You will reap what you sow goes the biblical saying, minus the pests, slugs and birds share. Clare’s garden, although small and contained, only about 500sqft, is producing some decent crops this time of year. It’s by no means a hobby farm, just a plot of manicured and tended dirt. 

In the spring we made some decent rhubarb pies and at present we are overloaded with zucchinis and string beans. We eat what we can, give away to our neighbours and friends who graciously accept our gifts of garden bounty even if they don’t like zucchinis. We’ve been feasting on lettuce all summer and the berry crops are enough for our daily cereal. There are a couple of pumpkins growing and some butternut squashes, a few onions and we already harvested the garlic. The cabbages are an experiment and a fight against the moths and slugs and the potatoes didn’t really live up to expectations. The tomatoes love this persistent dry, hot weather and they look like a bumper crop. Together with the basil and the garlic they will make some decent sauce for the winter. We have a canning pot and a few Mason jars and lids. Let’s not forget the spices: Tarragon, parsley, chives, dill, rosemary, thyme and hot peppers grown from our own seeds. We also have a fig tree that looks promising. Add to all that the wild black berries which are everywhere as well as the neighbour’s apples which are free for the taking and the sum total is the season of plenty. 

‘Do you and Muriel grow a garden?’ I asked Camp after we settled in with our beers in hand looking out at the hazy horizon, due to smoke from the wildfires in the interior.

‘Muriel would like to but says she has no time what with her teaching job and other volunteer commitments and as for me, forget it. I’m no green thumb but I am a willing and able consumer of all things fresh and edible.’

‘It does take time Camp. And money. I’m sure each tomato cost us five bucks. Consider the yards and bags of soil we buy, the fertilizers, the worm castings, the manure, the tools. But gardening is more than food production. According to Clare: ‘Gardening is balm for the soul and it connects you with the plant world. For me it’s therapy after a day at the hospital. It’s also a wonderful hobby and there is so much to learn about plants, flowers and vegetables. When to water and feed, prune and harvest. I love it all.’

‘I’m sure she is right. Unlike you I’m no foodie. I consider food fuel for the machine and I eat without prejudice everything Muriel puts in front of me. I cannot cook anything beyond eggs and have no aptitude to mix up ingredients like in a chemistry lab in order to eat. Before I met Muriel I ate out when I could afford it or lived on peanut butter sandwiches, bananas and canned soup.’

I shook my head in wonder. ‘I had no idea Camp but then again, we never eat together, just drink. I love to cook and bake and get great satisfaction from a successful pie or tasty dish. Mind you, I’m more of an experimental cook and seldom follow recipes. I can make a nice burrito or a risotto and enjoy baking an apricot pie. We should have you and Muriel over for dinner one of these days. I also make a wicked Jambalaya to make you believe you’re in New Orleans.’

‘I wonder what all the smoke from the recent fires will do to the grapes in the Okanagan? Will there be smoky wines?’

‘Good question Camp. Let’s hope the fires didn’t destroy a lot of vineyards. Hordes of tourists not allowed into the region and thousands evacuated and displaced makes this a major regional disaster and if anything good can come out of it, maybe it’s a smoky Merlot.’

I knew Vicky, our perennial server, had some relatives in the North. ‘How is your sister? I think she lives in Yellowknife, doesn’t she?’

‘It’s my aunt and she lives in Whitehorse. No fires there.’

‘Sorry, my bad. I knew she was somewhere in the North.’

‘One is in the Yukon, the other is the capital of the North West Territories. There will be a quiz later. And maybe a free beer.’