Pulling Weeds

Barnyard Management #24(?)

As a young boy growing up on the farm, it was the late spring and summer months that grew to hate. These were the months when the crops and the garden were beginning to growth in the heat and humidity of this time of the year in the tobacco fields; the plants grew up green and tall. I remember clearly tobacco plants in one of our fields that would regularly grow to over six feet high. While in the garden, down by the creek, everything would be lush and full of beans, peas, tomatoes, corn, as well as peppers and onions. Basically, any and all the fresh vegetables that our family could eat and share with neighbors each year.

But, alas, there is a dark side to this warm, green story! Wherever you have luscious green growth, you have the evil weeds! They seem to populate the area where the best crops and gardens grow. They seem to show up without any help or any encouragement. They were even able to grow where we could never get the other crops to grow!

So where did all these darn weeds come from? I have never seen a weed seed store in my life! I don't remember my father telling me to make sure I did not kill any of those special weeds while I was plowing the garden up the year before. Did these weeds just magically appear from above? Maybe there was an undercover plot by all the crop and garden seed folks to secretly include a small amount of weed seed hidden inside each bag? Maybe their intent was to insure that the poor farmer's would pull their hair out trying to kill all the weeds in their crops and gardens?

Well, regardless of where the pesky things came from, we had to contend with them. So we mounted an annual campaign to eliminate these weeds from our crops and garden. Even today, the lowly homeowner is reduced to shame and constant buying of a wide variety of weed killers from the local hardware store
in a lame attempt to stop these same weeds in the yard!

We would spray, pull, chop, hoe, plow and cuss weeds during the entire growing season. Many a day has been spent tilling the garden, ever too gently, to get those weeds before they spread and took over the garden. Some of my fondest (yeah, right!) memories are chopping weeds in the tobacco field, in the hot sun, for day after day. Each day the sun seemed to get hotter and each row seemed to get longer. But, it was a job that had to been done. Sometimes I would slip up and chop the tobacco plant as well as the weed! It was one that seemed endless and worthless to me as a child. My father clearly "explained" the purpose, however many times to me!

Yet, as we all know, pulling weeds is part of everyone's life. Weeds seem to come from the strangest places and at very odd times. They seem to be able to grow where and when nothing else can. They seem to survive in the harshest of places and in the worst weather. Weeds are just part of nature and something we can not ignore, walk away from or pretend they don't exist.

So, just how does this relate to our daily lives? Probably in more ways than you would think. Each of us must face the weeds of our lives. These weeds may come from unclean soil we have planted in. Weeds may come to us by unseen forces such as the winds of change and the rainstorms in your life. Weeds are never sought out and planted. They are never nourished or treated special but they always survive.

But we all have these weeds in our lives. Those issues or items that constantly seem to spring back to live each year, no matter what we do to treat them, kill them off or spray or pray they never come back again. These issues may come in the form of weeds with thorns one year or weeds with deep roots that get a stronghold on you before you are ever aware of them. They may be weeds that have roots, which you can never find the end. These many types of weeds are with us all.

So what do you do? How do you get rid of these weeds forever? Is there some miracle Roundup ™ spray for humans you can by at the local hardware store or in some management book? The answer, for me, is clearly no.

These issues or weeds are part of life. Some change and some never leave. Some grow in the worst places and show up at the worst times. Other may only come once in your life and may cause pain and heartache than you never imagined. Others lay low and grow over time until they have an established root system, deep within your lifestyle and cannot be ripped out overnight without a lot of pain and suffering.

So what do you do to fix this issue of weeds? Where do you start? How do you overcome the weeds of life and began to enjoy the fruits of your labor and your crops. For what it is worth, here are some rules of life that I try to apply

1. Weeds are frustrating; they serve no purpose and can be a big pain….but you can always count on them being there.
2. You only have two choices; ignore them or try to get rid of them. Ignore them and they will grow larger and take over your crop and your life. Instead have a plan to prevent them and remove them quickly when you find them before they spread.
3. We all have weeds to contend with, no matter how big or small the size of our crop. We all handle these weeds in a different manner.
4. Remember, the goal is get rid of the weeds. Some people wait until the weeds are fully-grown, others chop up everything that is different. Some get out the weed killer and spray everything in sight. None of these approaches seems to work very well, but at least you feel better!
5. Weeds have a purpose. They are there to make you stop and realize that something is wrong. It may be that your garden or your life needs some attention. Take the time and get rid of these weeds when you see them.
6. Not all weeds are weeds. Sometimes a new plant or a new product comes from what appears to be a weed. Be careful as you may be chopping up your next new opportunity.
7. The higher your high level of frustration, the more good and bad things you will kill. Look before you chop or spray. Sometimes you get so fed up with all the weeds; you just start chopping at everything. Take your time, look at your options; respond instead of reacting.
8. Your crop and you life always looks better after you have tended it some. Take the time to stop and pull the weeds from your life before they choke out the good things. It's a real good feeling to look back and see the rows all clean and weed free.
9. Don't let the weeds win. You have several options and many ways to get rid of the weeds. The most important thing you should do is to try. Your first attempt may fail, but you must keep on trying.
10. Seeds, Weeds, and Feed: Most issues come from small seeds; they often grow tall and flourish. Most issues include weeds; these are not needed but should be expected. What you get out of the issue, after it's over, you should use to feed your soul and spirit. What lessons did you learn and how can you prevent more of those weeds next time?

Stay Safe!
June, 2002

Comments submitted will be forwarded to Ken.