The Garden: Learnings
After spending one year and five months on a waitlist, I am finally assigned a plot in the community garden. I pick up my key from city hall, elated, and sit on a nearby park bench daydreaming about the potential of my garden. The abundant harvest I’d gather in the fall, the perfectly-aged overalls I’d find in a vintage shop, the new friends I’d casually chat with in between stretches of quiet, meditative gardening.
It should be noted that my gardening experience is classified as novice at best. But this has opened all experiences to learning experiences, and it feels right to document them each month.
Amending the Soil
Before gardening begins, one must “amend” the soil. This is what Ben and Margo tell me on day one, as I run my hands over arid, sandy soil that fills my barren plot. I make a plan to walk the mile over to our gardening center and carry a bag of amend for the soil. Novice experience shows through. Bags of soil are heavy, like could hurt your back if you carry them incorrectly heavy (I’m in my 30’s now, I can say these things). I abandon the walking plan and enlist Joey’s help to trek three bags of soil from the car to the plot.
Next, one must alternate between watering the soil and sifting it to properly incorporate both the amend and the water to reach the lower levels of ground. I learn you don’t do this with a hand tiller or, worse, your hands. You do this with a full-sized rake. Ben laughs as I mention the sweat I’m breaking from the raking and mixing. “You have no idea what you’re in for.” Comforting.
Squirrel Battles
Because my plot had been unoccupied for some time since my plantings, squirrels had taken a liking to hiding their nuts throughout my soil. This caused a battle for which I was wholly unprepared. On Sunday, I plant my first vegetables - carrots, lettuce, and cilantro. I well with pride, telling everyone in my vicinity the news. Daydreams of a huge harvest start up again and float with me as I briefly left town. Upon return, all of my carrots and lettuce are uprooted. Not to worry - an easy re-plant. The next day, the carrots again are torn apart. Re-planting with a little less optimism now. Later that day, Stephanie sends me a video of a squirrel taking my little garden markers with the caption “what a brazen little shit” and the suggestion to add blood meal to my soil.
The next day, I mix the blood meal and plant ginger roots as a small celebration for staying one step ahead. “Ha!” I’m assuming the squirrel said. Ginger roots are violently strewn across my plot when I visit next - a big middle finger to “step ahead.” Margo jumps in next, dropping a large net by my feet as I re-re-re-plant my poor dismantled seedlings. The net works in keeping the squirrels at bay, but are crushing my lettuce leaves so I unearth the net and take Ben’s advice: fill the rest of the plot. I bring a haul of seedlings the following day and heartily fill my plot - oregano, rosemary, mint, arugula, and tomatoes. Fortunately, no new signs of squirrel damage, but my realism is cautious not to call this battle officially over.
The Anawalt Support System
One final pleasant surprise in this month’s gardening journey is the supporters who work at the local garden center. I have learned that people love to share updates on their gardens. And with so many frequent visits, there are so many opportunities for updates. Terry’s tomatoes are growing beautifully and Lionel has been focusing on eggplant varieties. Jake shares nothing but throws sarcastic comments at me about my choice in seedlings. Every trip is completed with instructions on how to treat my tomato’s leaves and more details on how Terry plans to spend his retirement, fast approaching in August. As with the gardening group, the Anawalt staff deserve a big shoutout for their support - it has made this first month much more achievable.
Current plants: carrot, gem lettuce, radish, cucumber, early girl tomato, arugula, new red fire lettuce, oregano, ginger, mint, cilantro, parsley, lavender, and orange hat tomatoes. More to share next month, but in the meantime, man, I’m feeling proud so far.
(Photo: It’s Complicated)
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.