harvesting brussels/goodbye community garden, Nov. 2011

For a couple of months in the fall and early winter we were running back and forth frequently between our new place and our community garden plot–a good half-hour drive–to harvest all the hardy, remaining veggies.  The brussels sprouts were the last thing we pulled this year–in early December.  After a poor brussels sprout year for us last year, it was such a treat to get a good harvest of big, beautiful ones this time around.  The plants were so sturdy that they were surprisingly difficult to pull out of the ground!  Fortunately I had lots of help from Connor and Ian.  With the harvesting done, it was also time to put the garden to bed.  We pulled the last remaining kale stalks and dried up tomato plants, and I bagged them up to take home to our compost pile (I  know, I can’t resist–did I mention that I moved our entire compost pile in buckets from our old house to our new one?) Now that we have more than enough space for gardens at our new place, we won’t be needing our community garden plot any more.  I am of course thrilled  at that (more garden and outdoor space was one of the main reasons we moved), and I won’t miss the drive, but never the less, saying good bye was bitter sweet.  We put a lot of love and time and energy into our community garden plot over the past few years, and in return it was so generous and bountiful.  And frankly, I just loved being there–working in it, looking at it, or just sitting quietly in it.  I’m so looking forward to building gardens at our new home, but I’ll always remember our small unassuming plot, tucked away behind an urban elementary school at the back of a parking lot, with great fondness.  Thank you community garden plot!

harvesting brussels/goodbye community garden, Nov. 2011

harvesting brussels/goodbye community garden, Nov. 2011

harvesting brussels/goodbye community garden, Nov. 2011

harvesting brussels/goodbye community garden, Nov. 2011