Rain, Rain, Go Away On Election Day

Well, now we're back to our regular time and I'm surprised by how dark it is—seems like all the time now—dark, dark, dark. Of course the last few days have been so rainy—which makes it even darker. I have a full-spectrum light that I sit by when I write. This is during the low light season, so it is time to start. That and Vit D for mental health.

So today is the big day. I'm sure you don't need to be reminded to vote—it is everywhere you turn. And the TV ads have upped their intensity. I know one thing for sure, being a political candidate would be impossible for me. Too highly stressed of a job. I think the attack ads should be banned.

Plenty of sleep is the answer to stress, and exercise and fresh air. And eating right and doing the work (art, writing, etc). I've been putting together a book on marriage and divorce and if I rattle on about it, it is because I'm constantly trying to figure out how I really feel about the whole thing. I recorded the deed to the condo in my name yesterday. The 11^th is supposed to be the final recorded date of the divorce (if he signs the divorce decree, that is). All these transitions bring up new levels of pain. This one, the completing one, means I'm alone completely now—of course I was before too. At least it looked like I wasn't. Alone is not something I like. Therefore, community garden, community writing classes, etc. etc. Community. I believe this is something we need more of--community. If we all had to stick around our villages and towns, that would happen. We've sprawled and that has disconnected us. I love the town I live in because it is relatively small.

In the picture above, my friend has mulched much of her garden with burlap bags. This is something I need to start doing, keeping the rows between the plants weed-free with burlap or cardboard. It works, except the slugs congregate beneath all that covering. I'll try it next year. I think the beautifully weeded gardens attract more deer. Mine, with it's weeds, hides the plants from their munching. Okay, I'm short on words today. So much going on in the collective.

Best in life, Flower

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!

Letter from the Parks Department

I received the letter today, explaining community garden rules. One of the rules I noticed as I quickly scanned the list is--do not leave pulled weeds in your garden. There is a huge compost heap next to the tool shed, which I've dug some very nice compost from, but really, pulled weeds aren't much different than other mulch, and can be used on the paths between lovely rows of beans or peas. I'm a girl who follows the rules, you can probably tell this, I mean wearing pearls to hoe the garden--sheez, what is more proper. I'll catch you up to speed when I finish the pleasant reading matherial. Until later, Ciao.

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