Is it Worth it?

I paused in my battle with the weeds, stood up slowly, and critically surveyed the jungle that my vegetable garden has become over the last few weeks, and had the thought that all gardeners have at some point in the year:

Is it worth it?

I mean, I could just go to the store and buy food instead of attempting to grow it, and I almost certainly wouldn't be out much, money-wise...  and I wouldn't have sweat dripping off my nose as I practically stand on my head while searching for ripe tomatoes, trying to get to them before the chickens do.

Is it worth it?

In economics, we say that worth = benefit - cost. So the question I was really asking, standing in the garden, is this: is the benefit of growing my own tomatoes greater than the cost?

If we are considering factors beyond monetary value, and I think that is a good thing to do, then we can list many things on the benefit side of this equation, including, of course, the superior taste and quality of a home-grown tomato compared to one bought at the grocery store. I also learned a little about food production while growing this tomato, and my kids did, too. The soil was enriched and tended with thoughtful growing practices, and I suppose the chickens scratching around did their pest-eating and fertilizing part too. And, no gasoline was consumed to transport this food to me. I also practiced patience, waiting for each fruit to ripen in its turn. All of these are good things, benefits of growing a vegetable garden, items I often list when trying to convince others to grow their own gardens.

But now, the costs. The cost side of the equation includes, I suppose, the actual monetary cost of seeds, which is nearly negligible, and any other garden structures, which, for me, are mostly salvaged. But when I was asking this question, is it worth it?, with sweat dripping down my face and aching muscles, I was instinctively categorizing my manual labor as a cost, and thinking of it as a pretty large cost too. This is in line with the way our society generally see things, especially with respect to actual, physical, manual labor. We sometimes hear the terms "backbreaking work" in reference to what our ancestors had to do to survive, and we are meant to give a little shudder and offer a moment of gratitude that we don't have to do that anymore. 

But, as I think about my tomatoes and the work it takes to grow them, I must conclude that I was wrong about this. My manual labor doesn't belong on the cost side of the equation; it belongs on the other side. My labor is purely a benefit, something that I am privileged to do. As I work in the garden, I am getting physical exercise and building functional strength. Manual labor gives me the chance to calm my thoughts and enjoy the quiet of nature. I offer my work as worship, getting to know the land in an intimate way, better understanding my place as one of God's creatures. I am learning to tend and to keep. What else would I rather be doing, truly? 

So, is it worth it? Yes. It's worth it.