Daryl's Garden

Today’s poem grew out of a recent summer visit to southern Washington. While there we ate a lot fresh produce, much of which came from the garden of a family friend by the name of Daryl. We were amazed by both the quality and the quantity of this produce, and it was immediately evident that the purveyor thereof truly had a gift, as well as a passion, for gardening. Although I didn’t meet Daryl, I know he is a talented and devoted physician by day and that his extensive garden is more of an avocation. The dictionary defines avocation as, “a calling or occupation; a hobby or pastime,” and that concept is what I’d like to explore further together.

Now my poem may be humorous, but it’s merely a lighthearted look at both the quality and the quantity of the fruits of one man’s particular passion. It’s not his job, but it’s clearly something that he expends a great deal of effort on, and something that other people benefit from as well. I’m guessing that Daryl’s gardening is also a satisfying and enjoyable pastime. These traits are the mark of an avocation. In addition to our specific careers, many of us identify ourselves with various extracurricular activities. For instance, you are reading mine right now. Our business cards may identify us as doctor, retail clerk, accountant, homemaker, bus driver and the like. However, we often identify ourselves differently, as do others. Along with our vocational titles, we may also identify ourselves as gardener, writer, stamp collector, aunt, sports fan, chef, auto enthusiast, artist, musician, etc. These other areas of interest sometimes define us even more than our actual jobs, which is an interesting concept. The question is, “What are you?” How do you spend your leisure time? What magazines do you subscribe to? What do you talk about at parties? What activities do others associate you with? What do you consider your areas of giftedness? What do you call yourself? These may be indicators of your own avocation. In some cases, folks may even consider their interests as a calling.

My point here is that these areas of strong interest, these avocations, can be meaningful areas of our lives which may well be worth identifying and developing. They often are the root of significant satisfaction, can be pursued through retirement, and may even become integral parts of our personal legacy. Avocations are also wonderful to share with the others in our lives, though we must be careful not to let them replace relationships. We all know of folks, some who are related to us, whose personal pursuits became obsessive and turned inward to exclude others. We need to be sure that our avocations make us interesting, rather than eccentric or isolated. For when we share them with our friends, family, children, and grandchildren they can become a meaningful personal touch point, one that can even outlive us through the lives of others who were affected by our passions.

So who are you, really? What defines you? These are interesting questions to ponder and would prove a valuable springboard towards self discovery. As I indicated earlier, I’m all about words. I love to write and share what I write. What about you? And the inspiration for this discussion brings us back to Daryl, the gardener. I still haven’t met him, but in a way I understand his passion because I have partaken of it in a very tangible way.

Think about what your own avocation might be and make an effort to explore it. You never know what you might discover about yourself, nor what an encouragement it may turn out to be for the other people in your life. As you read these words, I hope my own avocation has touched you. And the next time you drive by a well-tended garden think of Daryl and how his passion provided not only nutrition for my body, but also nourishment and inspiration for my mind … and now yours.

Daryl’s Garden
Since we arrived in Washington
And settled ourselves here
A common phrase has echoed
Through each meal in our ears
All discussions gastronomic
Since the moment that we came
Have been punctuated recently
By a single honored name
Spoken of in hushed and reverent tones
This purveyor of produce
Seems to be a gardening icon
For those who sauté, roast and juice
His name apparently is Daryl
The man chefs far and wide adore
His garden, Shangri La to vegans
He’s the prince of herbivores
His strawberries are famous
And even more so in ice cream
His collard greens and spinach
Are a macrobiotic dream
He is a titan of tomatoes
Garlic, lettuce and zucchini
His a cruciferous cornucopia
Topped with perfect raspberries
Every time we open up the fridge
Or through the kitchen stroll
We hear, “it came from Daryl’s garden”
He’s veg-ubiquitous, bless his soul
At breakfast lunch or dinner
The produce story is the same
If it’s food that’s green and grows
Then it from Daryl’s garden came
By Frank Carpenter ©