Community Garden Opening

[fulgency]

Community Garden Opening

It had been a challenge to find the space given the overcrowding that came as a consequence of Aefenglom's populace being shuffled about for the sake of the Mirrorbound, the community garden is settled in a semi-spacious lot. The building that once stood there had fallen into such disrepair that the costs to restore it would be far more drastic in price than simply replacing it altogether. But few have that sort of money on the western end of the residential district, and so it was agreed upon by those in the neighborhood with the Council members that had collaborated to bring this motion to life that the land and the adjoining empty lot would be of better use as a green space. One where residents and others in the district or city could grow what their small greenhouses likely could not support or simply have a place to relax in or send their children to play. But that is the hope for the space and not yet its reality. Because as most within the city are quite aware through fliers, mailed invitations, posting to the Watches, and advertisements within the local paper, the garden is not yet planted. But it's finally, finally ready and there is to be a celebration. Today, the space is a bit fuller than it otherwise might be. This is not because of the Council members who gathered a bit early on the first day before the first arrivals, the Parliament members who filter in and out throughout the weekend, or the various members of the western residential district. There is simply a lot to do here this weekend in both hard work and fun alike.

I. Good Seed for the Day A wider path winds its way through the space, leading either to the garden or to an open space in which nothing is necessarily meant to be planted. Following the path towards the garden proper, there is a modest stall set up, occupied with various volunteers throughout the weekend to sell seeds and saplings at a low price for those who have come empty-handed. The sign on the stall itself notes that all proceeds will be utilized to continue supporting the garden itself. They also have all the necessary gardening tools available, although you may need to occasionally share during the peak hours. Then again, those with a bit more of a green thumb might come prepared as everyone is more than welcome to bring their own supplies, whether that be in the form of seeds and saplings or gardening tools. As for where to plant, following the branching and more narrow paths throughout the garden space, there is a clear divide between food and ornamental gardening but plenty of space exists within each division. Various planters of various sizes and shapes are made available either on the ground or shelving as much as the earth itself has been transformed into something suitable for planting. A small greenhouse has also been constructed, although the majority of the space has been reserved for growing food rather than beautiful flowers. Those a little uncertain or more curious will be relieved to know they are not on their own. Monsters from the residential district with more experience are available to teach more about how to properly care for the plants and Witches make themselves available to explain more about the alchemical properties or provide magic lessons to encourage growth. For the more advanced, there's even a few who are willing to point out examples of helpful and harmful insects in the garden, and the best ways to handle them.

II. Never a Dill Moment Those with black thumbs or a dislike of digging around in the dirt needn't fret or feel left out, however! There are other ways to beautify the garden, namely painting pots and plant holders or signs. Tables are set up with the necessary supplies where people can either paint individually or work together in small groups. There is also the option to build birdhouses and feeders that will hopefully be of interest to avians not of the harpy persuasion. Of course, if there is a special someone that might appreciate these painted and built products or maybe you just feel your lawn could do with a bit of sprucing up, everyone is equally welcome to take their creations home and do as they please, too. And for those who are maybe a little less artistically-inclined or wary of hammers and thumbs mixing, there is always the option to do a little bit of cooking in the outdoor kitchen. Stations with various kitchen tools and portable gas stovetops have been set up with plenty of ingredients and one instructor to teach dishes that can be made with few ingredients and with fairly limited kitchen time as well. Different meals are taught throughout each day, so breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner plans can be made. Completed meals can be shared on the grass or at the provided tables and chairs spread throughout. Just be mindful when spreading out a blanket that you could potentially be in the crosshairs of some form of sportsball being played between the local children.

III. Thyme to Leaf Already by the end of the first day, there has already been a great deal of progress. Some sections of the garden are already thick with lush green foliage thanks to magical interventions. But as the sun sets and the twin moons rise in the evening sky, the garden begins to empty out. Even the local vampires begin filtering out to go about their nights. But there is still work to be done. Gardening equipment needs to be moved to the shed on-site while chairs need to be carefully stacked onto tables. Leftover ingredients and food need to be packed up and either properly stored for the next day or delivered to the neighborhood and Outer City. Any trash not properly disposed of also needs to be cleaned up. Those who choose to help in this effort will be thanked and asked to come again in the morning to set everything up for those that tolerate the sunlight. As the number of visitors in the evening of the final day begins to dwindle, the process of cleaning up begins earlier than the first. People are first instructed to take down the tables, stack chairs, and carefully disassemble stalls before anything else. For now, they are to be placed against the shed as they will be collected in the morning. Once those tasks are taken care of, it's more or less a repeat of the night before. However, those who opt to help both nights are given their choice of two leftover packets of seeds or saplings at no charge as a thank you. They are free to do as they please with them whether they choose to plant them at the garden or at home.

