Monday, April 13, 2009

Turning Over a New Leaf


I read a blog last year by an extreme plant lover. She wrote about plants having feelings, consciousness and good karma associated with being good to plants. If this is true....

I...am...screwed.

However, I am convinced that my plant above, a philo - whatever, a green houseplant of some kind, is dying not so much from my neglect as it is from fright. I think it's being haunted by the ghosts of all the plants I've killed...uh, yeah, I guess that doesn't help my case any. But I'm changing, really. I feel bad. I've been learning a lot about plants as I have a big project in the works. With the help of this book....


I will be turning the side of my house (about 1/3 of my yard) from this....


to something a little like this urban homestead. 1/10 of an acre in the city of Pasedena has been cultivated to produce 6000 lbs of fruits and vegetables a year.


We've started work on this. I chopped down a 15 foot bamboo patch that had mostly died from our particularly harsh winter. My husband has started the plans for grading the yard and getting together the wood. Eventually we hope to make more of our property productive. I wonder how our neighbours would feel about a mini wheat field in the front yard. Baby steps...baby steps. First, I need to get good with my karma and try to save my poor houseplant.

7 comments:

Melody said...

I'm so glad John does our garden....blueberries, asparagus, lettuce, rhubarb and a few other goodies. I do not have a green thumb in the least.. in fact that plant of yours looks vaguely familiar. It's brother is sitting in my kitchen.

Ellen said...

It's great you have that land. I'm envious. Go water that plant, take care of your karma!

Caroline said...

A good death for a plant is to return it to the ground... perhaps that what your house plant needs!

andrea said...

Now I feel guilty sitting on all this land. It does produce a nice new crop of rocks every year, though.

dinahmow said...

Plant feelings? Crap! Put your dead Dieffenbachier or Philodendron or whatever it used to be in the compost bin, pour a restorative glass of wine (not for the plant, silly!)and get on with the yard makeover.
Oh,I don't want to knock you, but Pasadena's climate is a tad warmer than Vancouver's!

p said...

you wrote less posts than me because when you write one you really write it well :)
i laugh and then get hit over the head with your intelligence every single time. you also got a 'wow' look from me...quite a job ahead of you but it sounds like a great plan.

Ellen said...

Caroline: Your right, the deed has been done, it's now bug food outside.

Andrea: Did you notice my rock crop? I have to get rid of them, have no idea where to put them. Maybe we can paint them and set up a booth at the local farmers market :)

Dinah: Yeah, crap is right, I think that die hard philosophy is for people like these- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSEaHyzbqTA

Paula: well thank you. Yes, it's a huge job, i won't be able to grow anything until next spring, because the landscaping will be going on for a while (new retaining walls, etc.)which is good, because I'll need that time to really figure out what I'm doing!