Sharing Berries and Boats

I find wisdom in the words of Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, particularly the lesson “share everything.” 

Some behaviors, like sharing, are so important that they are taught to us in our earliest days.  But our western culture puts a high value on assertiveness, winning, and individualism, which don’t encourage sharing.  So, there is often a tension between sharing and playing for keeps. 

I’m mindful of that struggle this week as I reflect back on the Town Council’s decision on Walker Farm and as I tend to my garden.

The garden first.  Last year I built two new strawberry beds because the existing ones had
run their course, as strawberries do.  This was the first year that the new plants put out a substantial harvest and, since last year’s harvest was meager, I was very much looking  forward to strawberry rhubarb pie, marking the beginning of my garden’s gifts.  

But because I tend to neglect my garden security, I have been “sharing” my strawberries with the squirrels.   Now I don’t mind some theft as long as I can have my share, but these critters were getting aggressive.  And they don’t just take a berry; they grab a berry, have a bite, and then abandon the remainder as if to taunt me. 

It’s been testing my patience, but I am trying to rise above it and share.  I do have netting sitting in the garage that I could place over the beds to keep the squirrels out, but for some reason I’ve been reluctant to use it. 

Squirrels aren’t the only garden raiders I’m hosting this year. I caught a robin snatching up one of my Juneberries (minor infraction, since they are primarily for the birds anyway).  Soon other birds will be stripping my currants.  And there is always a battle over blueberries.  But, in the end, I suspect that I will only weakly defend my crops since critters gotta eat, too.  It makes me feel good that can share the harvest with the critters.

Onto Walker Farm.  Last week, the Town Council approved the use of Walker Farm for the storage of rowing shells by the East Bay Rowing Club.  While I have no issue with use of Walker Farm by the Rowing Club, I had been campaigning against use of Walker Farm for storage of the rowing shells. 

Most of Walker Farm is a conservation area and, as chair of the Conservation Commission, I am compelled to oppose any developed or increased use of a conservation area. 

Allowing storage of shells is an increase in use that changes the nature of the area and sets a precedent for future boat storage. Development and increased use typically progress in one direction only and are very hard to undo.  But there was a lot of support for the Rowing Club and the Council voted to allow use of the farm for shell storage, with some appropriate limitations.   

Actually, the storage will occur on a small strip of “open space - passive”‑zoned land and there are already some egregious activities taking place at the farm anyway (the composting piles).  So I’m (sigh) coming to terms with this sharing.

Trying to maintain conservation land in a small town like Barrington can be challenging, even when there is widespread support for it.  There is always pressure to increase use of the land: for sports use, affordable housing, and even outright development. 

In these cases, I  don't want to share (it’s not personal, but I can’t help being emotionally invested in protection of the land).  Luckily, most of the conservation land is protected in some form (zoning, an easement, etc.), but the edges get nipped at, like here at Walker Farm. Like my strawberries. And something is lost.

But that’s how sharing works.  You give a little, I give a little.  And it may hurt a little.  As long as each side is willing to hurt a little some of the time, I’m okay with that.  I’m hoping that the changes to Walker Farm will be minimal and the venture ultimately beneficial for the town.  Hopefully, the critters can be fed and we can still have some pie. 

I guess all I really need to know I learned in my garden.