Most of the veg patch is empty. That's still the deal at this time of year. Yes, there are a few leeks in one bed, the determined ones that survived my impatiently shoddy transplanting last summer. A single bedraggled tree of kale soldiers on, too, but it bends its head towards the soil, resigned to defeat, as pigeons shred its lower leaves. But that's it. There's really just soil. Bare earth.
But, to me, bare earth is beautiful. And that's because the soil has been both teacher and my comfort, as well as an inspiration to me these past few years, so it fills me with hope to see it ready, posed for another year of fruitful growing.
Just over a decade ago I was a fully paid-up gold card…
You're reading a preview of
The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025