Unit 3B - What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way
What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way
Jared Garrett
It was April and the last snow of the season had come and gone. The back yard of my home in central Utah was beginning to show signs of life, with the green of grass warring with the yellow of budding dandelions. My garden plot was looking good. Really good. I had taken pains to put it to bed properly at the end of the previous season, and I had been planning this year's garden for five months! Five months of sketching designs and plans, layouts and trestles for beans. And now the time was fast approaching.
I turned to my wife. "Hey," I said, all innocent and completely ignorant of the pain I was about to commit myself to, "why don't we plant some corn?"
"Great idea." She prattled and closed her eyes in thought. "Is it hard to grow?"
I shrugged. "No way. Everybody does corn."
Three weeks later I was ready. I had tilled the plot again, mixing in some nice manure and keeping it watered to get the worms excited. On a perfect, sunny Spring day, with a packet of seeds in hand, I dashed outside and planted four rows of corn in the southern end of the garden. I splashed some water on the five by ten foot area of future cobs and then moved north up the plot to put in some beans and zucchini.
Two weeks later I stared sullenly at the bare plot. No corn sprouts. None. No future maize. Glaring at the dirt, then the sky, I asked, "Why?" Nobody answered. I jerked open the shed door and dug through my box of seed packets, finally coming up with the packet of corn seeds. Having only cursorily skimmed the planting instructions, I had not actually read all of the information available. Two lines down, I found the problem: Plant in warm ground in a sunny area.
I looked up and glared again. But this time, I glared at the trees that shaded the southern end of my garden for about six hours of the day. Muttering to myself, "Too early. Planted them too early. Gotta have warm ground," I made my way to my healthy tomato plants and took comfort in their rough stems and fuzzy leaves. I broke a leaf off and breathed in its wonderful pleasant smell. Recharged, re-energized and renewed, I weeded around my zucchini then went inside.
"Yeah, so we planted that corn in the wrong place," I said, stepping through the back door into my small home. "Needs to be in direct sunlight."
"What do you mean 'we'?" my wife asked, grinning at me.
I muttered something witty and rude and went off to the kitchen, in search of a drink of water. "Yeah, well we'll give it some time. Maybe as it warms up, it'll grow okay."
My wife, Annemarie, gave me a hug. "You'll make it work. Besides, we're in Utah. It's sunny here."
With greater hope, I was back outside every day of the next week, checking for sprouts. It was on a Thursday that it happened. I was sure it wasn't grass. The shape was wrong and it was too far away from the edge of the lawn. "A sprout!" I shouted, sending my kids running and my wife walking: she was carrying the baby.
"Yay!" my two oldest boys shouted. "Corn sprouts!"
And it was true. There were several tender green shoots poking out of the tough Utah soil. I was excited. We were gonna have corn!
Two months later we were eating raw green beans, raw peas, fresh zucchini and yellow squash, and were pretty sure our pumpkins were going to be big. But the corn stalks were two feet, maybe three feet, high. The stalks were thin and the roots were visible at the base of the stem. I had no idea what to do.
Then it happened. I came home from work on a windy day that promised rain. I was beaming at the cloudy heavens, pleased that the sky was going to water for me. I walked in the front door, kicking off my boots and settling into my prized blue easy chair. My two oldest boys came dashing up. I held out my arms for hugs and kisses, but they stopped short, their eyes wide.
"Dad," my oldest boy, Thomas, intoned, "bad news." He was a well-read six and an oldest brother, both of which he took seriously.
His younger brother, Hintze, nodded in agreement. "Bad news!"
"The corn fell down," Thomas said.
I leapt to my feet, dashed through the house and flung the back door open wide. “No,” I whispered. It was true. My small field of light-emerald, three-and-a-half feet high corn was leaning. No, more than leaning. Some of the stalks were practically horizontal. Slipping my feet into my work shoes, I hurried to the corn.
"See?" It was Thomas, coming up behind me, "It fell down. The wind did it."
I nodded, numb. But, never one to give up, I set to feverish action. I waded gently into the garden, my hands tenderly lifting each corn stalk back to its vertical position. The wind blew. The corn fell again. I cursed the wind and straightened my corn plants again, daring the wicked southwestern gusts to come again. They did; the corn fell. Muttering swear words for all things stormy, I gently roped each and every stalk up, tying the rows to firm anchors on each end. Now the wind died down. My corn was going to live! It was going to thrive! It would provide loads of delicious, nourishing staple food for my family!
