I wanted to comment on the article in the NYT. I’ve had half a dozen people ask my opinion about whether it’s kosher to have someone else plant and tend a garden for you. So I’ve been thinking about it, and while I find it sad that anyone wouldn’t enjoy raising food as I do, you are right in pointing out that we all have our passions, and that gardening isn’t for everyone… I certainly agree with you that it’s not really all that different from having someone raise a pig or a cow for you. But I would take it one step further and point out that it’s a WHOLE lot better than having someone mow your lawn for you (which is oddly 100% socially acceptable)!

Lawn makes me nauseous. People laugh when I say - Why not raise a couple of meat lambs on those two acres, instead of hiring a crew once a week to come in and burn up a whole lot of fuel knocking that grass back and making pretty lines, while charging you 75 bucks? They think it’s a really curious idea. They think I’m hillarious. But isn’t this the origin of a lawn? We have forgotten. (and I am quite serious)

So, if you are instead willing to pay someone to grow FOOD on part of that ground, isn’t that better than growing wasted grass for show? I sure think so. I feel there is no shame in hiring someone else to do what you can’t or simply don’t want to do - as long as it is a good thing you are hiring them for and you pay them a living wage to do it.

And I certainly believe that raising food on your land is a positive pursuit, regardless of who does the digging.

Thanks again for a great, important, and engaging site!