Eating Me Spinach

Our community garden in the Olympic Village on False Creek is really coming along.  Many of the plots are starting to ‘green out’ with lush crops of spinach, lettuce, kale, radishes, carrots and the like.  Some of the gardeners have planted tulips, daffodils and pansies which bring wonderful colour, loveliness, (and bees!) to the space.

My plot is doing pretty good for the most part.  I’ve got a nice showing of spinach and lettuce and the carrots and radishes are growing fast.  I’ve never tasted fresh greens from the garden so it was quite a treat to pick a bit of spinach and pop it into my mouth.  What wonderful texture and crispness! It’s as if it still tastes alive.  I’ll never look at ‘fresh’ produce from the supermarket in quite the same way. But, along with the small success I have had along the way comes a bit of trouble.  And I’m hoping that you can help me.

Me Peas! Me Poor Peas

My pretty little pea plants are being eaten faster than they can grow it seems. I’m wondering if I should just start again…or wait it out to see if they will they pull through.  These pea plants are just babies, barely 10 cm high.  Half of the plants were started from seed in the garden while the other half were lovingly started at home and tended to for a couple weeks under grow lights.  I’ve looked at the other plots that have peas, and none seem to be disappearing at the rate mine are. Maybe it’s the plot location.  It’s located next to  the compost bin which I imagine attracts a lot of pests.  But what do I know really? My thumb is nowhere near green.  So, I’m askin’.  What do I do?