By the end of August, it was clear my corn would provide very little, if any, delicious, nourishing staple food for my family. The tallest stalk in my tiny field reached no higher than my neck. Small nubs were growing here and there on the healthiest of the plants, but they were not developing well. In the end, we got five little cobs. Kernels had formed over maybe seventy percent of the cobs' body.
But I couldn't believe that this disaster was due only to insufficient sunlight. As a regularly successful gardener, I knew that sunlight was vital, but my corn looked well, malnourished.
I read the back of the seed packet again. Plant in warm ground in a sunny area. The crumpled packet also said that the corn would be ready for harvest in eighty-two days. It further informed me that the seed company had a long tradition of good seeds. But it did not explain why my corn looked like it had been on a forty day fast.
It turned out that my corn had indeed been on a fast. A forced fast. A fast caused by my ignorance and by my eagerness to plant and unwillingness to study and learn about my crops before I planted them. I asked a garden club I had just begun attending if they had any idea why my corn had been such a spectacular failure. The patron of the club smiled and asked me if I had used nitrogen.
"Nitrogen?"
"Corn is basically a fruitful grass," he rumbled. "Grass absolutely needs nitrogen. You can get nitrogen pellets at the seed shop."
"Nitrogen?"
He nodded, taking a bite from a club member's home grown apple. "You've gotta have it. Otherwise, your corn won't come out."
"Nitrogen." Embarrassed at my ignorance, I buried my face in a plate of blueberry cobbler.
So what did my garden teach me? After long days of staring at bare ground and then urging my puny stalks to grow? Followed by weeks of wishing the corn cobs would finally form and thinking that corn was supposed to be taller, wasn't it? My garden taught me to look before I leap. To take a few minutes and get educated about what I am planting. My garden taught me to ask around to talk to people in the area who have experience with vegetable gardens.
Now I plant my corn in the sunniest patch of my biggest garden plot. This year I am going to plant beans amongst the corn, with peas on the outskirts. Did you know that beans give the soil nitrogen? Oh, and in my shed I have a bin of nitrogen pellets. And the prize? Big cobs that are 100% covered by sweet, yellow kernels. Loads of delicious staple food for my family to feast on.
参考译文——园艺给我的教训——历经磨难才学会
园艺给我的教训——历经磨难才学会
贾里德·加勒特
