The simple task of planting seeds, tending and watching them grow, and, if all goes well, harvesting the produce is a wonderful way to be present in the moment and temporarily forget the wider world. But vegetable gardening, in particular, can also be an act of resistance. What is resistance? One definition is…”the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument”. Merriam-Webster mentions this.. “an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators”. I love the idea of an Underground Gardening Operation! Gardens have a rich history of rallying the public in times of crisis. To promote the war effort, FDR lauded Victory Gardens in his fireside chats and in 1943 the USDA estimated that 42 percent of all produce grown in the country came from Victory Gardens. Can we draw upon our history and employ gardens to resist negative forces in the world today? Yes! Engage in Resistance by tending the land under your feet.

Dr. Melinda Knutson is a wildlife ecologist, meeting facilitator, and an advocate for native plants, animals, and wild places. She serves on the Board of the Coulee Region Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, volunteers for the Concordia Ballroom, and has been growing vegetables since childhood. She is a member of the UU Fellowship of La Crosse. <trilliumlax.gmail.com

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