Another weekend, another quiet day to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. Ben had showered and changed after his Saturday morning yoga class and took the long way around to the Community Gardens, the chatter of thousands of creatures the usual white noise that he lived with each day, it had taken him a few years to find the right method for drowning out all the voices that talked to one another in his mind but a combination of music and meditation had really helped.
Opening the gate at the end of gardens Ben looked around at the plots, letting the wooden barrier close behind him as he walked towards his little plot. ”Hello my little vegetables, how are you going?” He said in French, sitting down on the wooden edge of the raised garden bed, eyes looking around for weeds and other things that didn’t belong there. The summer squash were growing slowly and during the week he had planted some more radish seedlings that he had started at home and they seemed to have settled in and were growing which he was happy about.
He didn’t realize how much he had taken supermarkets and farmer’s markets for granted until he came here, rationing meant he had to get creative with his meals and he was glad that he was able to start up his little plot here and grow his own food. Those first salad greens that he had harvested tasted so much sweeter than anything he had bought before, but he supposed it was all the hard work that he had put into it that made the difference.
“Talking to your little vegetables again?” Came an amused voice from behind him. Dani appeared at his side with a smile, small basket filled with a variety of vegetables balancing off her hip. While usually down at the arts center around this time, she decided to take a couple hours to herself to tend to her own garden plot. “They are looking good,” she complimented as she knelt down next to him, setting her basket onto the ground beside her. “Growing nicely.”
Ben hadn’t noticed anyone else when he had walked in but then again he wasn’t really looking, more focused entirely on getting to his little plot. He didn’t quite jump but he was a little startled and turned to face the source of the voice. “Oui. I think they like it.” Ben smiled, a gentle finger running over one of the larger leaves of the squash. “I never thought that he had much of a green thumb, but I guess I was wrong.” He spoke slowly and clearly, never sure how strangers would deal with his accent. “Your plot is going a lot better. It will be quite a while before I get that kind of harvest.” A nod towards the basket between them.
“I think you’re right,” she agreed, looking over the plot of land. “They really are thriving. No doubt it’s the French. Who doesn’t like it, right?” Dani teased good-naturedly. The mention of her own plants had her glancing over at her plot of land a short distance away. It definitely appeared as if it was doing better than some of the others around it and, well it was, but not because of any failing on the other gardeners’ part. “Only because I have a little help,” she said with a small shake of her head and a smile. Her hand extended toward one of his plants, pausing just before her fingers could touch it. She looked to him for permission. “May I?”
“I think everyone likes French.” Ben chuckled, a hand running up through his hair. “Though I am not going to start singing, that would more than likely kill them.” Singing was definitely not his forte, despite all the musicals that he loved he couldn’t hold a tune. His eyes followed the lady’s as she glanced back at her garden and then returned to his, he was intrigued when she said she had a little help and extended a hand out to one of the plants. “Be my guest.” What kind of help was she talking about?
Dani let out a soft laugh. “Oh, I doubt you're singing is that bad.” Or maybe it was, she honestly didn't know. She didn't know much about her fellow gardener, she realized. That would have to change. With permission given, she gently touched one of the sprouting radish seedlings. The leaves started to grow, not a lot, but enough to notice. She didn't want to undermine his hard work by having it grow too quickly. “A little help,” she repeated as she withdrew her hand.
“You haven’t heard me sing! It would make your ears bleed.” Though that was kind of a joke, the only singing he did was in the shower. His eyes widened as he saw the little leaves grow slightly, a few days growth in mere seconds, it was no wonder her harvest was so impressive. Ben’s eyes closed for a moment as he listened out for any bees that he knew were out there somewhere, hearing them he called to them, telling them of some plants that could use pollinating. It was only a few moments after he opened his eyes that a small swarm of bees descended on the lady’s garden. “And a little help for you.”
She watched him curiously, slightly confused as to why he had decided to close his eyes. It almost looked like he was concentrating on something though what that was she could only guess. The soft hum from the small swarm of bees moving past them brought her attention back to her plot. That would be quite a coincidence if those bees appearing had nothing to do with the man beside her. “We’re a regular flora and fauna,” she joked once he confirmed he was responsible for the bees. She wasn’t sure if that was a correct assumption - that whatever ability he had extended beyond bees - but ‘fauna’ still worked. “I’m Dani,” she finally greeted, holding out her hand.
