On 20th November 2011, at Allotment Plot 326, it was a still day, perfect for digging, there were no other visible allotment worker around. At Plot 326, it was never possible for any tranquil sound of birds singing to exist, because of the continuous sound of human machine traffic that came from roadway beyond the hedge. The noise of traveling machines was loud and deadened the human audio facility. A rabbit had died under horrific circumstance, some fur and skin were left in one area of the allotment plot and organs found in another area of the plot. There was no sign of fresh blood, the killer, (a fox perhaps?), was long gone. Ella Montt avoided stepping on the partial remains and went to dig in another part of the plot that had previously contained potatoes. More potatoes were discovered hidden in the soil. One potato was damaged with holes, on breaking the potato open Ella Montt discovered a colony of five slugs living inside it, so the potato was set aside so that wildlife would not be interfered with and their occupation could continue. Onion sets were planted next to the garlic.
A pile of newspaper that had accumulated was taken from the shed and spread across an area of soil that had not yet been dug. The newspaper was weighted down with pieces of wood collected from around the plot. Text and images printed on the newspaper reflected towards the cloud-covered sky. The sky blankly starred back at the newspaper. The print will fade and texts dissolve in to the soil as the elements react with it. Time will eradicate the papers existence. The words will loose their importance. The plant matter beneath the newspaper should integrate with worm activity invigorating the structure of the soil. Across the plot, there was evidence that small creatures were digging themselves in to hibernate for the winter. There were plenty of places for them to hide. Carpet positions were adjusted on the plot.
Planted: Onion Radar x 80. Harvest: Potato Charlotte = 1lb 5oz = 600g.
24 November 2011 – Allotment Plot at MERL – It was the human thanksgiving festive season that had evolved from thanking to not thanking, forgetting to be thankful, but was now perhaps moving towards being more thankful once again. The native human ran through the forest of trees, then jumped and transformed in to its spirit form; wolf, bear, moose, raven… A small bird (Robin) sung hidden in a tree. Kant leaned over and nudged Ella Montt; reflect on that sound the bird is singing, it is beautiful. Cage, who was sitting on the other side of Ella Montt, nodded in agreement. The three all agreed that action to stop a second silent spring would be necessary.
The leaves that Ella Montt had gathered last week were still covering the soil of the Plot and not yet rotted. The Brick Composter remained full. Ella Montt harvested herbs, leeks, parsnips and four Blauhide Beans. The harvest was diminishing and would need to be carefully managed to continue vegetable sustainability, however the squash, pumpkin, bean, potato and onion harvest were something to remain thankful for as they continued to act as a nutritional source.
Contemporary Occupation was continuing were it was possible, hindered and unhindered by authoritarian interference. Human protests were happening in many countries across the Planet. Strike loomed, the biggest human industrial action in 0ne hundred years. Ella Montt went in to the reading room to see if there was a solution beyond occupation and protest planting. The rigid concrete barrier of greed that authoritarian humans are erecting across the Earth’s surface needs to be cracked and broken down. Meanwhile birds continue to sing sporadically and forage for winter feed amongst the vegetation.
Harvest: Herbs, Sage and 2 types of Thyme = 0.25oz =5g; Beans (French Climbing) Blauhide x 4 beans = 0.5oz = 10g; Leeks Blue Green Winter = 4.25oz = 120g; Parsnip Halblange = 6.5oz = 180g; Celeriac Ibis = 6oz = 170g.
