Abundance in the Front Yard

Guest Blog Post by Ally Weinrauch

Redcliffe, South East Queensland, Australia

 

Behind the noise of traffic on the main road, behind the clatter of close

proximity neighbors and groups gathering at the bus stop, behind the loudness of

the urban density which is our city I can hear hens scratching for bugs. I can hear

warm sun hitting soil and I can hear the unfurling of tendrils as they reach for fence

palings. Well, I can’t actually hear that part but I know it is happening and I thank the

gods of all that is productive and good that it is. Most of all I thank myself for taking

the Food is Free ethical passion and turning it into a lifestyle reality.

Last year I was in the final stretch of my degree in Community Development

and became overwhelmed with exam pressure and heavy with academic life. I

needed to be ‘earthed’ and ‘real’ and to return to the physical exertion of outside.

With gentle provocation the hub-star designed and constructed a 9 meter by 1.5

meter raised garden bed on the verge for me to sink my toes and fingers into. Two

powerful growing seasons later, our patch on the footpath has absolutely fulfilled its

purpose and more.

Untreated sleepers were screwed together to form the box to a height we

were comfortable bending to (I love climbing all over the garden so any height would

have been fine with grubby old me). Lattice was attached to our front boundary fence

to allow tomatoes, peas and beans to ramble upwards as they do. The bed was

mulched well as we live on a coastal peninsula in South East Queensland where

days are long and hot and rain only comes in floods and Summer storms. Seedlings

were sourced from a local organic farmer with a solid reputation for healthy disease

free stock. Worm farms were established and a steady flow of worm wee feeds crops

to save from purchasing fertilizers. Marigolds and nasturtiums are interspersed with

plants to attract bees and deter pests. We compost all kitchen waste in a pile we

turn, wet and top up weekly also. Alongside these activities self-reliance and

confidence began to build.

Abundance is high in the food we harvest, baskets heaving with tomatoes,

snap peas, cucumbers, cabbages, lettuce, spinach, beans, capsicums, herbs,

berries, the list goes on.  Yet the instant connection which community members

make with our venture has been the real gift. From inside my home, behind the cars,

trucks and busyness I can hear uplifted voices as someone picks a cherry tomato,

sun warmed and flavorsome, and pops it in their mouth. When I am working in the

garden I offer handfuls of basil, parsley, chives and spring onions when neighbours

stop to chat and ask questions about how they can grow food at their place. The

movement to decentralize food supply and reclaim accountability for our lives is

beginning with food. I now seed save and take so much pride in opening the hand of

a new friend as they stand by my garden and tumbling 20 or 30 seeds into their

palm. Hovering in this moment I see people turn into children and stoop their faces to

get closer to the magic they hold in the palm of their кондиционеры сплит системы с установкой в витебске hand Alive and hopeful are

faces as they recognizing that the good things in life can be free.