Kosher Gardening – Growing Vegetables in the Holy Land

For the individual who finds spiritual fulfillment working the land, kosher gardening means sowing, planting and harvesting one’s crops in harmony with the teachings of Biblical law as expounded by the rabbis and sages.

To the traditional, observant Jew, all aspects of life are guided by Torah law.

Daily activities as diverse as the food we eat, the way we conduct our business, our speech, our dress, even our sexual relations, must all be carried out according to “halacha” (Jewish law).

The G-d fearing Jew will strive to ensure that all his behaviors are performed in a “kosher,” upright manner.

This includes gardening as well.

Growing up in the suburbs of Queens, N.Y., halachot (Jewish laws) regarding gardening were pretty much non existent.

It was only when I moved to Israel and began planting veggies in my home yard did I discover that this area of life was also governed by Divine will.

At first I asked myself, “Why would an act as simple and common as planting a tomato require special “kosher” behavior?”

I soon discovered, however, that due to the sanctity and holiness Jewish tradition attributes to Eretz Yisrael (Israel), special laws pertaining to the land and it’s produce were an integral part of doing agriculture here.

In time, with study, these Biblical teachings have influenced the way I eat and garden and impacted the way I look at the world and my role as guardian and caretaker of the earth.

This lens is a review of my attempts, as a Torah observant Jew, to grow some eighty raised beds worth of vegetables, each season, in accordance with Torah law.

While it is not the role of this site to explain each of the commandments regarding “kosher gardening” in depth, I will do my best to present an overview of the major halachot (laws) and my attempts to fulfill each one in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Familiarizing myself with these “mitzvot” (Divine commandments) has led me to a deeper appreciation of the wonder and mystery of creation, as well as the opportunity to find G-d not only in the houses of prayer and study but in the vegetable garden as well.

P.S.
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P.P.S.
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Square Foot Gardening vs Kosher Gardening

The Sanctity of Israel and the Role of Mitzvot

A Square Foot Garden Raised Bed

Jewish tradition recognizes a Divine and unique sanctity within the land of Israel that cannot be found anywhere else.

As such, there are special mitzvot (Divine commandments) that govern the behavior of those who dwell here which are not incumbent upon one who lives “outside the land.”

This pertains especially to vegetable gardening.

I discovered this the hard way when I planted my first six raised beds.

Having just read Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew I was ready to get started.

Mel recommends building raised beds which are 4′x4′.
He then advises laying 8 thin strips of wood across its width and length (4 horizontally, 4 vertically), dividing the bed into 16 equal squares, each of which is 12 square inches (see photo above.)

This enables the grower to plant a different vegetable in every square. It’s a wonderful system and allows the gardener to, as Mel says, “grow more in less space.”

The idea sounded great to me.

I planted my seeds and lo and behold, to my surprise and delight, some eight weeks later I had a beautiful vegetable garden growing in my yard.

Naturally, my neighbors were curious to see what was going on.

When I explained to them Mel’s system, they asked, “What about kilayim?”

“Kilayim?” I asked, “What’s that?”

It was then my education in the Biblical laws of agriculture and kosher gardening began.

Kilayim refers to the ordinance forbidding the mixing of seeds and the requirement for adequate spacing between plants.

My heart sunk. Surely the close proximity of all my plants had resulted in some violation of Torah law.

Not sure how to proceed, my wife and I were referred, by the community rabbi, to a wonderful organization called The Institute of Torah and the Land.

My wife drew out a very detailed map of all our boxes and what vegetable was planted in each square. She faxed it to them, explaining our dilemma, and asked how we should proceed.

Within 24 hours we received a simplified but detailed answer from Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi Amichai of the Institute.

In a nutshell, the guidelines, he explained, were to keep a distance of approximately 6″ between each vegetable.

In cases of two vine vegetables planted adjoining one another (i.e. cucumbers and squash) one must allow a space of 18″.

In those instances where we erred Rabbi Amichai was able to either find a more lenient ruling or suggested we actually uproot the problematic plant. He also advised us not to use a package of mixed salad seeds as this was a clear violation of Torah law.

The rabbi closed his letter on a warm, positive note, encouraging us to continue planting in Eretz Yisrael according to halacha and to adhere more closely to these guidelines in the future.

My wife and I have taken these lessons to heart and since that time have limited each of our 80 raised beds to one specific vegetable.

P.S.
Give the gift that keeps on growing – visit Plant A Tree In Israel

P.P.S.
Confused About How To Call Israel? It’s Easy When You Know The : Israel Country Code.

Kosher Gardening – Shmita : “A Sabbath of Rest for the Land”

Letting the Land Lie Fallow

{Leviticus 25:1-26:2}
“And God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, when you enter the land which I am giving to you, the land shall be at rest – a Sabbath unto the Lord. For six years you shall plant your field and for six years your shall prune your vineyard and you shall harvest its produce. But the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest for the land – a Sabbath for the Lord …” (25:1-4)

In the same way that the Bible commands us to work for six days and refrain from labor on the seventh (the Sabbath), a similar injunction applies to working the land of Israel.

We are to work the land for six years, but on the seventh year, referred to as the Shmita year, we must allow the land to rest and lie fallow.

By obeying this commandment, the farmer places his trust in the Lord, believing with full faith that all his needs will be provided for.

In some ways, for me, this is one of the most challenging mitzvot to abide by.

But not for the reasons you may think.

In years past, many farmers have been granted a leniency by the rabbinical authorities to continue planting during the Sabbatical year as a means of avoiding economic crisis and severe food shortage.

With me this is not the case.

For my wife and I gardening is a labor of love but not a serious source of income.
(We sell a bit of extra crop to friends and neighbors.)

We will honor the ‘shmitta year’ according to tradition and refrain from any growing activities.

