Dirty Business

I’m finally back at my favorite public writing spot – The Bean Street Café. When I left you last, I was on my way to buy garden tools and plants. What I actually did was contact Chuck Marsh (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWZ/is_3_3/ai_87703770) at Earthaven, an ecovillage and permaculture institute in Black Mountain, about 30 minutes from Asheville. We made an appointment for him to come look at my yard but he instinctively knew that I was anxious to get my hands in the soil. I described a small area in front of the house that was really bothering me. The glaring red clay just looked so raw. He gave me a shopping list and instructions on how to improve the soil. So I headed to Reems Creek nursery and bought a couple of tools, bags of organic mushroom soil, rock phosphate and an abundance of lettuces, cabbages and other plants to put out. After hours of trying to break up the brick clay and mixing in organic material, it started getting dark and I was getting tired. I hurriedly put in my plants, told them how beautiful they looked, watered them and went to bed. I didn’t sleep well that night because I knew that I had not worked the soil enough (there were still huge clumps, some as big as a small fist) and too quickly put in the plants. When I checked on them the next morning, even before I had my first cup of coffee, they had not keeled over, as I was afraid would be the case.

Since then, Asheville has suffered through a “Blackberry” winter. I think that’s the same thing as a “Dogwood” winter. In other words (for my friends unversed in the southern language), it’s a period of cold weather after the dogwoods, or blackberries, have started blooming. We had a couple of days that hit freezing at night, along with some heavy winds and rain. All the local advise was to bring in the plants you could, and cover the ones you can’t. I found some plastic left behind by the builders and spent the next few days trying to keep them warm and protected. Now, the weather has warmed up and they seem to be happy, especially now that I have added a little liquid plant food. Obviously, the red clay is as nutritious to them as potato chips are to me. On Chuck’s advice, I praise them each day and tell them what beautiful salads they will make. I believe that makes them happy because they will be living a purposeful and meaningful life. In the meantime, they have softened the landscape a bit.

A few days later, Chuck came out and gave me a list of things I need to do to “stabilize my yard. He gave me a list of materials and tools that I will need. He also gave me the name of a young woman with a pick up truck who is starting out in her own consulting/landscaping business to help me with the labor. He can only do the planning and consulting part of it with me. The idea is to landscape without using any chemicals and to plant useful plants – edible and medicinal. Initially, I am planting grass that theoretically doesn’t require mowing, in my “top 40” – the part closest to the road. I had a truck load of double ground hardwood mulch delivered to my house that will go in the “bottom 40” – the area nearest the house - and to the sides. In the back I will just cover the ground with straw for the time being. I plan on putting in raised garden beds eventually. I have a lot of weeds to chop down from the fence between my property and the neighbors. Eventually, I will create a vertical garden – vines that will make use of the support. I also have a lot of prep work to do the yard. The bulldozers have pushed dirt up against the trees and that has to be dug out before it kills them. As you can see, I have my work cut out for me. But, I am improving my physical health each time I swing my machete at a weed and helping my mental health as I marry my plants and seeds to the earth.

Does this all sound good and wonderful? It is – for the most part. It’s also sometimes feels overwhelming (my issues of wanting it all done and now) and a little lonely (the young woman is as much moral support as for physical help). But I have developed technique for that. I imagine myself back in New York imagining myself where I am now. I got what I ask for. This was my intention. I was getting lonely in NYC after so many of my friends had moved. I felt trapped, unable to get closer to Mother Nature. I remember what was and appreciate what is. I am grateful and must learn patience in my quest of transformation - for my land and myself.