Photographed by Rosemary Ratcliff
#1. MONEY
You can save serious money gardening. Whether you are well established or struggling, the economics of gardening make sense. I once heard saxophonist Don Braden in a master class say, “financial freedom is artistic freedom.” As artists we have to make every dollar count. Author David Blume has written that with proper design it is possible to feed a house hold on about a 50 foot radius around their home. For a year long account of the dollars and cents of gardening check out J. D. Roth's blog Get Rich Slowly.
#2 HEALTH
Growing a garden contributes to your good health and provides nutrition. Although big agriculture likes to tout that organically grown foods are not more nutritious, this simply is not the case. In short, the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients are often much higher in organically(read "garden") grown produce than with conventional agriculture. Also consider the absence of pesticide residues in your home grown foods(if you do not add them!!!). For an excellent discussion of the scientific literature read Andre Leu's article here. Another health benefit to gardening is the mobility factor. Since most musicians are on a stage sitting or standing in one place when they perform or sitting in a room practicing all day, just having a reason to be mobile is a positive thing.
#3 TIME
Most musicians have flexible day time hours which are optimum for gardening. If you are working a stepping stone job from 9-5, it is a little less convenient. But if you are teaching in the afternoons or just playing at night, then you should have plenty of daylight to go out and garden. Plus, unlike livestock or pets, a vegetable garden can be left unattended for several days if you have to go out of town for a gig. Some of the vegetables may be over-ripe when you return. Simply toss them in the compost heap and go on. Another time advantage comes from not having to go to the grocery store as often. Co-creator of permaculture, Bill Mollison, is famous for saying that in the time it takes him to go to the store and buy groceries he could easily walk into his backyard and harvest his food for free. Although gardening takes time, you save some time by replacing the lawn which you no longer must mow. At least you are now being productive. When you mow, all you are doing is drudgery; You make something look nice for a few days, you cause pollution, and you incur expenses both in the machinery and the ongoing cost of fuel. At least with a garden there is a measurable yield.
#4 HUMILITY
Gardening can cultivate your sense of humilitity, a quality in short supply for many of us. Realizing our place in the universe, that we are not greater than we are, is important. Sure we have important roles to play as artists. But hubris and arrogance have caused tons of books and music projects to go unfinished. Creating works of art require work. We have to get our hands dirty. It may come as a suprise that humus, the black tilthy composted soil that is like steroids for vegetables, has the same latin root word as humility and human. They all have a language connection having to do with the earth. Read more here. Staying grounded and literally down to earth is achieved through gardening.
#5 INSPIRATION
You may find a great source of inspiration in gardening. There is an oft mentioned life affirming quality to being out in the garden, whether it comes from the cool crisp air of dawn or seeing the interconnections between different plants and animals. Think this is a bogus point? Then what about Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, or Haydn's oratorio The Seasons? Inspiration can come from many places. Why not have one of your sources in the backyard?
Here are a couple books that can get you started.
If gardening has been a part of your creative life, I would love to hear about it.
