Carrots, Lettuces, and French Beans

The story says, "Lettuces, French beans, and radishes," but I want carrots. Also herbs and marigolds to ward off insects. I had announced to George that I was not going to consult about the details, but rather that I am going to grow food in his tiny New York City garden, currently wild and untended with the remnants of a few plants from previous tenants. I asked for and was given a shovel as a Christmas present and will mostly grow soil organisms this first year. Also, since my previous gardening has all been in a different climate, I will learn about how to grow plants in this one. Barb, George's sister who gardens in a Chicago suburb, gave me some ideas about starting seed in gallon milk jugs that can be made into mini greenhouses and I already know a lot about building soil. I must also learn how to make compost in this climate with what is at hand. The arrival of a truck load of manure from my brother's Tennessee farm, the best present he ever gave me, is not only not forthcoming but would be overwhelming in the space here. Also, the grass clippings from a lawn which were staples of the compost heaps I have had that the Southern sun just cooked without much work on my part are not part of this picture either.

All of this is, of course, fun for someone like me who enjoys digging in the dirt. It is also what I can do now to resist the products of the corporate agriculture that is polluting the planet and poisoning its people.

There are rather a number of New Yorkers who grow food in our postage stamp sized back courtyards and on the roofs of many of our buildings. I don't yet have any aspirations to joining with others to distribute food in any way, but I may do that. One of my colleagues, an artist, in our alternative manufacturing project, wants to learn how to garden. She and I really enjoy working on things together, so we will do this. That is already a step toward broadening the scope of this effort.

More later.