Ideas and Complications

So, I want to be a DJ. Not that I will, (probably) although at this point in the process any sort of greatness is possible. I’ve got a demo of the app that lets me use my Spotify playlists and I just need a splitter and some headphones and I’m away (with the fairies, maybe). Also this morning I have found suitable help for my short story writing. And this is about growing vegetables! My brother commented that Ideas and Complications was an odd way to start – indeed he read no further, but I hope these few words illustrate why.

Action

I’ve ordered the splitter, and I actually have some headphones. I’ve sent two short stories to my short story guru. As I write I’m listening to Blossom Dearie singing Some Other Time. I’m not sure either of us are DJ ready. Oh, well, we’ll catch up some other time…

I’ve sown some seeds. This is real vegetable growing action. Also I have spread the first load of compost on cardboard – nineteen wheelbarrow loads. This has covered one sixth of the plot. Eek! But I have found a supplier of larger quantities. Seven cubic metres at a time. That’s a lot.

Plants

Some seeds arrived! They are very beautiful, so full of hope and excitement. They can’t wait to get into the soil, and spring up, and burgeon and grow, and produce armfuls of deliciousness. I can tell all that from the packets. And, as I said, I’ve sown some. I’ve sown wild rocket and edible marigolds, and two mixtures of cut and come again lettuce. I’ve sown these under a home-made miniature polythene tunnel in a tiny raised bed (six inches by ten foot). It may be too early, but I couldn’t wait. Suddenly, after all the years, I have begun.

Harvest

I know there is no harvest yet, but I’m looking ahead. My first harvest will be the extra plants that I grow from seed. Each seed packet contains more than I need, and I plan to put them on a table outside my house and offer them to passers-by. I’m mentioning this because of the snow. We had a lot of snow and I got stuck in my van and had to walk home. Everyone I met as I walked home was happy. People like walking in the snow. I want to like giving away plants. I know. It’s confusing.

Other things

The seed company I’m using is www.seedcooperative.org.uk Their website is magical, everything about them is magical. ‘The UK’s community owned seed company.’ Go to the website, watch the video, buy the seeds. It is so exciting. I’ve been depressed by the news this week, the lack of any sort of sense from our leaders, but I always come back to the same thing – stop watching the news, grow vegetables. That is my way forward, and I want to encourage others to do the same. I want to show where I succeed and where I fail. Join me. Let’s grow together.