Of course, it’s not all waiting from here on out. Nature has the ultimate say in what will happen over the course of the growing season—the character of the seeds, the immutable soil texture, the temperature’s rises and falls, the sun and wind and rain. But that doesn’t mean I can’t contribute to the conversation with irrigation, soil amendment, trellising, pruning, weeding. In their mission to grow, capture solar energy in sugars, develop fibers and fruits, and go to seed all over again, these crops won’t be on their own out there. Nurture: that’s what makes this agriculture rather than wilderness.