"Marginal Production" [Reflections on Book Capitalism Is Fallen, Elwin Kettner - Chap. 6A - Environment]

I got curious one time
’Bout this garden-plot of mine,
And the wheat-seed I could plan
For that little plot of land.

So I blocked out one-foot squares –
One, then several seeds – compared
My results for optimum
Seeds per square when crop was done.

Half-way through the season’s time,
“Twenty-five”, said friend of mine;
Is the optimum per foot,
Five by five is all it took.

“If it’s more, there is no head;
It’s called “lawn” if lots instead;
If it’s one, you waste your land;
Takes a few or it won’t stand –

“It falls over in the rain,
Or the wind does just the same;
Put two dozen on your land,
Then you’ll farming understand.”

That’s “Diminishing returns” –
There’s a point when what one learns
Does not rise with time you spend,
Reading textbooks without end.

Optimizing factored life
Is the process that I like;
“Every task which must be done
Must have element of fun” –

That’s what Mary Poppins said;
By that motto I am led;
I’m quite curious most days;
Here – how input-output pays.

Thanks Lord for this.

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