Sunday, November 7, 2010

The good earth


Here at the bach I've been planting my summer garden. What a pleasure it is to smell the good earth and feel the crumbly texture as my space turns the sods! I've chopped up the seaweed I brought home from the beach last time and have thrown organic sheep pellets into the holes before planting.
Now a cone of bamboo stakes stands ready, guarding a circle of pole-climbing bean seedlings. I've pushed manuka stakes deep into the ground, ready to support the tomato plants: Money-maker and Roma. The garden looks odd, and not particularly photogenic: just a piece of earth with stakes rising up at gawky angles, and the baby seedlings hardly visible. A row of dwarf bean seed lies hidden under the earth. But in my imagination the garden is filled with lusty plants that dwarf their supports and produce luscious produce.
Gardening is an act of hope.
And to feed the hope, here is a plate of produce from previous efforts, all ready for dinner.

4 comments:

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Isn't it a wonderful time of the year when our vegetable gardens are under way and we have the anticipation of all that is to come. Our garden is at the same stage as yours.

Unknown said...

Looking good Juliet. My beans have just begun to send out tendrils. I have the smallest vege garden now but love to eat from it.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that earthy fragrance is like none other. Gardening is, indeed, and act of hope. Do you use the seaweed as an amendment to the soil or as mulch?

Juliet said...

Thanks for the comments Marilyn, Joan and Penny; it's nice to connect with other gardeners. The seaweed is to add nutrients to the soil. It's bull kelp, and it goes dry and brittle when left on the ground. This makes it easy to chop up with the spade.
I'll be watching for the first tendrils Joan.