A few weeks ago, I planted a whole bunch of herb, vegetable and flower seeds, and Mother Nature was able to provide me an overabundance of cilantro, basil and cucumbers. However, she knows that no one should have too much power, and decided to keep me from growing some hot peppers (ah, the equilibrium, I thought).
While the seeds germinated, I prepared small pots so that I could transplant any pot with more than one plant. And after about a week of growing strong and healthy roots, they were ready for a new home, just in time for Earth Day.
The whole morning I thought about how I was going to display them and how I was going to attract potential plant parents. I considered taking out a table and placing a big sign written on with the word “free.”
But then after a nap, I decided to just leave them on the green cable box outside my house with a broken down cereal box as a sign that read “free plants – happy earth day.”
After I left, I contemplated about whether or not it was enticing enough, and for a moment I thought that I was going to end up taking some back.
It’s that feeling you get when you are invited to a potluck and no one eats your shrimp patties, so you either a) leave it for the host to pack up (bring shrimp kelaguen instead!), or b) take home your tupperware somehow filled with more food than you brought.
But then after I posted on a community chat that I was giving away plants, they went away pot by pot. Luckily, I didn’t put them out all at once, because if I had, there probably wouldn’t have been enough for late comers.
So, I restocked once (for a split second during this lock down, I felt the spirits of every grocery worker that braved through the COVID-19 panic-buy, except without the fear of being trampled over), this time with some cucumbers and Kamote slips (sweet potato).
In the time that it took for the plants to be rehomed, I was able to transplant a pineapple and set up my trellis, which took less than an hour.
I had a short but nice conversation with my neighbor who I probably wouldn’t have ever met had I not decided to share some plants (which I thought was pretty cool).
Even after the sun started to set, I received a few notifications here and there asking about some plants (I promised I’ll give them some, because there’s no need to be stingy!).
Now, I’m writing this article, and let me tell you- it feels nice to give.
It’s that feeling you get when you are invited to a potluck and everyone eats your barbecue and so you both a) never get to try it and b) walk home with your tupperware empty but heart filled. That’s the feeling. That’s it.
Now I just hope that my neighbors take care of them, and Mother Nature is kind to the new plant parents.
However, as a science geek, I should share with you that I predict 80% will fail, and those numbers are based off of nothing but arbitrary gut feeling.
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