Market Farming

["Elizabeth Pike" <pike AT always-online.com>]

Sue, my area does not have a food bank.  What I do, is take my unsold 
produce & flowers to a low-income apartment complex for the elderly. This 
began quite by accident when one market day when I just couldn't bring 
myself to throw this gorgeous, alive, nourishing food into my compost.  I 
swung into the parking lot, opened my trunk & began taking my coolers to 
the club room.  Residents wandered over to see what was going on.  Oh how I 
wish I'd had a video camera/tape recorder of that day.  Before my very 
eyes, these precious people returned to their youth, to former gardens & 
farms.  They  became quite animated with stories & I ended up staying for 3 
hours!!  They can't help me harvest, and some can't even eat what I bring.  
But it has been such a great experience, that if I ever stop market 
farming, I will continue to share my garden with them.

I went back a couple of weeks ago, just to check up on everyone, & several 
people gathered around to express concern over city plans to clean-up 
(read, DESTROY) a small section of wetlands between their apartments & the 
river.  They took me over & showed me where the rabbit lived.  Pointed out 
the squirrels, the possum, the old bird nests.  The turtles, the ducks, and 
a snake! Then they showed me their compost pile!!!  They had taken their 
leftovers & started a compost--for me.  I cried.  What goes around, comes 
around, and we'll never know when it will encompass us.

Have a great day everyone!!

Liz
Morningstar Gardens
Pollocksville NC