One of my favorite tales (and I use that word loosely, Joan is a very good storyteller, and never lets the truth get in the way of a good story) is the time she grew an Amorphophallus titanum or Corpse flower just outside her family's kitchen window in Northern Virginia when she was in high school. As the tale goes, she was able to actually get the flower to bloom, but her mother made her throw away this rare plant shortly afterwards because of the stench wafting trough the house. You can read more about this cool and interesting plant here:
http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=4132weeblylink_new_window
I recently wrote to her, and she led me to read about the Buddist monk author Thich Nhat Hanh. He also is an avid gardener and he likes to teach about the ways of the world through tending to his garden. I loved one of his most popular poems, Kiss the Earth.
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe
when we feel safe in ourselves.
So when I am out in the field farming, with all the voices in my head talking, I certainly feel happiness knowing I am helping take care of the earth and learning about life.