My father used blended chemical fertilizers and various insecticides and fungicides in the garden and in the landscapes he created for others. After my experience at Threefold Farms I asked him if I could have a portion of our large vegetable garden to grow plants organically. He gave me a large area and I tilled in composted horse manure, brought in leaf mould to mulch the rows to keep weed growth to a minimum and to conserve moisture. As the mulch broke down it also added organic matter to the earth improving its tilth.The results were amazing. We harvested bushes of spinach, various types of squash and other vegetables and had very few problems with insect pests and used no chemicals at all.

It was sometime in the very early seventies that Mercier wrote to Mother about his approach to farming organically and whether one should ever use chemicals. Mother wrote her answer, in large letters, "NO. NO, NO, one must not repeat the mistakes of the past."

An interesting anecdotal follow-up concerns a letter I once write to Mother, a typewritten two page single-spaced letter! I wrote about growing and caring for the plants and flowers in the Matrimandir Gardens using only organic techniques. Shyamsundar took the letter to Mother and as he began to read the first sentence Mother said: "Stop, I know all he is doing to say. Tell him he may use chemicals for the flowers." What a lesson for me!

Mother gave me a wider understanding than I could ever have imagined. Firstly, one should never be fixed on any solution or idea as we then crystallize our consciousness. Sri Aurobindo writes - and I am paraphrasing but this is very close to his words: Only those things are true the opposite of which are also true in their own time and application.

The revelation that I received was that the first work of the gardener is to care for the health of plants, nurture them with love and develop an inner connection in which one will be able to know innately the needs of a particular species. One can learn these things mentally as well but a deeper understanding will lead to a collaboration with Nature that will presage greater beauty, resistance to insects and disease, enhanced fragrances, etc. in the dawning New World.

If a plant is severely attacked a one time (perhaps twice at most) application of the mildest insecticide may be necessary just as we might require intravenous for an illness or an operation, an antibiotic, or even a transfusion. Each instance must be examined thoroughly to determine the best treatment and one most always consciously employ the best solution while invoking the Supreme's guidance.

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