Planting Season
RW Abbey: Kitchen Gardens
The earth gives its blessings generously to the abbey vegetable garden. The myriad of rows different shades of green line the ground, scarcely leaving room for a path, even dirt for that matter! The rows of food are placed well, each vegetable supporting the other. The tall vines of tomato plants wind themselves around stakes in the ground. Pumpkins and squash add to the various colors of the garden. The plants for potatoes and turnips are seen, some missing that suggests a sly paw. The spicy leaves of horse radish seem to be well left alone.. Light green stalks of carrots spread out like miniature ferns over their row.
Everything is simply rushing to grow in the soft earth and every sunny day, beasts are present to help it along with spade and hoe. In places, the ground is just a bit muddy and a few odd buckets left lying about suggest that water is occasionally brought from the pond to assist their nurture where Nature might be temporarily lacking. And so the carpet of green prospers...
Exits: [H]erb [G]arden, [K]itchen [Y]ard, [K]itchen [P]ath
Silver walks out of the kitchen eating a scone, he looks around as he walks and laughs. “I don’t think I have been over here before..."
Oz looks at Silver as he comes out, he nods "Well you can help then while your here"
Silver looks at Oz and smiles. “Hello Oz, is this the garden that you were talking about?"
Oz nods "Well one part of it, there is also the orchards and an herb garden to tend to" He looks over at some otters that are making nice straight lines in the soil, ready for seeds to be planted in soon.
Silver nods. "Ok well wot do you want me to do?"
Oz hmms, he dusts off some dirt and hands him some seeds "You can plant these in one of the rows that are ready."
Silver smiles and takes the seeds. "Ok...well I can try!"
Oz looks at him “I though you did farmer stuff before"
Silver looks at Oz and nods. “Aye but I was only a season or two old..."
Moonstone steps into the gardens and looks around and walks over towards the beasts stopping a few feet away from them.
Oz nods "Well..here" he takes a seed and show him how to plant it, lay some fertilizer mix on top, and cover it with some other soil.. "Just keep doing that and then once the row is done. Water the seeds carefully."
Moonstone watches only slightly curious, but she doesn’t show she is as she has her normal look since she got to the abbey.
Silver nods and does what Oz did a few times. "Ok I think I am getting it. ”He looks at moonstone and smiles. “Hello moonstone."
Oz nods and smiles "Doing good Silver" He nods a hello to the beaver.
Moonstone nods a hello "Hello..I suppose"
Silver smiles. “This reminds me of the time my father showed me how to farm..."He sighs. “But that was long ago..."
Oz sits down to rest and nods "Just think of what all this will look like come fall, takes some time to grow to that though" he looks at Silver "Well try not to think on any bad times, just happy times"
Moonstone glances around, she seems to loose interest and wanders away towards the pond.
Silver nods."Ok...I can try. “He keeps planting seed, now thinking about happy things.
Oz smiles now as he stands and helps a couple otters use the plow to make a couple more nice long lines in the soil, while a few other beasts plant the seeds after small holes are made in the lines of soil.
Silver keeps planting the seeds. “This is going along nicely, well looks like it is, wot!"
Oz chuckles "Yes it is going better than I thought it would"
Silver laughs. “Who is watching the dibbons Oz?"
Oz smiles "Couple of the brothers and sisters is, they were out here for a little while, and then had to go inside for baths before lunch, they had been playing in the dirt and mud."
Silver smiles. “Yes I could see that happening, but it had to be fun!"
Oz nods and smiles "Course, they watched for a while and then. Well dirt and mud for dibbuns are fun" He chuckles as he goes to water some of the seeds already covered, "I will most likely have to go in little later, but would come back out as this will take more than a day to startup"
Silver nods."Ok I think we can do this for a little bit without you."
