Friday 16 August 2013

Edible Garden Tour Sort Of

Last week was our local Edible Garden Tour.  Although people rarely want to leave this Shangri La, it is slightly bothersome the only way out is by sea or air. If some catastrophe was to hit, perhaps not us, but further down the coast, we would be cut off. For this reason food security is a big deal.








I admit to being a little testy these days. Moving twice in eight months will do it to you unless you are the kind of perfect person who excels at that sort of thing, which I'm not. The sprained thumb is not doing at all well. The back injury from the first move became incredibly hostile when faced with more boxes and hit back with a vengeance. Perhaps for these reasons the tour began to tick me off pretty quickly.

I could tell this young man felt the same way
Great learning opportunities were promised-companion planting, veggies for dry, shaded spots, new gardens, plants for overwintering, greenhouse design.....So why no owners to show us around? Nothing formal, just a friendly chat would suffice. If you're not going to talk to us then a few labels or explanatory notes would be nice. I joined up with a nice couple and we tried to figure out stuff as we went along, sort of a learning experience I guess if guessing is enough for you. There was an overall clad young man in one place, clanging buckets and brandishing a fork, who looked more than a little menancing. I think he might have been an unhappy minion slaving away in the hot sun while the weekender owners sat up on the deck, cocktails in hand.

Finally, what do you think of this? A community garden was on the tour. It was well kept and effectively planted, things were thriving. Amongst the trees, the plot holders were swinging in hammocks, playing music and drinking something (?). A merry time was being had for sure. Nothing wrong with that. A large sign asked for donations towards a new water system. Wait up! They already use the land at no cost. If my well runs dry am I going to put a donation box out by the gate? I could but I dread to think what might get stuffed in it. I'm all for helping out but isn't this pushing it a bit far? If this was a farmer about to lose his livelihood I would be more sympathetic. These guys just want to grow fresh veggies, which is an admirable choice, but certainly doesn't qualify them for handouts.  

If I ever reach the giddy heights of inclusion on the tour there will be no donation box although there might be a lemonade stand. Neat labels will abound. 

13 comments:

  1. You are so right, they have tp pay their new water system themselves! Lovely kitchen garden pictures and especially the young boy on the chair.

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  2. I need a new well, which I know from experience is about a 10K expense so I am building a VERY large donation box to put at the end of the driveway, so excited! Which is to say, I understand your frustration. I'm glad you found nice people to share the tour with though!

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    1. Perhaps it could be one of your lovely stick creations.

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  3. Sorry to hear you are still not feeling 100 per cent well - and the edible garden didn't seem to cheer you up much either. You should have ousted the little boy out of the chair and had a bit of r and r. I must say the pictures looked as though all the veg was doing very well - and how cheeky are they at the community plot asking for donations - no one helps me pay my water bills.

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    1. I thought the tour would be invigorating and I'd come home feeling upbeat despite my ailments. No such luck.

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  4. That is just crazy!!! A donation box?!?! Really !?!?! I'm sorry that it wasn't a better experience...but at least you got to meet some nice folks and see the gardens. The hammock thing really stumped me though!!!

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    1. Elaine suggested I turf the child from his seat but now I'm thinking I should have aimed for a hammock.

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  5. It is always nice to have the owners at any tour around to answer questions. In tours here, there are usually volunteers that stand around, but the owners are not usually there. I've often wondered if they didn't want to be there, or were ordered out! (The volunteers are usually good at answering questions.) I didn't realize you were in an area where food independence was so important. That would make having all those questions answered so much more important, so I understand your frustration at having no one to ask. I hope you get to feeling back to 100% soon.

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    1. Thxs HG. The spring garden tour is organised by the garden club. Run by women who know how things should be done. I suppose I was expecting something similar this time.

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  6. I'd be irritated, too. Putting out a donation box, especially when they can't even be bothered to answer questions, is a bit entitled and audacious. I might have to donate my opinion about the whole thing.

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  7. I've always wanted to go on the tour, but haven't been in town on the right day and the right time. I would also like to share my small gardening tips, but who would come up the lake? I can't figure out why someone with a great garden would want to share and not meet and greet to tale all the stories of success and even failures. What's to be gained by either side. I know I would learn more than I shared in the process. - Margy

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