Closing his eyes helped him focus, he didn’t really need it when it came to one or two insects but a whole swarm took a bit more mind power, Ben was still to try it out on a group of larger animals but he knew there wouldn’t really be a need for it here on the island. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a firm shake and then pressing a kiss to the top in typical French style. “Ben. A pleasure to meet you.” The bees went around all the plants, taking their time taking nectar and pollen before they all flew away, in different directions this time. “It is no wonder you’ve got a basketful so early in the season, I’ve only had luck with radishes, baby carrots and salad greens so far.” He admitted, but he was happy with his normal, slow growing plants.
“Don't sell yourself short. That's a pretty good hull,” she assured with a smile. And she wasn't just being nice either. Three different plants producing food so early in the season was nothing to scoff at. “Plants take time to grow after all. And your little ones are growing quite well.” She had said it before but there was no harm is saying it again. “Truth be told, I try to let them grow on their own, but I tend to get a bit impatient.” She chuckled a little, rubbing the back of her neck. “That and I like being able to share. Here.” Dipping into her basket, she bought out a tomato and offered it to him. “To compliment those salad greens.”
He was proud of what his plants had produced so far, though they were mostly quick growing that went from seed to harvest in about a month, the squash were going to take a lot longer as were the peppers but the green bean seedlings were shooting and maybe he’d try growing some brussel sprouts if he could get the seeds from the store. “Thank you, I haven’t grown vegetables since I was a child with my mother and sister. I guess I took produce and farmer’s markets for granted until they put me on this island.” But Ben was starting to slowly appreciate life here, he had a slowly growing group of friends and a secret little someone. “I’m glad that the library has plenty of books on gardening and there are other things to do, otherwise I would be here everyday waiting for my plants to grow.” He took the offered tomato from Dani and brought it up to his nose, smelling the delicious scent that supermarket tomatoes just didn’t have. “I will enjoy this tonight with my greens and a nice dressing, although he doubted he’d need much of anything with this fresh produce.
“I think a lot of us did.” She definitely had. Dani had never been one for gardening, preferring to browse the farmer’s markets for her produce over the years. With all her touring it was just easier. When her abilities developed and she was brought to the island, however, she quickly realized how essential plants were for her health. So she picked up gardening, and found herself loving every minute of it. “I’ve checked out my fair share of books on gardening from the library myself,” she admitted with a chuckle. “I wasn’t much of a gardener before everything happened.”
He used to love getting his fresh food from the markets, especially when he was in Hawaii, the climate provided a lot of nice fruit and vegetables all year around and he was spoilt for choice, it had made healthy eating so much easier. Since coming to the island he had to make do with what he got, he couldn’t ask for less carbs and more proteins so after the first few deliveries he learned how to make do, sometimes he was able to barter and swap items with others, those who ate more rice and bread than he were sometimes happy to give him their pulses or legumes. “I don’t think any of us were much of anything before we came here. Going to the market was so much easier. But there is that satisfaction from knowing you grew it yourself.” That was a bonus, seeing something for all that hard work
“There is, definitely.” Dani nodded in agreement. He was right; there was a satisfaction from knowing you grew your food yourself. A sense of accomplishment that made it taste just a little bit better than store bought items. She glanced at her watch, suddenly realizing that she probably should be keeping track of her time. “Ah, crap. I’m running behind.” She had to bring her the produce home and then head back to the center. “I have to go,” she told him apologetically. She offered him a smile and stood up. “It was great talking to you, Ben. I hope we can speak again soon.”
Ben hadn’t expected any human company, so the chat, no matter how brief was welcomed. “It was a pleasure to talk to you too Dani, no doubt we will see one another around again.” He hoped that was true, but they both had gardens here so there was that hope that if they didn’t see one another around the rest of the island there would always be the community garden. “Take care and enjoy your harvest.”