Metaphysical Plant Ethics

If you're like me, you may find the spiritual aspects of something interesting to be the real source of fascination rather than the thing as it is observed. Of course, physical reality holds more riddles and mysteries than we can solve, but nevertheless we've slowly chipped away at them to build a fount of scientific knowledge that surpasses all recorded civilizations. Even so, we are in the same shadow of metaphysical understanding as we were since the mystery of Golgotha; still even relying on surviving ancient greek texts or 19th century philosophers to give us insights unearthing luck, destiny, death and what I have deemed here as spiritual aspects. I've heard these aspects described collectively as the "thing-itself" that underlies the world we experience. This post is my chance to share glimpses of the thing-itself that I have discovered while exploring controlled-environment technology and also the principles of plant care that necessarily follow.

The principles of plant care in practice all involve physical realities like soil composition, environmental conditions, light quality and the like. Going forward I'll share these important considerations in the context of controlled environment agriculture to highlight features and capabilities of HYGROPRO devices. For now, I'm focusing on the hidden principles of plant care because I want to expand on the fictional narrative I shared in my first post from 2019 of a dystopian future society. My description depicted human beings alienated from one another and living in an artificial world brought about by modern technology, but I recently realized that ironically, growing plants in isolated chambers is analogous to this bleak future I hoped to avoid by heralding the joy of agricultural innovation. Truthfully there are a lot of similarities between a person forced to reside in a small apartment, only living their life through screens and a plant forced to live in a box, only living their life through an artificial environment. However, as I will explain, plants are very different from people. In our consideration of plants' spiritual needs, we can also learn about our own.

Plants are unconscious beings. They are in a constant, dreamless slumber, only responding to stimuli in effortless adjustments that they are unaware of. There is no awareness for plants like there is for animals and human beings. Even their immediate reactions like a venus fly trap closing on its prey and a fern closing its leaves at a tender touch are carried out without consideration. Their forms are so in tune with their role in the ecosystem that all they need to do is sleep peacefully or restlessly and their natural life force processes adapt their condition to better their existence. This is why observing plants with careful consideration can impart wisdom about our own existence; they embody the will to live in a shameless, naked pursuit.

The chemical metabolism of plants has been catalogued in greater specificity since the invention of the microscope along with further biochemical advancements that allow isolation of enzymes and genomic landscapes. A materialist will insist that after 10 more years we'll be even closer to completely understanding the inner life of plants to the point where we can engineer new species that solve problems beyond the scope of traditional agriculture. There are already efforts in work that demonstrate this capability today. However, even with understanding all the bits and pieces that work together within a simple plant there remains the life-force that makes that cannot be measured or isolated. The same materialist might insist that it doesn't exist, that plants are complicated compositions of self-sufficiency and that this is our only indication that they are alive. He or she would chuckle at the thought of whether a plant can be 'asleep' or not.

When human beings sleep, we dream. We are transported elsewhere to another reality in order to occupy our mind while we rest. While we dream, our body undergoes processes that cannot but undertaken during waking consciousness. It could be said that the same life-force that ceaselessly works within plant life has the chance to access a sleeping person and even the dreaming mind. For reasons that the scientific cathedral can't agree on, a well rested person is healthier, stronger, more alert, and lives longer. It would seem as if a stronger connection to dreams physiologically works to improve the condition of a body, just by giving something immeasurable a chance to flow naturally without the attention paid by consciousness getting in the way. Then why do plants not dream? They don't have a consciousness to power down when it's time to reorganize. They are constantly connected to this mysterious ether for their entire existence.

This is where we can begin to draw vast differences between a human being and a plant in a box. Mankind achieved waking consciousness in order to master the Earth and be free. If a person were unnaturally imprisoned, they would naturally feel a disconnection with their innate purpose and become depressed, probably at the detriment of their good health and restful sleep as their mind is endlessly occupied trying to rationalize their sorry state. A person in such a condition will struggle to bring fruits to bear in that life. A plant put in a box that doesn't allow it to sleep well will not live well or produce beautiful fruits either. Here is the foundation of HYGROPO's mission and the future of agriculture. Upon this foundation, every detail of environmental stimulation will be placed with the intention of strengthening the innate connection of the plant to this etheric life force through deeper slumber. Each HYGROPRO device will be equipped to provide a level of incubation that endeavors to surpass natural plant comfort. Each plant grown in a HYGROPRO device will sleep so well and bring forth so much beauty that they will inspire us to try to do the same for ourselves.

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