Border Skirmishes

I love to garden. Unfortunately my efforts have been hampered each year by an increasing amount of shade from our trees. So I've tried to be creative and grow my garden on the outer edges of our property, where there is a small section of sunshine. This usually works well until about June, when my neighbors decide that the grass is too long on the fence line, and they bring out the Roundup. I have decided that old men LOVE Roundup, because both of our neighbors on either side of us use it faithfully and plentifully every year. They are even kind enough to spray our sidewalks and back fence, and I suffer casualties every year. Last year I planted 33 tomato plants, thinking that I could beat the odds with sheer numbers. I got a total of 6 tomatoes.

This year I surrendered. Then on one of our walks I noticed a flyer for a community garden. There hasn't been one since we've lived here, but someone decided to start one that was a 1-acre lot full of weeds. So this morning I put the kids in the stroller and found the guy who started it. He said I was the first person to ask for a space, and said I could have as much space as I wanted. We're going to start out with a 25x25 plot, and if all the space isn't taken, I may do more.

We're so excited to finally have some space to grow something, that it's in town and walkable, and that we can have the chance to get our children involved...because we're not just cultivating crops, we're cultivating kids too. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to run and dig through my tomato seeds. I want to make sure I'm growing every color this year.