Hello, friends! Welcome to the community garden opening. First, I would like to give a big thanks to Skai for helping write this log! Second, please direct any questions you have here. Otherwise, please enjoy digging around in the dirt and picnicking! I'm real sorry about the puns. I can promise you that as much as they might hurt to read, they probably hurt me double to write.

Comments

seeds!

[stopfen]

[There might be quite a few items ticked off as the fae goes through. Would he recgonise the voice? Though it takes her a while to speak, reading through everything.

Internally debating what she wanted.

Just fae things.

But he might notice that the fae skips over more decorative plants in favour of food and medicinal. And as she gets through her list of what she wants to grow she turns her head to look at the assistant, trailing off mid-word.

Just going to stare...Look at that little tail wiggle. Her focus has gone. There is someone more important to her than Ozymandias here, and that is his helper.]

[fulgency]

[The sphinx cub looks back at her for a few moments before looking to Ozymandias. Although he lacks distinct facial features, it feels there is a distinct look that he is giving his master. Almost as though he is uncertain about what she's said, what she's doing, or if he can go to get the seeds now and looking for guidance. Ozymandias glances in the sphinx's direction without turning his head, but does not give him permission to go and fetch the seeds. Ozymandias instead leans forward enough to rest his arms on the countertop. He taps the selection menu in front of her. The kitten looks to her as well.]

What was the last item?

[Assuming that was the last.]

[stopfen]

[The sudden question makes the fae's wings spread a little, clicking as her attention is drawn to him instead. Large eyes blinking at him for a moment.

Ah...Her head dips and she just silently points a chitin covered finger. A medicinal herb used for treating burns. That'd do for now.]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias nods to the sphinx cub.]

Go.

[The sphinx obeys the command, leaping down from its spot on the counter and making the quick trot over to the boxes of seeds to begin gathering the requested packets of seeds. One of these days, its wings will be large enough to support the weight of its body and it will be able to simply fly. But for now, it makes do with jumping and climbing, half of its body disappearing into boxes as it dips down to grab the seeds. As he is busy, Ozymandias tips his head slightly to one side.]

This is quite an ambitious list.

[stopfen]

[Oh..Look at them go. She watches it for a moment. Then her body slumped, head dipping as she sighed for a moment. One day she'd find a way to not be drawn to all things small. Even if the local fae had encouraged it.

Her head lifting with a small jolt when spoken too. Mouth opening, then closing before she talks.]

Is it? I grow more in my own garden...Or I did. Most of it died during the fires?

[Those pixies were assholes.]

[fulgency]

[The death of gardens seems to be a common theme from those who have come to this garden today, Ozymandias notes silently to himself. It seems the delay in officially organizing this opening was in some ways a mixed blessing as no doubt its destruction would have brought about perhaps more despair than the loss of personal gardening ventures.]

I do not think even though the avid gardeners among us grow so much even in their personal gardens. I can only assume you must have a great deal of experience.

[stopfen]

I used to be a farmer... I was trying to do the same here. [Work on something nice and peaceful for once. Like the railway. Only her garden had only produced a small crop before being destroyed.] It's going to take a while for anything to regrow there.

Do you garden then? If you're starting this.

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias shakes his head, glancing in the direction of the sphinx cub when it returns to place the first portion of seeds in front of him on the countertop. (There is only so much it can carry.) The sphinx is off again to fetch the rest.]

I am merely finishing something someone else started, [he clarifies.] But I am not unfamiliar with the management of farmlands.

[One of many responsibilities and duties he held as king.]

It is enough knowledge to see this garden begin.

[stopfen]

[Her large eyes watch it. It was cute how they were helping. A different kind of cute to Tater...Tater couldn't do a lot, his sole survival skill was looking cute and being too incompetent to survive alone-Shaking her head. Shrugging slightly.]

