Grandiose Projects

After lugging several exceptionally heavy bags of dirt with Leah (Leah’s boyfriend informs me that employing the use of basic inventions like wheels might be useful in these endeavors), I successfully filled my new 14’ by 3’ vegetable box with dirt. This was strangely satisfying. As I picked through the dirt, removing rocks and sticks, I thought, I need a sifter! And briefly, and I mean VERY briefly, I considered making one. I had all the supplies. My mom made one therefore it would make sense for me to make one. (?)

A memory of my parents’ Franklin Street garden flooded my brain. I had my first garden on Franklin Street, it was home to one or two pansies and then promptly neglected.

Next step, planting the vegetables. This was much easier when I lived near my mom. She works on a farm and cultivates little veggie starts in a greenhouse. Not only were the plants free but I found some peace and balance as I wandered aimlessly through the greenhouses, running my hands along baby plants (very soft, just like most baby things).



And the farm market. I would snag one of my favorite sandwiches “chipotle turkey on ciabatta” at the market (anything in Seattle pales in comparison) which I would gobble down as my mom moved through rows and rows of color and greenery, intermittently taking sips of water from the hose as she skillfully offered the plants a drink (most people are probably unaware that watering plants in a greenhouse requires skill, however my mom does it effortlessly).

Now that the vegetables are planted, I realize that I don’t have enough room. I need MORE vegetables. I need MORE space. I have MORE wood. The obvious conclusion is to build another vegetable box. Right? Of course.


So this is what I did. This is what I accomplished when I stepped out of my life (working, cycling, dog walking and running) a few weekends back. I built another box (with my trusty project sidekick Leah), planted vegetables, made a roman shade, cleaned my apartment and bought groceries – not a small accomplishment had you seen the state of my apartment and the vast emptiness of my fridge.




(the cutoff shorts worn in tribute to Lee, Mike, Josh and Fich)

---> Many years ago the shorts entered into the picture much to the chagrin of my dude friends.