The Journal: Ash Fall Read Online Free PDF Page A

plants.”
    He looked at me over his cup.
    “That is, if you want to help.”
    “Allex, of course I want to help. I will do
whatever you want me to do, to be part of here and part of your
life again.” He said it with such sincerity that I believed him.
“What are we planting?”
    “I still have the layout we worked on
earlier,” I said softly. “It’s a good plan and utilizes the space
well.”
    I took a sip, remembering how I changed a few
things after he left. I wasn’t going to plant the collards he
wanted, or the okra.
    “We can do the first row of green beans,
peas, pea pods, cucumbers, and the carrots, beets, turnips,
collards and of course lettuce,” I read off the list.
    He grinned at that, knowing how much I love
salads. The memory danced across my mind of him having the
opportunity to buy anything he wanted at the bulk food store and
chose to buy lettuce, for me.
    “I have enough trellises in place to do three
plantings of the peas and pea pods,” I said. “By planting every
three weeks we can have a continuous harvest of those. I know shell
peas take so much room to get so little, but they’re so good and I
really like them. We can put them against the chickens’ fence. When
the second sowing is producing, the first will be pulled up and
replanted. The cucumbers can manage on the same trellis. I’ll plant
half the width, wait until it starts flowering, then plant the
other half. This way we can have fresh cukes and peas well into
October.”
    John nodded.
    “Green beans will be done similar, for a
different reason,” I explained to John. “Beans are usually quite
prolific, and as much as we will need to feed all of us, they will
likely still overproduce. I have only so much time for canning, and
I don’t want to be needlessly overwhelmed. The beans will be
planted in three stages, giving us plenty to eat, without having
bushels full all at once.”
    It crossed my mind then, that I should teach
all of my family how to can.
    “I think we should do a small patch of corn,
too. Four rows maybe six or eight feet long. They should ripen all
at once, no way around that, so we will have some to eat and a few
dozen to can.”
    “Why four rows?” John asked. “And is there
really enough room for everything?”
    “For pollination four rows is the minimum.
When we do that spot, it might be more, maybe five rows. It will
have to wait a day or two though. Those seeds need to soak at least
overnight. We will double up certain things. The winter squash,
like pumpkins and acorn, can be planted right with the corn, so
yes, there’s room.” I could already taste the crunch of those
golden kernels.
    “You have all the seeds you need?”
    “When I bought my heirloom seeds a year ago,
I bought way more than I knew I could use in one year. I have
plenty.” I answered. My coffee was getting cold. I got up to
retrieve the pot for us. “I’ve been into town only twice in the
last few weeks, and there was very little available. It seems
everyone is planting a garden this year and that’s a good
thing!”
    A thought kicked across my mind. I needed to
talk to Anna. While John got started with the last of the raking,
and after promising I wouldn’t be long, I made a quick trip into
Moose Creek.
     
    * * *
     
    “You want to do what?” Anna asked
curiously.
    “I think the town needs its own community
garden,” I repeated. “That acre next to Bradley’s house would be
perfect. Everyone can walk to it, and it’s in full sun. I think
Bradley would be pleased.” He was one we lost to the flu epidemic
that decimated the town this past spring. “I can donate some seed;
others will have to come up with seed too. I’ll even help lay it
out. It can be done in personal plots, or all as one. That will be
up to the townsfolk. Anna, the town has to feed itself,” I said,
remembering all too well how the town nearly starved to death this
past winter.
    “I agree. What do you suggest we do?”
    “First we have to