The challenge for us is that we enjoy working the land so much, it’s hard to think of going twelve months without sowing, planting or harvesting.

For those who enjoy “getting their hands dirty,” not only the food we grow but the gardening work itself is a form of healing and therapy.

Gardening has become addictive in a positive way.

Nevertheless, there comes a time when one must take a break from his daily labor and devote more time to spiritual pursuits.

Not only does the land need to rest, we do too.

When the next shmita year comes around in September, 2014, therefore, I will be setting aside my trowel and shovel and seeking out other ‘non agricultural’ activities.

P.S.
Before the next shmita year be sure to Plant A Tree In Israel.

The brief video animation clip below explains, in simple language, the meaning of the Shmita year.

Kosher Gardening – Leket, Shikheha and Peah – Gifts to the Poor

Leket, Shikheha and Peah

“When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to fetch it; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless and for the widow; that HaShem your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” (Deut. 24:19)

“You shall not reap every last edge of your field and not gather in the gleanings of your harvest.. you shall leave them for the poor and the proselyte.” (Vayikra 19:9-10)

Kosher gardening keeps foremost in mind the needs of the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow and the stranger. One of the ways the Torah provides for them is with a number of agricultural commandments that fall under the category of “gifts to the poor.” (matanot la’evyonim).

These include: leket, shikichah and peah. They may be understood as follows:

Leket – Those gleanings that fall from the sickle during the reaping or from the hand during the picking – must be left behind for the poor and the proselyte.

Shikichah – This word means “forgotten.” It refers to any sheaves you may have forgotten and left behind when harvesting your field. The farmer may not go back and retrieve them but rather must leave them for the poor.

Peah – When reaping his crops, a Jew is obligated to leave a corner, at the edge of his field (known as “peah”) unharvested, so that the produce be available for the poor and the proselyte.

If there is one organization that serves as a role model within Israeli society demonstrating how the Biblical commandments of leket, shikichah and peah may be creatively put into action, it is Leket Israel.

Serving as Israel’s largest food bank and food rescue network, Leket Israel works to alleviate the problem of hunger.

Food, that would have otherwise gone to waste, is collected from farms, restaurants, catering halls, and food manufacturers and is redistributed to nearly 300 nonprofit partners caring for the needy

The following touching interview is with Raymond MacDonald a leading spokesperson for Christian Friends of Leket and Director of the Canadian Christian Division of Leket.

P.S.
To honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate a “simcha” (happy occasion) visit Plant A Tree In Israel

Kosher Gardening – Terumah and Ma’aser : The Art of Tithing

The Jewish farmer is commanded by the Torah to set aside a portion of his yield, not only for the poor, but also for the Kohen (the priestly class) and the Levites, who also served in the Holy Temple (Beit Hamikdash.)

Though the temple no longer stands we still must separate and set aside a small portion of our produce before we are permitted to eat it.

In my home we follow the following procedure.

After harvesting our vegetables we lay them out on the kitchen table (each vegetable lies separately by itself.)

We then take a bit more than 1% of each vegetable and set it aside.

This is followed by the recital of a special blessing marking it’s separation (see video below.)

The portion that has been removed is than double bagged and disposed of thoughtfully.

A second separation enacted in Temple times is called “ma’aser sheni.”
This portion is “redeemed” through the use of a coin designed specifically for this purpose. The money becomes sacred, i.e. earmarked for holy purposes, while the produce becomes desanctified and available for any use.

Though it may sound a little confusing the ritual itself is rather easy.

The video below features Ben Rosenberg, an organic farmer, who lives in Israel and markets his produce throughout the country,

Ben demonstrates how he takes terumot and ma’aserot and recites the appropriate blessings.

To order organic vegetables from Ben visit his website:
http://www.BensFarm.co.il

P.S.
Give the gift that keeps on growing, visit Plant A Tree In Israel.

P.P.S.
To go directly to the terumah and ma’aser blessing screened in the video skip to the 4 minute mark (4:00).

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Ba’al Taschit – Don’t Waste

In Deuteronomy (20:19-20), the Torah forbids us from cutting down fruit trees, even those belonging to an enemy in time of war.

Over time, the Jewish sages saw in this commandment guidelines for greater sensitivity to our environment.

These include prohibitions against:
1. Using more of something than is necessary. Don’t be wasteful.
2. Using something of greater value when something of lesser value would be sufficient to do the job.
3. Destroying anything needlessly.
4. Using something in a way for which it was not intended (thereby increasing the likelihood the item will be broken or destroyed.)

In our own garden we strive to apply these principles by composting organic waste, limiting our use of water, avoiding pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, rotating crops and utilizing simple work tools.

Our role model in this area is the Dervaes family from Pasedena, California.

Jules Dervaes has been referred to as the father of “urban homesteading.”
It was Jules and his children, Anais, Jordanne and Justin who inspired us to start gardening and simplify our lifestyle.

On only one tenth of an acre they have created a Garden of Eden applying the principles above.

The video below, “Path to Freedom,” is their story.

Start your own story : Plant A Tree In Israel.

Can A Non Jew Be a Kosher Gardener ?

The principles presented on this page are Biblical in origin and were initially intended for the Jewish people who would be living in the holy land.

Abiding by these laws would guarantee the success of their labor, to ignore them would result in failure and their eventual expulsion from the land.

Over the course of time the rules of Kosher Gardening have been adopted and modified by people of many cultures.

I am grateful to those farmers and gardeners I have met, in person and via the internet, who have served as sources of inspiration, encouraging me to continue in my gardening efforts and awakening me to the Divine hand that guides the forces of nature and generously provides for us all.

P.S.
To honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate a “simcha” (happy occasion) visit: Plant A Tree In Israel