Who: Ben (narrative) When: Early March Where: His Community Garden Plot Rating: Low Status: Complete
There was something grounding, something relaxing about working in the earth, about getting one’s hands dirty and ending the day with that sense of achievement which Ben had found that in his little 9 foot by 12 foot plot in the small community garden on the island. Although at the moment it looked pretty barren, with tiny little seedlings starting to raise their tiny green heads through the mulch that surrounded them. In a few months time he would start to have a ready supply of fresh vegetables.
While the food that was supplied and rationed to the residents was enough to live on, there wasn’t really that much variety and was fine for the average person. Maintaining a lean body such as his took quite a bit of protein and without the ability to just go down to the store for more meat when he needed it Ben knew he had to make what he was given to go further. So he began adding started purchasing pulses and legumes to what he cooked as well as his rationed vegetables to try and keep his diet.
He had inquired with those in charge about getting a plot in the community garden that he had seen regularly on his jogs around the island, it seemed like there were a few empty ones and having a ready supply of fresh food would make his life a little bit easier. Plus getting out in the fresh air and tending to a garden would be relaxing and meditative for him, seeing as he couldn’t get amongst the volcanoes and mountains that he loved, feeling the dirt under his nails would be as close as he could get.
There were restrictions in regards to the community gardens - what could be grown, how much could be harvested and that any food deemed excess would be turned into the government for distribution amongst who they wished, be it to fellow residents or guards. There was also rules in regards to the equipment - only hand tools could be used and they had to be checked in and out each time with a guard during daylight hours. As much as Ben hated the restrictions he knew he had agree to the conditions in order to have his little plot, at least he had the insects on his side.