on a food yield. n But then I remember that my grandmother had a rose garden that she tended because the roses were beautiful. So I think they would get it.

Whether we have our own yard or not, tuning into plants and connecting with them is good for us. We can harvest all that good energy by intentionally tuning into the green world.  Taking the time to notice gardens and trees as we pass by and cultivating an awareness of their life force is a way to recharge and obtain an expanded yield, beyond all the edibles.