"In order to live off a garden, you practically have to live in it.- Frank McKinney HubbardOnce upon a life there was a woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do....so she planted a vegetable garden. And ran chooks. She grew fruit trees. And somewhere along the way she grew very, very tired. The chooks died, as chooks do. The children left home, as children do. The vegetable patch became overrun with weeds. She was looking forward to life on the computer & then...
...the children began returning like boomerangs!
"Why," Dino wanted to know, "was the vegetable patch in such a disreputable state? Where were the veggies?" The woman just looked at him. He was young, strong & healthy. She was losing her teeth, her limbs ached, & she already had one foot in the grave. [Do you remember that t.v show?] "Really, mother! Must I do everything myself?" And he proceeded to dig & hoe, hoe & dig throwing all the weeds into the compost as well as a good many useful plants that had been lurking in there somewhere. [shh. I snuck out & retrieved them & planted them elsewhere]
"On Saturday," Dino informed me, "I will plant the vegetables." I remained very, very quiet. "If I'm home."
I know what will happen. It's happened before. My children put in a huge garden then depart for regions unknown. I am left to mulch & water a huge area on those rare occasions I am actually in my home [& please do remember we have the Gothic coming up with all the extra rehearsal time that will entail.] Then, THEN, I have a glut of crops & no~one to eat them. I will find myself door knocking on my neighbours' doors begging them to relieve me of tomatoes, cucumbers & beans.
I find it odd that my children do not consider a house a home unless it has a vegetable garden wherein they can wander randomly like grazing cows. One day, instead of rushing round the countryside like a mad thing indulging my delusional youngest child I will devote myself to the simple things in life: purring cats, good chocolate & veggies straight from the garden to yours truly.
16 comments:
if only I could pop some of ours over to you... a glut, we planted too many, looks good though :o) had our first home grown cabbage last night, yum. Much nicer than the bok choy which was a bit ewwwww
xc
Kids are great aren't they??! lol...
I would love to relieve you of some of your homegrown produce... I love them, but can't be bothered growing anything myself. Slack aren't I!
"I find it odd that my children do not consider a house a home unless it has a vegetable garden wherein they can wander randomly like grazing cows."
"I will devote myself to the simple things in life: purring cats, good chocolate & veggies straight from the garden"
What hope do we have??? I will forever also consider chocolate and cats needed to create that home atmosphere............
O I also got a good chuckle out of this posting, your writting was very cool beans, mwhahaha!
Please do not complain! I would give anything to have some come and dig and hoe and hoe and dig!
BTW I have met you and your teeth looked just fine! Still feeling a little under the weather are we? :-)
If only I was your neighbour, you wouldn't have to beg me to take your produce, I'd pay you for it, as I have a brown thumb:) Isn't it great that your kids have a love of gardening though! hmmm...must take more notes on this topic from you in future:)
Indeed the veggie garden Liddy is creating at the farm is quite impressive; now all you need is for her to bring Dino some paca poo for your garden, too! Smells ...interesting... but works a treat :)
We have a grand scheme for beginning our "living off the land" plan, at least more off the land than we are currently doing. It will involve a drastic change in the landscape of our backyard and using our front gardens for less flowers, which is what we will preparing this fall. I know how much work a garden can be but if we can just keep the squirrels from stealing our food we will do fine. I just need a couple of barn cats with serious hunting skills to help with the little furry thieves.
Hojos: So when are you arriving with all that bounty?
Amanda: I would gladly give you some. We always get a glut of something ~ usually something no~one eats except the person who isn't here!
Liddy, my love, you can thank me later...♥
Ruby: Unfortunately the teeth bit is true & I'm actually immensly grateful not to be doing the hard labour this time. Do I sound scratchy. ;P
joyfulmum: shh ~ my kitchen windowsills have things in jars growing roots & nearly ready to be potted out ~ which I do for friends. I am much better at growing things than I am at housework, which is why my children consider a veggie garden is essential but cleanliness is optional! ☺
Dani: yes, I'm not on the girl's grand scale & I think I'll pass on carting Paca~poo. We have plenty of cows here & they do quite wll in that department. ☺
Seeking: you have some serious plans happening there, girl. Not competeing. My garden is very small beans in comparison.
Ah me ah my this is normal. they go they come they go again and the circle continues. Bless. G.
Gerry: Too true ~ & at least they do return. Wouldn't I whinge if I never saw them at all!
snort, paca poo, I shall be giggling all day now :o)
xc
Um Paca Poo really isn't all that funny :)
Paca Poo.....hahahahaha!
I laughed when I read it yesterday and laughing more today. I am sure it is just like any other but it has a certain ring to it. Paca Poo....hahahaha!!!
I have looked all around my garden and i can't find a space to grow a veggie garden. The only spot is where the 2 dobermans live and they would eat my veggies and make a terrible mess, so not an option. I have thought about a raised garden in a few different spots - still thinking.
I grew up with a huge veggie garden, my dad grew everything he could and did an excellent job. He also had an ideal spot that was just right for sunshine and drainage.
Hojos: lol I had to explain the play on words to the girl *sigh*
Ruby: lol It certainly has a ring to it.
Jo: Yeah, Dearest's grandad was the same. Their whole backyard was ploughed under & he supplied the whole street with veggies. Hope you find a spot for yours.
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