Following this little bit of Trickery from Gareth at Moot, I felt I ought to provide a little background... and offer a few reflections on soil in the soul of the city.
Since October some of the Vaux core have taken on an allotment at the Longton Grove Nursery site. The rent on the plot is £20 a year; it seemed rude not to. Our neighbour, Mick, and another local friend Mary have neighbouring plots. Underneath them run the Sydenham Wells: a natural spring bubbles up in one corner of Mary's plot. Foxes run about, and birds and bees and mice live in the rambling hedges. The soil is excellent; loads of worms.
The entrance is like some local authority secret garden: all wire fence and piled leaves around rusting posts. It's not so much hidden, as just not drawing any attention to itself. But a beautiful tranquil place lies just beyond; the lock-up garages that lead up are soon forgotten.
Our plot is pretty big. Around 7m by 8m. We've just bought a shed for £20 off someone who was giving up their plot. And we've got a cold frame to protect stuff from the frost. We've put in fruit bushes and potatoes. Carrots, broccoli, onions, leeks, squash and a few other things are potted in the greenhouse. We'll plant them out when it finally gets properly warmer. The old guys who've dug there for years don't even come out until then.
One of the things I love about being down there is the 'waste nothing' attitude. We are gleaners. Old windows, knocked together into a makeshift greenhouse. Old oil drums to collect rain water. The Vaux speaker flight-case, now a tool store. It makes it a messy, dirty, untidy sort of place. Things don't look neat or new or well designed. It's pure function. And that has its own beauty.
So... The Compost Christ. It's a fine pun. And close to the truth. In the turning of the soil, the dirt under the fingernails, the short walk from the house, clumping in our wellies, the slow growth and tiny seeds, the quiet, the planes overhead and foxes and birdsong, the gifts exchanged and the wisdom being learned, the fruit and vegetables being grown in the midst of the city... It's beating church on all fronts for us so far. Feel free to join us for a dig any time. Or pop over in the summer to eat the spoils.
this is amazing! i think god is really into "re" - re-duce, re-use, re-cycle, re-deem, re-invent - it's the re that redeems - thanks for sharing your corner of the world with us! enjoy the fruits of your labours!
Posted by: bobbie | April 04, 2006 at 10:36 PM
isn't that middle age? ;-)
Posted by: jonnyj | April 04, 2006 at 11:09 PM
sounds great kester - looking forward to sampling some veg and fruit...
maybe you should do organic delivery boxes at greenbelt ;-)
Posted by: gareth | April 04, 2006 at 11:19 PM
Yes Jonny, it is ;-)
Growing into it gracefully. Ooh ah. Etc.
Now, where's my slippers?
Posted by: Kester | April 05, 2006 at 08:24 AM
i confess i am also spending the week gardening...
Posted by: jonnyj | April 05, 2006 at 08:32 AM
Welcome to the 'New Urban Peasantry'
Posted by: Nic | April 05, 2006 at 10:42 AM
"New Urban Peasantry'. Nice. You know it's good Jonny. Nothing like soil for the soul.
Just been on school trip to Museum of London. Fine exhibition on Satire aside, I got talking to an historian about why the Dark Ages happened. Once the Romans left, everything was forgotten. Why? Their answer was interesting: security. Because towns were sitting ducks for pillagers (read terrorists?) people dispersed back into the countryside, and thus specialisms were lost or forgotten.
While this is clearly not going to happen again, it's a nice feeling rediscovering the skills of growing stuff. Very 'right'.
Posted by: Kester | April 05, 2006 at 06:02 PM
No Kes. Jonny's doing the 'gardening'. Nic's doing the 'peasantry'. Not familiar with blogs?! !-)
Posted by: Nic | April 05, 2006 at 08:07 PM
You're clearly not.
Ambiguous sequiturs are fine.
I know what I mean, and you can't tell.
;-)
Posted by: Kester | April 05, 2006 at 08:49 PM
you know there's the possibility of getting a shed for worship at GB - seems like this could suit you guys... contact gayle if interested
Posted by: jonnyj | April 06, 2006 at 09:45 AM
Sounds like a good idea.
Question is, could we use it sell our produce without GB raking 20% ;-)
Commerce meets worship... Right up your street Jonny!
Posted by: Kester | April 06, 2006 at 10:05 AM
'what do you mean?'
El Guapo- three amigos
Posted by: nic | April 06, 2006 at 02:20 PM
God is really good. He still did took care of people's lives.
Posted by: l arginine | August 30, 2011 at 09:44 AM