Why I Garden from Starla (#118)

Hi I’m Starta from Plot #118. I am a long time lurker at the garden and most recently a lucky garden plot steward. I have years of gardening experience, all of it amateur and I am on my 3rd season coxing edible fare from my patch of dirt.

I guess I have become the Scotch Bonnet lady, since it seems to be all I like to talk about! I do grow a few other things but my scotchies are my pride. If you like heat  I am the person to come to, I feel the need to expand and nerd out on my cherished plants, but I’ll save that for you in person.

A little about what I have seen over the years prior to being the proud conservator to my 4x8 patch of heaven. I started casing the garden around 15 years ago (maybe even earlier). I wanted in, but had no idea on how to join this elite club. I would stare longingly over the fence,  seeing tomatoes, flowers, greens and peppers. Oh be still my heart I wanted in so bad. I had no idea how to start. Life got busy and I put my dreams on the shelf.

Fast forward to 2024, I was scrolling through the popular social media of today and saw the invitation to come work at the plottery for the chance to win a spot! I was giddy with anticipation, will I win? Yes, yes I did.

My first plot was a jungle, a cramped place of extreme heat and flavour, scotchies galore. The second year I found out exactly  how fickle gardening really is outside, my peppers did not produce but my tomatoes were off the hook. Lesson, sometimes  you have to just accept failures (mother nature does not care about your delicate feelings hahaha).

This year my emotions were a rollercoaster, I got a new plot. My new plot is a bit bigger, so I can plant even MORE SCOTCHIES! I dug in and transplanted and excitedly began a new growing season, alas my joy was abruptly halted by the thief who absconded some plants, including the cherished scotchie. I was hurt but my faith in humanity was quickly restored by the acts of kindness a plot neighbor gave me. She is a  sweet person who I have had the pleasure of getting to garden near.

All in all my experience at the Fox Point Community Garden has been one of fulfillment, I get to grow dirt to table, I get to see all that is happening in my fellow gardeners plots, I get to see bees buzzing, birds feasting and people working towards the same goal. This place is nirvana.