Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Garden party

Carol's Labor Day harvest
Yesterday, I decided that it would be a good way to get my exercise by going into the garden and working my little plot. Lots of buttercup leaves had begun to encroach into my area, and the sweet peas and other plants were ready to join the compost heap. So that's just what I did.
One of Nate's sunflowers and clouds
At first it was on the hot and sunny side, but then these clouds came in to give us some cover from the sun. I was joined by Carol, Nate, Hedi and Joan before too long. Joan didn't stay, but the rest of us did, and we worked on clearing our various areas. Nate has finished earning his degree and is currently looking for a job. He's been offered one from Boeing and another from some place in Georgia. We all hope he takes the Boeing job because then he'll be nearby, even if he has to move from our apartments.
Nate's garden spot, next to mine on the left side
Since we still have some open spots, I think it might be possible for me to take over Nate's plot, at least for next season. If there are more people who want to join us, we'll work from there. On the back fence he's got some really good raspberries, and you can see my strawberry plants on the left are encroaching on his plot. They are the best strawberries I ever tasted, so it sure would be nice to have more room for them. We'll see.
Nate sipping his drink, Carol clearing the community garden
We gathered chairs and brought our drinks of choice: Nate had something with gin in it, Carol got a beer, and I drank my wine (Hedi doesn't drink), while we talked about the successful season, with what worked and what didn't. In the picture, the ground under Carol's feet was full of old squash plants and weeds, and she had finished clearing the area when I took this picture. Soon after, she joined us in libations. It was fun, and I have to say I have enjoyed this, my third planting season, the most of any so far. And I'm looking forward to next year!

Right now I'm cooking a stew, made with one of Carol's onions, Nate's parsnips, my garlic and zucchini, and Hedi's crookneck squash. I could add more, but the pot is full, bubbling away happily as I write this. And it will be enjoyed for dinner tonight, along with some good bread! Who would ever have thought I'd actually become an accomplished gardener, looking for more garden real estate? Certainly not me!
:-)

24 comments:

  1. too cute. i love that you all share with one another - both time and produce. :)

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  2. I love it. Gardening and gardeners create such a wonderful (productive) community. Productive in every sense of the word.

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  3. What fun you find! You have quite a comradeship with your fellow gardeners! Nice!

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  4. That soup sounds so yummy, and with bread too! I miss having a garden, but there is no space and it's too hot in Texas!

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  5. cool community time at the garden...hey i would be willing to take over the raspberry plants for sure..ha...smiles...

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  6. Gardening is one of the most rewarding things I do. So glad you have found the benefits and joys.
    Also neat that you can share experiences. That accelerates the learning curve a lot.

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  7. There is such great camaraderie in your complex...that is super. And your work during the summer months have paid off.

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  8. Sounds great to have garden companions - often it is a solitary enterprise. And I can almost taste the resulting produce!

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  9. I just took a break from the garden to come inside and read blogs. I harvested another huge basket of tomatoes and some strawberries and raspberries. This is our first year of raspberries and I didn't expect them to produce anything this year. I've been collecting the berries and freezing them. By the end of the season I hope to have enough for a batch of jam, although the spouse is eying them for his morning cereal. It is quite satisfying to grow our own, isn't it?

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  10. Gardening brings about satisfaction. We plan, see things grow, harvest and eat. I think you could talk yourself into more space. After all your plot is very small.

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  11. We've been eating fruits and vegetables for weeks now. And the grapes are ready - way too many.

    I'm so surprised I like the gardening. Never did it as a kid.

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  12. I love it !! I knew you would be hooked...lol...now your life will never be the same...

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  13. I always smile when I read about how much you enjoy your garden. And your impromptu garden party made for a special day.

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  14. I bet your stew was life-giving!
    What a gift is bounty from a garden, huh?

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  15. I like your community garden and the nice feeling amongst your crew of fellow gardeners. All working together to accomplish beautiful fruits and vegetables. What a fun afternoon for you and it is is quite plain from the photos that fun and community fellowship was enjoyed by all. I could go for a bowl of that garden soup....h-m-m-m lol

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  16. I would like the drinking part even more than the gardening. It sounds like your garden gets better every year. Kind of like you!

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  17. I envy your garden plots. I garden solo, and consequently I get bored easily and lose patience and give up too easily. I think if I had a gardening support group I'd do better.

    Of course, there's another issue is my family. My brother-in-law has a huge garden and gives us lots of free stuff, and so that takes a lot of the motivation out of my own efforts.

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  18. That soup sounds delicious. Give me some!

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  19. There is nothing like cooking food you've grown through your own efforts and earth's abundance. Topped only by the shared joy of growing it together with friends. Can't get more local than that!

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  20. That would be perfect to get Nate's spot if you want more room! Sounds like he'll be moving soon. You have gotten the gardening bug and it's working out well. The stew sounds delicious. :)

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  21. I can think of no better meal than freshly harvested veg. There seems to be a wonderful community where you are. Although I love London with a passion, that close-knit community feeling doesn't exist here.

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  22. When you started gardening I just knew you would go at it with all you had. The joy of seeing things grow (and the eating too of course) is very addictive.

    Your soup sounds delicious!

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