A New Garden, A New Chapter

So this past month has been tough.  It's been very discouraging, sad and tough.  But, in an amazing stroke of luck, fate, providence or what have you, I got a 200 square foot plot in the Jackson Park P-Patch.  :)  What a wonderful way to deal with the hurt and the grief.

First view of the patch

So I got the wonderful news on the 11th of September and I was so excited I couldn't stand myself.  

"Hello your name just came up on the  Jackson Park Patch wait list.

Jackson Park  is located on 13049 10th Ave NE.

Everybody got your bearings? Ok if you’re interested in a plot please contact me right away, and I will let you know the next steps to organic gardening bliss!

You can either email me or call, info at the bottom.

Deadline to respond= 9/14/12"

I think it took me a whole 8 minutes to respond!  On Friday the 14th, I met with the volunteer coordinator, who showed me my plot, introduced me to a couple of p-patchers, and showed me around.  Here was my first view; dry as a bone, plants gone to seed, etc.   It was a pile of weeds, but it was MY pile of weeds!  <3

In quick order, I had the pile pulled and ready for dispatch.  I got some yard waste bags but managed to compost most of the greenery, then on Saturday I got the ground kind of raked and watered.  

Cleaned up!

In the time it took me to clean this up, I did not think about the recent circumstances of my life; I felt peaceful and calm and happy.   Gardening is a truly wonderful thing.

Abandoned turnips!

I was excited to see that the previous gardener had abandoned some turnips!

Behind the p-patch

Behind the patch is a beautiful forest.  The sun shines through so beautifully, and this picture doesn't even do it justice.

So I have been there 3 times now since Friday.  It's Monday.  :)  I met several p-patchers, and one of them gave me some of her asian veggie starts.  I am hoping that they are going to do well.  I also planted some seeds; hopefully they'll take.   Lettuce, radishes, beets, radishes and cabbage.   I want to plant some kale as well.

I am looking forward to springtime, when I can fill my plot with all kinds of wonderful things. Perhaps I will plant some tulips and other spring bulbs.  

Tonight when I was there I saw 2 bats, met 3 new people, and got 2 mosquito bites along with my incredibly dirty hands.  It was a great evening.