Most would think that harvesting is the high point of gardening, but I think that the culmination of seed starting, irrigation planning and placement, the teaching of soil care, and the final placement of the seed or transplant into the soil for a new start is the best. Just standing back to look at that new cucumber getting ready to start its work is thrilling to me. Yes, there is the next step of getting the trellis up. And the watching for bugs or disease as we go through the summer. Waiting for that little green thing to fill out its promise and finally freeing it from its vine. Then off to Forgotten Harvest so that it can become part of a needy person's salad. The whole process, from the organic seed catalog to the drive down Greenfield is a story. Still the part most warming to my soul is the smile on the volunteer's face as they have just put that little plant into the ground.
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Things are really moving quickly now. Many of the initial tasks have been taken of, and our new system of team leaders has worked out great. Stephanie set up a WIKI site for "Organic Organizers", so that everyone can be kept up to date on what has been done and what is expected for the next workday. It does add a layer of writing for me, but that is a small price for seeing such iniative from so many of our leader volunteers. A week or two more of setup, and everything should come naturally. Since the strawberries are flowering already, it shouldn't be long before the first delivery to Forgotten Harvest is ready.
As new volunteers are showing up, it is nice to see so many "veterans" too. We have not seen a day of only one or two people helping, as had happened a bit in the past, and that has made the work go easier. |
AuthorJon Adams is founder and president of the Southfield Parks and Garden Club, and since its inception in 2008, has directed activities at the Emmanuel Community Farm. Archives
December 2015
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