This is quite a bit smaller than a farm...And people aren't paid to work here. [Eiether in food or actual money.] Though it's still nice to have something like this. A lot of people seem to be from places where they don't farm.

[fulgency]

It is modest in size, I shall give you that. But we did not possess currency in my era, so this is a bit closer to what I am accustomed to than it otherwise would be.

[People farmed for themselves, of course, but the ultimate goal was to be certain there would be enough food in storage for those who could not fend for themselves in that manner and in times of hardship. So, Ozymandias thinks of this garden much in the same way.]

I would agree with you about many of those here. Farming is not as commonplace in the modern era of my world, so I would imagine it is the same for them in their respective worlds.

[stopfen]

You didn't use money...[It's a strange concept to her. Someone who grew up in the woods away from it all. They grew food to eat and hunted or foraged for what they couldn't grow. It was foggy, something that happened so long ago, but she remembered them having trouble when Father needed to go to the local towns. It seemed like such an essential thing.

...Though she couldn't say she'd mind living somewhere where it wasn't needed.]

Do they use magic or the strange machines? There's so many more people than where I'm from. [Though 'modern' farming techniques probably wasn't important, so she gave a small shake of the head. Ears giving a small wiggle.] It's good that they're getting the opportunity to learn. If there's an emergency...

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias could not say with any great certainty about the exact nature of the machinery involved in modern day farming. He had not been summoned in the countryside previously. But it was a safe bet.]

Magic in the modern era is less than what it was when I was alive, [he says with a small shake of his head. It would be impossible for them to rely upon it to assist with their crops.] To feed as many as they do, they would be reliant upon their scientific advancements instead.

[Ozymandias' tone is not without judgment. There is a degree to which the modern era does not make entirely perfect sense to him when despite such advancements, there still appears to be so much suffering. But even still, he is somewhat proud of humanity for its ability to adapt and evolve despite all odds against it.]

Fortunately, that is not the case here. I believe the more Monsters with such talents learn to master their skills and Witches adopt a similar interest, the better off we all shall be.

[stopfen]

[That, it gets an attempt at a wry smile. One that slips away almost straight away.]

People put less value on it, compared to fighting. But people need to eat before they can fight. [There was no shame in keeping people alive in a peaceful way. But she rolled her shoulders a little. Lifting her head to look, see how the little creature was doing.]

I hope you've not got too many plants that can be dangerous. I was growing peas before, they'd spit at people...

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias raises his eyebrows a moment, the look in his eyes becoming momentarily contemplative. He feels he has a good sense of what is available for the garden here, but he also believes himself to possess a great understanding of the sense of humor the boy who championed this initiative. Peas that spit at people would be the sort of juvenile prank he would find irresistible. But surely he wouldn't... Would he? No, of course not.]

I believe, [he says slowly,] what we have gathered here should pose as no threat to anyone. But I cannot guarantee that the more mischievous among us might not find ways to amuse themselves at someone else's expense.

[...Or Giorno Giovanna amusing himself in some capacity with a similarly troublesome crop. There is a very high likelihood he managed to slip something past Ozymandias and everyone else's notice.]

[stopfen]

[Ah..That's getting a nod. Yeah.]

Right. You can only control what you sell, if someone brings it in... [Then they could grow it. But not a lot they could do about that. She doubted they'd get a guard or anything, it just wasn't worth it for a small garden like this.

It wasn't as though the plants could be that dangerous.

...Not here in the city.

...Not like a cowplant.] Will you be growing anything yourself?

[fulgency]

[To a degree, the community garden existed on the goodwill of the people who might use it. So even if posting a member of the City Guard there wouldn't be particularly expensive, it would send the wrong message.]

No. As I said, I was never a farmer myself. So, I am afraid I would be of little use as far as that is concerned.

[stopfen]

[Well that gets a small snort.]

You're just selling the seeds. [Didn't seem like the best idea to her. Seemed like it'd be better having someone interested and knew more about gardening manage it. Just to be sure no one was doing anything dangerous. But... Eh. She was just using the land. So she's gathering her things up. Ready to get to work.]

Thanks. I hope this grows well.

[Then she's heading off if he doesn't bring up anything else. The spnix getting a wave.]