Oz nods "I am here for now" He looks over as the otters have made another long row in the soil and started making the holes for the seeds to be placed in, he nods to Silver" Planting seeds after the soil is ready, and watering them, also we will have to remove any stones in the way and some weeds, even if the weeds are dead right now still need removed so don’t mess up the plants we are going"
Silver nods. “Sounds like a good plan. “He finishes a row of seeds and starts another
--- The tall shape of a squirrel rounds the corner of the abbey at a light and easy walk, an odd black cane tapping lightly on the earth as she goes, looking around and up with all the pleasant and slightly bored interest of a beast who is not entirely familiar with the abbey. Noticing the busy work in the wide tilled patch of garden, she angles towards it, stopping near the edge and watching the work with some curiosity.
Oz smiles, he looks over as the squirrel enters and nods "Greetings" he says "And how are you today?" He goes to help an otter with the plow again, after the long line is made in the soil Oz nods, he goes to find the ID markers for letting beasts know what is what and places them at the different places they are needed before he forgets, luckily the couple things started he remember and a third is being started now..Signs for corn, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, ect.
Silver looks at the squirrel and smiles. “Hello there!"
Jake makes his way to the area of the abbey where all the growing is done, he stops and watches the beasts as they work before he walks over.
Monzcarro nods politely to Silver and Oz, leaning lightly on her walking stick, "A finest day naught oft seen," she replies cheerfully, her accent of some old-sounding tongue, her words a bit clipped, as though not entirely fluent in the language here. "Prithee farming?"
Silver looks at Jake and laughs. “Ello Jake, join in on the farming!"
Oz smiles "Getting ready now so have a large harvest come fall..we grow vegetables and some fruits here, we have an herb garden, the orchards and someone mentioned an area outside the abbey where some growing of foods are done as well."
Jake tilts his head "I don't know anything about farming, sorry...ummm could do something suppose, not sure wot"
Monzcarro ambles lightly over the unturned grass to be nearer to the badger, now carrying her stick crossed behind her back. "Walls and ramparts, stock and stone. A farm within and without and feasts nigh on daily. Truly a fine place thine Abbey," she says, watching as the Otters till and haul. "Rare oft not beasts work so hard."
Silver smiles. “It not that hard Jake, you just put the seed in a hole and put some dirt over it, wot!"
Biff makes her way into the garden and waves to the other beasts. “Hello everyone, I hope I am not late to help with the planting!"
Zoomy wanders into the garden with a stern look on his face, "What pray tell is going on here?"
Jake sighs, he looks at Silver "You’re funny Silver" He walks along one of the rows and looks to see how it’s done, and he shrugs and decides he could probably help with planting seeds"
Oz chuckles and smiles as more beasts show up, he moves some of the larger rocks out of the well of the plow an otter is using and looks around to make sure all is going alright as beast towl and plow, some plant seeds and others do some watering of seeds planted already.
Silver laughs. “Well I try Jake. “He look at biff and laughs. "Nope you are just in time Biff!"
Zoomy scrutinizes the planting with stern approval. Lovely things to cook with... All those pies and cakes and OH MY.
Jake takes some seeds and carefully plants them in the holes the seeds go into, he covers them with soil and whatever else is needed, he shrugs, ok..so farming is VERY new to him but he watches and is doing fairly well.
Oz waves to Zoomy as he comes in "Greetings Zoomy, how are you doing this day?"
Biff walks over to those who are planting and joins them. “I know a thing or two about planting, wot wot!"
Longspikes's huge bulk lumbers on up behind Zoomy, the ground shaking slightly from his oak-stump legs powering his weight. He chortles like a bass drum as he sees the Otters straining to haul the plow. "Away with ye, you riverdogs." he bellows cheerfully, "Ifn a beast had need to plow the ocean waves, thine kin would be first called, but here, and now, give yer burden upon the Longspikes and watch."
Zoomy waves back to Oz, "Quite well I reckon. Just woke up, so I've no idea who cooked brekkie and all. How are you though?"
Silver watches the other beasts come and smiles. “Well Oz looks like we got a lot more help now!"
