Agraria_Journal_Summer_2022

After showing her all that’s inside, I zip the bag back up and grab the handle of the wagon. I notice that something is missing from our supply list. “Hey, where are the buckets, Brown Girl?” I inquire. “I don’t know.” She shrugs. “That’s okay, I reassure her. “I’m pretty sure that we already have a few back on the compost pile and that’s what we need them for anyway,” I stride toward the propagation beds where I keep plant starts of all sorts, wagon handle in hand. She runs ahead and plops down in the new plastic seat on the old metal swing set. Yeah, it’s old, but it’s still safe and does a grand job providing amusement. “Would you like to help me dig up the shrubs or swing for a while and then help me plant the shrubs?” I ask. She opts for the latter. Just as I had imagined, digging up the shrubs isn’t a difficult task. These beds are kept moist and mulched. My stainless-steel soil knife penetrates the dirt with ease and as I work steadily to get the shrubs uprooted, I sing a song of thanksgiving to the Creator Who sustains me. Depositing the last shrub into a large black plastic bag sitting in the wagon I call out, “It’s time to plant, Sweet Pumpkin.” She drags her feet against the ground to halt the swing, jumps up and dashes toward me. We stroll out to the field to park the shrubs in their permanent resting place. Many hands make work light, I think to myself. One of my sons has prepared a forever home for each little plant. I’m grateful. Having holes “plant-ready” just cut my labor by two-thirds, I figure. I’ll use the extra time to get more lettuce and peas planted, I plot. No, maybe I should suggest a family game of volleyball, I reconsider. Yes, I can plant the lettuce and peas tomorrow, I plan. Volleyball it is, I decide. The last shrub is set in place and Baby Girl, ever the trooper, smooths the dirt out on the ground surrounding the plant. “All done!” I announce, breaking out into a little happy dance. Now we’re both dancing and laughing and hugging. It’s time to go inside to prepare supper. I’ll make lentils, greens and rice. And after supper, Volleyball! Tia Stuart is director of BIPOC Farming Initiatives at Agraria, RFF coordinator, and operates The Narrow Way Farm with her family.