Two Easy Ways

The Simplest, Easiest Way: A Large Open Space

Knowing the cardinal directions on your property, you can expedite this entire process by finding a very large, completely open spot on your land—a place with no trees, buildings, or any other obstructions to the northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, and northwest for hundreds of yards—and placing your garden in the center of it. (Why Northeast and Northwest Instead of Just East and West?).

But I don’t have that! I have trees all around me. 

Or

I don’t have hundreds of yards, but I have tens of yards.

Or

I have a large, open spot like that, but I want to plant nearer an edge.

Or

I get some sun. I just don’t know how much.

If any of those are the case, you’re in need of other methods to see exactly how much direct sun you get.

A Rewarding, Simple Way: Taking Time

Find the sunniest spot on your property and spend a day there observing how much direct sunlight it gets during the time of year you’ll be having a garden. Observe and record the time the sun’s direct rays first hit all of your space after it rises in the east in the morning. Hang out there throughout the day watching your place and record the time the sun’s direct light leaves your spot sometime before it sets in the west.

During this time, you’ll likely spend time reading a book and watching the wildlife in your yard, 1/2 acre, acre, or acreage, but also regularly take note of the sun. Watch it throughout the day and see where it casts shade and for how long. Find the spots that have no shade all day from the time the sun breaks the horizon in the east until it disappears over the horizon in the west.

This way gives you a certain visceral knowledge about your space that cannot be acquired any other way. You’ll know for certain how much direct sunlight you get on your hoped-for spot or if there’s a better spot nearby, and you’ll likely have a much better appreciation for certain wonderfully indescribable things.

There’s a certain quality that hangs off of those who spend time in such pursuits, a telling “knowing” in their eyes, a quiet smile, an unspoken peace about them, perhaps a more tranquil heart. I remember someone for whom I care deeply once telling me about his sitting in one spot all day and watching the sun arc over his head. 

“You realize you’re just a speck on a big ball of dirt flying around a big ball of fire,” he said, with a tone that told me he had a better appreciation for what’s really important in life.

My favorite excerpt from the Tao describes this:

Are you willing 
to sit still long enough 
for your mud to settle
and your water to come clear?

It’s impossible to sit in an area this long and not have several epiphanies—about where to place your garden, about yourself and the natural world, and about life.

Most of us, when we hear about such an idea think, “That’s ridiculous! I don’t have that kind of time!” 

It’s true. It is a whole day. And it’s certainly not something you have to do. The point is, however, it’s your choice. This is just an option.

It’s also true that you’ll likely be very happy you did it afterward. It might sound crazy and boring, but you’ll likely come away not only with several epiphanies from all you’ve observed in the natural world around you but also feeling different, as well, from the quiet time you’ve taken for yourself for your mud to settle and your water to come clear. 

Again, this is only one option, but feel free to use it as an excuse to give yourself this gift for just one day and to learn years’ worth of ineffable wisdom about yourself and your potential garden space in the process.