那是在4月，这个季节的最后一场雪来了又去。我在犹他州中心老家后院里的一切开始复苏，青青的小草和黄色的含苞待放的蒲公英争相斗艳。我的菜园规划得看起来好得不能再好了。为了把它收拾妥当，便于今年种植，我上个季末可费了不少心思。我为今年种植这个菜园都已经准备了五个月了！五个月来，我不停地草拟设计方案、菜园布局和豆类蔬菜生长用的支架。现在这一刻就要到来了。
我转身对我的妻子说：“嗨，我们为什么不种些玉米呢？”但我完全不知道也没有意识到种玉米要付出多少心血。
“好主意！”她信口说道，接着她闭上眼睛想了想，问：“玉米好种吗？”
我耸耸肩说：“没问题！人人都种玉米。”
三周后一切准备就绪。我又把地耕了一遍，并在地里施了一些好肥料，保持土壤水分充足，好让蠕虫活跃起来。在一个阳光明媚的春日，我拿了一小包种子冲到外面，在莱园的南头种下四行玉米。我在这块五英尺宽、十英尺长的即将结出玉米的地里洒了些水，然后向北走去，种了些菜豆和西葫芦。
两周后，我闷闷不乐地看着那片光秃秃的土地。没有玉米苗长出来，一株也没有，将来也结不出玉米来。我看看那块地，又仰天而问：“为什么呢？”没有人回答。我猛地打开棚子的门，在装有各种种子包装袋的盒子里翻找，最终找到了玉米种子的包装袋。之前我只是草草地看了一眼种植说明，根本就没有读完所有有用的信息。再往下读两行，我发现了问题所在，上面写着：种植在温暖向阳的地方。
我又抬头看了看，但这次我看的是前面一排树，它们每天大约有六个小时都在遮着菜园的南端。我自言自语道：“太早了，种得太早了。应该种在温暖的地方。”我走向正在健康生长着的西红柿，摸着它们粗糙的茎和有绒毛的叶子，我深感欣慰。我摘下一片叶子，沉浸在它那沁人心脾的芳香中。我再次感到精力充沛、精神饱满、体力恢复，回屋前我给西葫芦除了草。
“所以说我们是把玉米种错地方了！”我边说边穿过后门走进小屋，“要种在有阳光直射的地方。”
“你说‘我们’是什么意思？”妻子露齿而笑。
我诙谐而又有点粗鲁地低语了几句，然后走向厨房去找水喝。“那好吧，我们给它点时间，也许随着天气渐渐变暖，它会长得很好的。”
我的妻子安娜玛丽给了我一个拥抱，说道：“你会成功的。而且我们是在犹他州，这里阳光充足。”
到了第二周，我每天都更加满怀希望地出去查看发芽了没有。终于在一个星期四，种子发芽了。我确信那不是草，因为外形不一样，而且它离草坪也很远。“发芽了！”我喊道。我的喊叫使孩子们跑了过来，妻子也抱着另外一个孩子走了过来。
“呀！”我那两个大一点的儿子喊道：“玉米芽！”
真真切切的，我看到好几个嫩绿色的芽正从犹他州坚硬的土地中破土而出。我兴奋极了，我们要有玉米了！
两个月后，我们吃着鲜嫩的青豆、豌豆、新鲜的西葫芦和黄色的南瓜，并坚信南瓜会长得很大。但是玉米梗只有两英尺或者三英尺高，而且这些玉米梗很细，在茎的基部还能看到有根。我不知道该怎么办好了。
后来不幸发生了。在一个狂风不止、暴雨在即的下午，我下班回到家里。看着满天的乌云我眉飞色舞，欣喜老天要为我下雨浇园了。我从前门进了房间，踢掉靴子，坐到我珍爱的蓝色安乐椅上。我的两个大儿子冲了进来，我张开双臂准备拥抱亲吻他们，但是他们突然停住了，眼睛睁得大大的。
“爸爸！不好了！”我的大儿子托马斯庄重地说。他6岁，懂得多又是老大，他把这两点很当回事。
他弟弟辛茨也点头说：“不好了！”
“玉米倒下了！”托马斯说。
我跳起来，猛地推开后门，冲出屋子。“不！”我低声道。但是千真万确，我那片小小的嫩绿的玉米地里，横七竖八地歪着那些三英尺半高的玉米。不仅仅是歪着，有的玉米秆都横着躺下了。我急匆匆地穿上工作鞋赶紧冲到玉米地里。
“看到了吧？”跟着跑来的托马斯说，“它们都被风吹倒了。”
我呆呆地点了点头。但我可不是一个轻易放弃的人，我又狂热地行动起来。我小心翼翼地趟水走进菜园，用手轻轻地把每一株玉米扶起来。风一刮，玉米又倒下了。我一边骂着风，一边又一次把玉米扶起来，我可不怕这可恶的西南风再刮来。确实又来了，玉米再次倒下。我喃喃自语地说起粗话，咒骂着所有与暴风雨有关的事。我轻轻地把每一株玉米扶起绑好，把每一排玉米都牢牢绑在两头的支架上。现在风平息了，我的玉米会活下去！它们会茂盛地生长！又可以为我们家提供许多美味又营养丰富的主食了。
8月底到了，很明显，我的玉米就算能结籽，也只能为我们家提供一点点美味又营养丰富的主食。那片地上最高的玉米还不到我的脖子，只有几棵最健康的玉米秧上零星地长了几根小玉米棒，就这几个也长得不太好。最后我们只收获了5根小玉米棒，一根玉米棒上只有大约70%的地方结了玉米粒。
我认为这不仅仅是阳光不足造成的。我在园艺方面一向还比较擅长，根据经验，我知道阳光是最关键的因素，但是我的玉米看起来很好，就是有点营养不良。
我又看了一遍种子包装袋后面的说明：种在温暖向阳的地方。已被弄皱了的包装袋上还写着：可以在82天后收获玉米。它还告知我这家种子公司长久以来都生产好种子，但是包装袋上没说明为什么我的玉米看起来像是经历了40天的斋戒。
事实证明，我的玉米确实是在禁食，但它是被迫禁食。是由于我的无知和急于种植造成的，是由于种植之前，我不愿意去学习和研究该如何种植这种庄稼造成的。我之前刚加入了一个菜园倶乐部，我向俱乐部咨询，问他们是否知道我种植的玉米为什么会如此失败。倶乐部的一位老会员笑着问我是否用过氮肥。
“氮肥？”
“玉米从本质上说是一种多产禾本科植物”，他用低沉的声音说，“这种植物一定要用氮肥，你可以去种子店买些氮肥。”
“氮肥？”
他点点头，咬了一口由一名俱乐部会员带来的自家种的苹果，接着说道：“一定要施些氮肥。否则，你的玉米长不好的。”
“氮肥。”我为自己的无知感到困窘，只得埋头吃一盘蓝莓馅饼。
我的菜园教会了我什么？盯着那片光秃秃的土地看了数日，又急急地催促着弱小的玉米秆快长高？接下来的几周盼着它快点结玉米棒，认为玉米应该长得再高一点，是这些吗？我的菜园教会我要三思而后行；要在种植一样植物之前花几分钟对它多了解一下；它还教会我要向周围那些有种植经验的人讨教。
现在我把玉米种在了菜园里最大的那块地里，那里阳光最充足。今年我打算在玉米之间的空隙里种上菜豆，并在它们的周围种上豌豆。你知道吗？菜豆可以为土壤提供氮。哦，我还在棚子里放了一桶氮肥。至于收获嘛，大大的玉米棒上结满了饱满的金灿灿的玉米粒，这么多的美味主食够我们一家尽情享受了。
Key Words:
Ignorant ['ignərənt]
