“Greetings from sultry, humid Indianapolis, where our garden is having its worst year ever. We replaced a bunch of soil this year, and the new dirt turned out to be inadequately acidic, so what plants have survived are struggling. In this respect, many of you may find my garden relatable—who among us has not felt that we were planted in slightly poisoned soil? But nonetheless, some of the fava beans and tomatoes are finding their way as my mom and I desperately try to fix the soil, make sure the plants get adequate water, and so on.
This is critical work we do for our vegetables, but it is also critical work we do for each other and the world. On tiny or large scales, we try to provide each other with adequate nutrition and water, and to improve the circumstances in which we grow. Of course, we may end up with a garden of withered plants despite our best efforts this year, but it’s still worth trying.
Hope is always justified, even if it isn’t always rewarded.”
John Green
Emphasis mine.
