Gardening as a Nomad
I'm a self-proclaimed but not voluntary Nomad. I've had my hands and my heart in the dirt for as long as I can remember. My first garden was a simple one: carrots, flowers, pole beans. I remember rushing home from school as a little girl to check out my goods, water as necessary, and scope out what Dad was growing. As an adult my life has taken some very unexpected turns, and not ones convenient to someone who's only dream in life is to have land and be one with it at every possible moment. I'm soon to be divorced and I lost more than my companion; I lost my dirt, my raised beds, my perrenial herbs.
Life now finds me living in an apartment owned by a man gracious enough to let me throw down a new raised bed in the small yard and plant a few veggies; my therapy. Funny thing is: I bought the wood, compost, etc for this bed in the spring and the weather really had a devestating effect on my crop. So I spent 10.00 each for a few tomatoes?? But I kept my sanity. I had something to look forward to every day. I knelt by my pole beans, eyes full of love and breathed it all in.
I'm moving again in a week to a more afforable place here in town. Little room for a garden but an agreeable landlord is in my favor. But, a new dream has developed. Why not start a community garden here? I'm sure there must be more people in this quaint NH town that want to grow their own food but don't have a place to do it. So, my winter task: study community gardens, proactively find others interested in this venture, and find land either owned by the town or by someone who's willing to let us use it for a while. Any way I can do it, my garden for 2010 will be my best and biggest yet. The land won't even be mine...but it doesn't have to be.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Katie-Lynn McDonald on October 14, 2009 at 5:00pm -
Thank you, everyone, for all the amazing support and offers. Letti, I would love your cilantro and Komatsuma seeds but can't figure out how to email you....I'm still learning my way around navigating here...
Terri, I just love you. :) I'll keep you all posted about how the community garden goes. Thank you for the warm welcome, too!
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Comment by Terri Pucci on September 30, 2009 at 6:22pm - HI Kate - I've always LOVED your adventurous spirit. In the spring I will have a nice clumb of chives for you and a clump of rhubarb to plant (the origional plants came from your grandfather's garden.) I hope this reminds you that you always have family that loves you near by.
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Comment by Joel LeGrand on September 29, 2009 at 3:06pm -
Hi Kate,
I know how great it is to have a garden of your own, when you are young. It is life changing,it fills you with hope & joy. To know you can create something good & pure. The fact that you care enough to pass that on to child in your town says so much about you on many levels.
When you get your plot, let us Know how we can help.
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Comment by Kay Robbins on September 29, 2009 at 5:48am - Starting a community garden will not only fulfill your need to garden but will help encourage others that want to garden but think they can't. Good luck with your project. With your determination it is sure to be a success.
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Comment by amna mufti on September 29, 2009 at 3:44am - HI Kate! best wishes for your garden.
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Comment by Everett McDonald on September 28, 2009 at 6:29pm -
Hello Kate,
Here at KGI in the Group section you'll find a group called "Kitchen gardeners around Portland, Maine".
They're not too far away from you and not everyone in that group is right in Portland, you may find some members there who can give you some local support. Love DAD
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Comment by Letti on September 28, 2009 at 4:05pm - Kate here is a gift of some cilantro and Komatsuma seeds for your 2010 garden, from my 2009 garden. The gods of the River, Mountains, Sun and Moon are on your side. I agree with you, the land does not have to be yours, but you can work it. Your spirit and strength will prevail. If you want the seeds, email me and I will put them in the mail.
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Comment by Gail Wolf on September 28, 2009 at 2:44pm - Katie, does your new apartment complex have a lot of landscaping? If so, management might be amenable to allowing a number of residents in the community to establish a pea patch. This would be just like ones owned by the city or county, but would be private. In Seattle, where I live, the wait time to get a 4 x 4 or 4 x 8 raised bed is four years. Seattle owns and administers several very large pea patches to be used by residents like you, who have no land of their own on which to grow food. Good luck in your new home. You sound strong and determined!
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