Family of the Vegetable Sort
Seeing as seed-starting and planting are taking place in and around the Farm this time of year, it felt fitting to share this, a chapter from the next book in The Farmer and his Wife series. Enjoy.
This year, the Farmer and his Wife set out to grow all their own vegetables right here on the Farm—actually, as it turns out, that’s exactly what they did last year, too, despite an early sidestep in the way of buying a share from the Farm the Next Road Over.
The seeds have been tucked in and under warmed potting soil until they reach out towards the lamp that’s been doing the warming. The Farmer’s Wife checks them each day, rotating them this way and that so their stems will be thick and strong, not long and leggy. Twice now, she’s brought them outside so they can feel the breeze on their faces and catch a glimpse of the sun who will be their best friend and ally all the summer long. But not yet. If they’re put right out in the sun now, they’ll surely droop and fade. The sun is something seedlings have to get used to, so the Farmer’s Wife brings them out each day to make the introductions.
“Sun, may I present to you Tessa, just about the sweetest little tomato you’d ever want to meet, and here’s Perneice, that thick skinned sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy pepper just right for my Sassy Sauce, and Oliver, the only onion I’ll ever use, and—where did it go?” She pauses to reach down and retrieve Carneilia, that elusive cucumber. “I swear! If you didn’t make such good pickles, I’d… I’d replace you!”
The plant bows down, shamefaced.
“Now, there, there, you know I didn’t mean it,” the Farmer’s Wife coaxes until Carneilia raises her head to see if indeed the apology is truly meant.
Its smile is almost as glorious as the sun it’s soon made acquainted with.
The Farmer’s Wife brings all back into the barn, despite loud protests. “Soon, soon,” she promises. “In a week or two, you will be ready to bask and dance all the day away with your new friend, the sun.” Pacified, they still, but even so, they reach their necks out towards the open door to see a glimpse, now and again.
