Mulch Better Now

To keep the soil moist and to discourage the weeds, mulch between the rows. Use newspaper, burlap bags, grocery sacks, your exhusband's favorite silk ties—oops did I say that aloud? No really, mulch is important in the conservation of water and also, so you don't have to work your hoeing muscles too strenuously, it keeps the weeds down. I like to use grass clippings from the unfertilized and pesticided lawn. I have also been known to use heaps of fallen maple leaves between rows, especially in the fall when I cover the row of carrots. They winter over beautifully—did I already tell you this? Well, ignore this if I did. Cover your carrots with leaves and then when the snow comes, you can go to the garden and shovel aside the mound of snow and the leaves, and beneath, rich brown soil full of orange carrots will reveal itself. What a midwinter treat, and what's really amazing, they are sweeter and crisper than ever, almost like apples.

I talked to my neighbor, Paul, and he said when he got his garden spot, it was full of wood and burlap and glass. My spot has chips of glass in it and some small pieces of wood, but no burlap. Burlap will decompose eventually. The train is passing at this very moment, which is part of the ambience of the neighborhood, blasting whistles that scare the bejesus out of everyone, especially at 3 a.m. when I'm soundly asleep.

Where do you get burlap bags these days? I remember as a kid they were easy to come by. Potatoes came in them. Burlap was used for things other than its original purpose—for instance, when the shift—a straight dress--became popular, my mother made a shift out of a burlap bag. She modeled the garment, complete with fake roses attached to the neck and hem, her funny statement as to the frumpiness of the new style. She also hated Capri, which she called pedal-pushers and swore she'd never be caught dead in them.

Well I was told that nothing ever got stolen from the garden plots, but things did walk away. Yesterday my hoe was missing. I will go on a hunt for it tomorrow and when I find it, I'll feel mulch better.

Ciao!