Remember I said I’d lost my community garden plot because I missed a key gardening meeting, and the notice said in big bold type that anybody who didn’t attend or send regrets would forfeit their plot?
After three weeks of feeling bad and procrastinating about it, I finally picked up the phone yesterday and called the volunteer in charge of the garden.
“I know I missed that important meeting,” I said, “But I’m wondering if there’s any way I can redeem myself and get my garden plot back.”
She seemed a little mystified.
“You still have your plot,” she said. “It’s still registered to you.”
“But the notice said…” I said.
“Well yes, we do want people to attend the meeting,” she said, “But we would never actually take your plot away from you.”
I was so happy!
Late yesterday afternoon, GC and I headed over to the plot and spent an hour digging up grass and dandelions, and admiring the things that had sprouted back to life (raspberries, strawberries, lemon mint and chives). Our neighbour in the next plot gave us a few red Asian lettuce perennials, so we planted those too.
It was the most exercise I’d had in ages, if you don’t count walking. My back was killing me, but in a good way, sort of.
Last year we bought the Square Foot Gardening book, so we’re going to try that method this year. We’ll have a 4×4 box in the middle of the plot, surrounded by a walkway, with perennials around the edges.
Bleeding Heart
After all that gardening, we went to GC’s house and he made us blueberry pancakes for dinner and we watched a movie about Leonard Cohen. It was a really good day.
Jack in the Pulpit?
I’m not sure if that’s the Jack in the Pulpit as it looks a bit like a hosta leaf. My J in P is coming up though so yours probably will too!
Happy gardening!
Yeah, I was reading your post yesterday and thinking “Man, that’s quite mean-spirited of them to take away people’s plots just for missing one meeting!” It’s not like they are making a huge profit from your use of the plot or from your attendance of meetings, so they might think they’d better quickly replace you if they didn’t hear from you in order to keep the money rolling in, or something. Anyway I am glad to hear that you hadn’t really lost it.
This makes me so happy.
That looks like either a hosta or a lily-of-the-valley – I can’t tell the size. Gardening is like knitting – you can always rip it out and start over if you don’t like how things turn out. Or make amendments here and there to tweak it into something that fits. Good enough is perfect!
We’re going to try square foot gardening as well for the first time ever this year. I’m notorious for not being able to grow anything, ever, but the kids are eager to have a garden and I figure I can handle one square foot. Can’t I?
Oh I am BEAMING!!!! I am so happy for you! I’ve been wicked sick (along with everyone else here) and my itty bitty forays into our garden have made me feel so much better. I can’t wait to see more pictures as things unfurl.
I am glad you still have your garden plot. I do not think the plant in the photo is a Jack in the Pulpit. It may be a lily of the valley. Lily of the valley and hostas are pretty gregarious and usually have several shoots hanging out together.
There are some wonderful stands of Jack in the Pulpit at Mud Lake along the path around the lake.
It’s actually pretty easy to get out of those types of requirements, if you know the right way to approach it.
I never got the hang of gardening, much less renting a plot. I used to help out my dad, but he’d just tell me where to plant what, and the garden was more or less already laid out. I’ve got a front and rear garden that don’t get any attention from me (except the occasional scowl), and since it’s so overgrown with weeds, I don’t know where to start. Plus I don’t really want to commit to spending the time maintaining it with all the other stuff I’ve got going on.
– RG>
Zoom, things are falling into place. I’m thrilled you got your garden back…and I’m also happy you’re working in your patch around the home…’cause our homes are our castles and I really, really like yours!
Oh, you Canadians! So nice!
Here in the USA, that plot would have been usurped or even auctioned off, with perhaps an oil derrick being planned for the property, if enough people have neglected to attend that mandatory meeting. (‘Look, folks, it’s called “mandatory” for a reason,’ the evil oil barons would say. ‘Community gardens are socialist/communist, anyway, so shut up or face deportation to Guantanamo!’)
Or I could just be a little bitter/jaded/pissed off with corporate greed and profiteering and all that goes with them. Maybe just a little.
… Sigh.
Can I move in with you? (Just kidding. Mostly.)