My New Community Garden

One bonus in living where we now do is that even though I live in an apartment in the sky, I look down on a lovely community garden, just steps away from my building. A few days after moving in I made it a goal to get a plot in the garden; it was so lovely, very neat and orderly, everyones beds overflowing with healthy plans or new plants just starting to sprout out and it's right on the river. I sent the organizer an email to say I was interested in joining the group; in reply I received word that it was very full, but that I would be placed on a wait list. Bummer. Now my view would be tainted by the fact that I might have to look at a veggie garden that I could not garden in.

But a week later I did receive another email that I would receive a half plot and to meet the organizer in the garden 5pm on Thursday to go look at it and show me around. The organizer is this very friendly girl about my age who it also enthusiastic about gardening. She said I could have my half plot for free if I helped out with a project in the corner of the garden (sweet!)

My half plot was in the older part of the garden near the entrance and very close to the hose. I got to work the next day. The previous bed owner had left a big bunch of heirloom celery growing. I snipped the celery down to take home and make a soup. Then I dug up all the roots (there were A LOT of roots) and shook out the dirt. Then I got the wheel barrow and got a barrow full of fresh compost that the garden has in a big pile to the side. I spread a nice layer on top and took a few minutes to admire my work and imagine my veggies in it. I would buy my plants on the weekend!

On Saturday morning I got a call from the organizer saying there had been a big mistake! The previous organizer had verbally gave the WHOLE bed to someone, but hadn't marked it down. Darn! I was no longer going to be in the bed I had just cleaned up! Plus, did I just rip up their celery? Oh well, that will be my bounty for all the work I did cleaning up all the dead roots in their bed.

I would get a new bed, but I had to transplant some strawberries and turn over the soil and spread the compost all over again (in the rain this time) Hopefully that was the last hiccup to my new garden plot by the river. I will buy my plants THIS weekend for sure!!

-L