I like everything about living here in sheltered housing. I am 72 and moved to be safe and secure but still independent. When I first came outside and saw the garden I thought it could be lovely. Back then it was all shrubs; the hedges were high, with ivy and weeds everywhere. One day coming into this lovely building, I felt embarrassed and just thought, “No man! This isn’t right, you have to do something.” The housing officer at the time listened to me and said to the gardener, “Do whatever Mrs Odle wants.” We made flower beds and improved it a lot, but then he left and the new contractors weren’t experienced gardeners. One day they hacked back my strawberries and left the weeds. Since then, they cut the lawns and I do all the rest.
I grew up in Jamaica with my grandmother, who grew coffee. As soon as I could walk I would accompany the adults into the fields. They would pick the beans and us children were allowed to pick up the ones on the ground (dropped where rats had eaten some of the pods) and sell them. We would sneak up the tree and quickly get a few extra.
I had just turned 19 when I came here. I didn’t want to come. It was January 1962. I remember the freezing cold, the smog, and chilblains. I cried and wanted to go home but I quickly found work sewing in a shirt factory. People got on, thank the Lord. The first place I lived was just rooms, no garden. My first flat had a little balcony and I started gardening with a few pots.
Sometimes I come out here at 8am and before I know it it’s lunchtime and I haven’t even had a cup of tea. I feel good. Some tenants won’t leave their flats and it is sad. They think they retire and life is over.
When I make a new bed I plant potatoes first to soften the earth. This year I bought Maris Piper seed potatoes from the pound shop. I’ll save seed from a bought pumpkin and then start the plants off on a windowsill indoors. I break the ends of the stems off to stop them running too far and I learned to pollinate the female flowers with the male ones. Last year I got six pumpkins.
I love my callaloo (Amaranthus sp.). It grows quickly and the leaves are brightly coloured. It is very popular in the Caribbean. I use it like spinach in salads and soups.
My favourite spot
Overlooking my vegetables. I brought the sweetcorn seed from Jamaica last year. They are making a lovely display – but still no corn.
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