Teaming up with nature: The tomato revolution
My journey to real flavour
I began growing tomatoes in 2015 for one simple reason: I'd given up on finding truly delicious tomatoes in supermarkets. The problem with commercial tomatoes isn't just disappointing it's systematic.
In the hierarchy of supermarket tomato priorities, taste barely makes the list:
- Shelf life, how long before rotting
- Visual appeal, vibrant color
- Uniformity of shape
- Maximum yield
... - Perhaps, if we're lucky, flavor
Commercial tomatoes are invariably hybrids bred for everything except what matters most: taste. I've reached the point where I prefer quality canned tomatoes over the fresh imposters in grocery stores.
Canned Tomato Tip: Always select peeled whole tomatoes with minimal salt (0.1g per 100g indicates quality) and absolutely no citric acid. These additives merely compensate for lack of natural flavor. And despite its premium marketing in Norway, Mutti is not the quality brand it claims to be. (You can get really good canned tomatoes at a cheaper price )
Nature's perfect design
Heirloom tomatoes grown outdoors exposed to wind, rain, and insects are nothing short of extraordinary. The difference is revelatory. Industrial farming hasn't just diminished our food; it has severed our connection to what vegetables can truly be.
When you grow as nature intended, however, you become part of an ecosystem. The truth is simple: if nothing is eating your garden, you're not participating in nature.
The butterfly caterpillar battle
For years, I waged war against butterfly caterpillars that decimated my garden. My tomatoes ended up riddled with holes, tomato leaves disappeared completely, and lettuce vanished overnight.
The solution came unexpectedly when I began supporting local birds during winter. In a beautiful display of reciprocity, they repaid my kindness.
The birds stayed through growing season and formed an unexpected alliance with me. Today, my garden hosts a vigilant avian army each tomato plant pole crowned with a sentinel bird. They spot and consume caterpillars with remarkable efficiency, while never touching my precious tomatoes.
This natural partnership has transformed my gardening experience. Take a look at the results, and in the picture below, you can see the birds perched on each pole, standing guard over my thriving garden.
By supporting natural predators, I've created a balanced ecosystem where intervention becomes minimal and rewards are abundant. This is what it means to team up with nature rather than fight against it.
You should be careful judging intelligence by size or creature.
When winter comes birds arrive at my window sill, pecking my window asking me "Can you please return the favour".
