"It’s reseeding day at Chispas Farms, and I’m planting provider beans in the empty row between the tomatoes and the chard. I push the dry beans in as deep as my first knuckle, close to the emitters on the drip tape to ensure they get as much direct water as possible. This is how Casey Holland, the steward of the farm, has told me to do it. She also told me to lick the bigger seeds before I plant them—to give them a head start and establish a connection—to let them know who’s going to care for them. After I finish planting, I look down at the row and whisper, “Safe journey.” It just feels like the right thing to say. These seeds have an uphill battle to fight."
