Scarlett knows her onions
Would like today to praise woman gardeners. By this I don't mean the admittedly brilliant Beth Chatto, Jekka McVikar or Anna Pavord. No I am here today to offer up praise to the sheer joy of working the earth with women.
On a pretty miserable Winter weekend (the water in the tank frozen over, the sky clouded over and cold) doing pretty heavy work (digging, trenching, turning) I was lucky to be in the company of three wonderful women. Many stories were shared (as were tea and cake) and in an un-showy, sisterly, supportive way we all took nourishment from it.
Sarah joined the team a year ago. And what she lacked in experience (she tended to use her garden fork like a 'lady who lunches' might pick up peas) she made up for with laughter (though you should have seen her on Saturday digging like Monty Don).
Scarlett joined only a couple weeks ago (it is her plot we are working). And again she compensates a lack of physical strength with commitment, excitement and energy.
And then there is my daughter Radha. Now obviously I have known her a little longer than Sarah and Scarlett. And obviously as a single mum she has better things to do on a freezing November Saturday. But when begged if she could drop off some tea, she also brought buns and her wellingtons, ready to work.
So forgive me for stating the obvious - that gardening with such women is as good as it gets. Just that sometimes I forget to say it...
