Leaving my garden
I've decided not to renew the rental of my community garden plot next year. I've had that same plot for... how long?? I think it was between 2002 and 2004 when I first signed on. So it's been a very long time now. It started out as my sanctuary, and I truly loved learning about nature, and growing things, and how to enjoy getting my hands dirty. But things have changed, NOT for the better, and it's time for me to go. Between the politics and the poor management and the petty infighting, it's gotten to the point where I'd rather stay away, anyway. It's no longer a sanctuary, just a headache.
So I began dismantling it yesterday, since we have to leave our plots as we found them, and my time is up at the end of December. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it might be, so I know I made the right decision. I explained why I was leaving, and felt that I was actually understand. I didn't do a lot, but I pulled out one thyme plant entirely, and began cutting back a couple of others; most will need cutting back before they are small enough to be removed easily. The hardest ones to remove will be the old lavender and the rosemary, which is simply HUGE now; they'll take time and effort, and I'll need help. Most I will have to discard, which I HATE doing, but I have no place to relocate them. A few I may be able to keep, though, if all goes well.
I'm still trying to find out from our apartment manager if we can have the bit of "yard" space back that's behind our apartment. It used to be part of our patio space, but the old manager took it away to pile ladders and other junk in. Hopefully we'll get at least part of it back, and I can set up a tiny garden outside our bedroom. It would be VERY small, but still mine, and I could try to relocate a few of my smaller, favorite plants there. My plot is in full sun, though, and this will be mostly shade, I think, so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that they don't shock too much and can re-acclimate themselves enough to survive.
I should know after Tuesday of next week if we will get the space back.
So I began dismantling it yesterday, since we have to leave our plots as we found them, and my time is up at the end of December. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it might be, so I know I made the right decision. I explained why I was leaving, and felt that I was actually understand. I didn't do a lot, but I pulled out one thyme plant entirely, and began cutting back a couple of others; most will need cutting back before they are small enough to be removed easily. The hardest ones to remove will be the old lavender and the rosemary, which is simply HUGE now; they'll take time and effort, and I'll need help. Most I will have to discard, which I HATE doing, but I have no place to relocate them. A few I may be able to keep, though, if all goes well.
I'm still trying to find out from our apartment manager if we can have the bit of "yard" space back that's behind our apartment. It used to be part of our patio space, but the old manager took it away to pile ladders and other junk in. Hopefully we'll get at least part of it back, and I can set up a tiny garden outside our bedroom. It would be VERY small, but still mine, and I could try to relocate a few of my smaller, favorite plants there. My plot is in full sun, though, and this will be mostly shade, I think, so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that they don't shock too much and can re-acclimate themselves enough to survive.
I should know after Tuesday of next week if we will get the space back.