adj. 不知道的，无知的，愚昧的
previous ['pri:vjəs]
adj. 在 ... 之前，先，前，以前的
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
innocent ['inəsnt]
adj. 清白的，无辜的，无害的，天真纯洁的，无知的
manure [mə'njuə]
n. 肥料 vt. 施肥
plot [plɔt]
n. 阴谋，情节，图，(小块)土地，
comfort ['kʌmfət]
n. 舒适，安逸，安慰，慰藉
vt. 安慰，使
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
rough [rʌf]
adj. 粗糙的，粗略的，粗暴的，艰难的，讨厌的，不适的
maize [meiz]
n. 玉米
glaring ['glɛəriŋ]
adj. 耀眼的，炫目的，怒视的 动词glare的现在分
kitchen ['kitʃin]
n. 厨房，(全套)炊具，灶间
shed [ʃed]
n. 车棚，小屋，脱落物
vt. 使 ...
plot [plɔt]
n. 阴谋，情节，图，(小块)土地，
v. 绘
witty ['witi]
adj. 富于机智的，诙谐的
rude [ru:d]
adj. 粗鲁的，无礼的
stem [stem]
n. 茎，干，柄，船首
vi. 起源于
base [beis]
n. 基底，基础，底部，基线，基数，(棒球)垒，[化]碱
lawn [lɔ:n]
n. 草地，草坪
n. 上等细麻布
visible ['vizəbl]
adj. 可见的，看得见的
n. 可见物
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
tender ['tendə]
adj. 温柔的，嫩的，脆弱的 ，亲切的，敏感的，未成熟
stalk [stɔ:k]
n. 茎，梗
n. 跟踪，高视阔步
vertical ['və:tikəl]
adj. 垂直的，顶点的，纵向的
n. 垂直物
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
thrive [θraiv]
vi. 兴旺，繁荣，茁壮成长
wicked ['wikid]
adj. 坏的，邪恶的，缺德的
adv. 极端
horizontal [.hɔri'zɔntl]
adj. 水平的，横的
n. 水平线，水平面
fell [fel]
动词fall的过去式
n. 兽皮
numb [nʌm]
adj. 麻木的，失去知觉的，无动于衷的
insufficient [.insə'fiʃənt]
adj. 不足的
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
unwillingness [ʌn'wiliŋnis]
n. 不愿意；不情愿
ignorance ['ignərəns]
n. 无知
informed [in'fɔ:md]
adj. 见多识广的 v. 通告，告发 vbl. 通告，
absolutely ['æbsəlu:tli]
adv. 绝对地，完全地;独立地
patron ['peitrən]
n. 赞助人，保护人，老主顾
vital ['vaitl]
adj. 至关重要的，生死攸关的，有活力的，致命的
fruitful ['fru:tfəl]
adj. 多产的，富有成效的
spectacular [spek'tækjulə]
adj. 壮观的，令人惊叹的
patch [pætʃ]
n. 补丁，小片
vt. 修补，补缀
corn [kɔ:n]
n. 谷物，小麦，玉米
v. 形成(颗粒状)，
ignorance ['ignərəns]
n. 无知
outskirts ['aut.skə:ts]
n. 郊区
名词outskirt的复数形式
bin [bin]
n. 箱柜，[计] DOS文件名， 二进制目标文件
plot [plɔt]
n. 阴谋，情节，图，(小块)土地，
v. 绘
shed [ʃed]
n. 车棚，小屋，脱落物
vt. 使 ...
embarrassed [im'bærəst]
adj. 尴尬的，局促不安的，拮据的
minutes ['minits]
n. 会议记录，(复数)分钟
参考资料：
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201701/48904shtml
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U3B What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way(2)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U3B What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way(3)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U3B What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way(4)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U3B What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way(5)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U3B What My Garden Taught Me—the Hard Way(6)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
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