Slugs and CSA (Community Shared Agriculture)

6/2/2011

As I’m sure you have noticed, despite the pre-wash I do with the greens you are receiving you are still having to wash and wash to get all the little slugs out of your lettuce. I find it takes at least three washes in a basin of cold water before I am satisfied. This cool wet weather is slug paradise. Every morning I walk through the garden, knife in hand, going after the big ones. It is not pleasant work and I know that I am only touching the tip of the ‘slug’ iceberg but I tell myself that every large slug I kill is 20-30 small slugs that won’t be hatching down the road. In spite of this genocidal approach to slugs I have come to appreciate a certain beauty about them. They remind me of miniature whales. I call them ‘land whales’. I’m not sure what their positive function is in the ecology of the garden but they must have a role. They are part of the community and I kill them with a touch of reverence and also humility.

I also maintain an attitude of reverence and humility concerning the community (you) that has chosen to sustain my love of growing things to eat. Thank you for coming on board. A unique feature of this community is the opportunity to connect with the grower and the garden from whence your produce comes. To help facilitate this opportunity I wish to let you know of a couple of Open House dates where you can come out to the garden, take a look around, ask questions, and perhaps connect with other members of this community. The first date is Saturday, July 2 from 1-4pm. Come out, pour a glass of wine and have a look around! The second opportunity is August 27, 4-9pm. I am envisioning a potluck. Bring a favourite preparation of produce you will be receiving then (beans, eggplant, tomatoes, corn, etc…) and I will provide a meat entrée cooked outside over an open fire ( I haven’t advanced to a barbeque yet) and we can party in the garden! If neither of these dates works for you and you still want to come out please contact me for a date that suits (Saturdays or Sundays work best for me) and I will be glad to show you around.

In the meantime, let’s be vigilant about slug elimination and at the same time maintain a wonder at the incredible diversity, richness, and life sustaining gift of the natural world.

COMMENT