Monzcarro looks a fair bit out of her element, the warrior maid taking a few steps back from the increasing bustle of the field, Fighting off bandits she could certainly manage, and withe as could she run a score of miles to deliver a message... but here the busy labor of planting seems as alien to her as flying.
Jake looks up as he hears the familiar voice and watches the otters back up a little ways to basically let Longspikes take the plow, he grins some as he watches a short while and its back to those seeds.
Oz nods "I am fine, hmms I don't know..you could perhaps make a light lunch soon for the ones working, I know there is some water to drink for those who need something to drink. I think an abbey sister made the oatmeal the dibbns had earlier"
Biff plants a few seeds and smiles. “So how long has this been going on?"
Zoomy mumbles to himself already thinking of what he could serve for lunch, "Salad. Working beast need lots and lots of good salad. But what kind of salad?...."
Longspikes has paws the size of shovels and arms that would be called legs on another beast. His belly was big enough for any five others, but underneath it there was some serious strength. He takes hold of the ropes on the front of the plow, turns his great spiky hide and grunts once. Where those strong otters had been huffing and puffing, the Longspikes looks more like he was off on a stroll. Rocks clink against the iron of the blade, not slowing it in the least as the monster stumps along the route. At one point the thing does jump a bit, and the hedgepig turn and glowers at it. With the ease of a dibbun finding a pebble, the claws up a rock bigger than a mouse's head, hefts it in one paw and hurls it at the distant pond, bereft of any beasts at this time of day. There is a distant SPLOOSH!, and he takes up the plow's lines again, muttering to himself.
Silver keeps planting and looks at Biff. “I don’t know, I have been out here for an hour or two."
Oz nods "This has been going on since midmorning" he says to Biff and looks at Zoomy "I do not know for sure, guess mainly use spring vegetables perhaps, know still some of those that wasn’t gathered up around the time of the feast, probably be working on some of the other areas tomorrow"
Zoomy nods and turns to head to the kitchens, "Lots and lots of salad! One for everyone and three for me!"
Jake looks over at Longspikes when the large stone is thrown and blinks at the strength of the hedgehog, he had only caught a small bit of how strong Longspikes was when he last saw him at the Black Rose base, he goes back to seed planting again and stops to water some of the seeds he had planted and smiles, he even moves away some smaller rocks not needed in the area.
Biff nods. “Well that’s good, I was thinking you guys had been out here all day wot!"
Zoomy pushes a small trolley covered with salad into the gardens. "I have returned! With food!"
Longspikes reaches the end of the row and turns, grabbing the front of the Plow and hauling out of the earth, only to stick it back in facing the opposite way on the next. The vole that was keeping on the handles looks a bit flustered and shaken up because he hadn't let go in time and so was neatly turned around along with the tool. "Mind the path," the big beast calls, starting to haul again, his great stump-thick legs thumping onto the hard-packed earth and drawing the blade forward after him. "Cor but this work be rough, no wonder the Abbey never falls; it's caretakers have spines of iron."
Silver looks at Zoomy and grins. “Yes you did, and that is why you are the cook!"
Oz watches as Longspikes helps out and smiles as the work has speed up now and checks on a couple other beasts who are moving rocks and planting seeds once holes are done for the seeds, he goes to move a large rock out of the way of the plow before it gets too close to where it is and places the large rock off to the side, perhaps some of the rocks could be used for...well something.
Jake finishes placing seeds in the holes of one of the long rows and covers them with the soil
mixture nearby, he then carefully waters each seed. He looks over at Zoomy a moment.
Biff smiles and goes to get some salad. “Well I think food sounds good!"
Monzcarro didn't want to just leave the abbey beasts to their labors; she was never a lazy beast and would fight any who thought her one, but manual labor of this sort was never one she was familiar with. Monza was honestly worried she's do something to ruin the entire season's crop... However, seeing other digging up stones and the like, she found what could have been a task.
With a quick little movement, she stabs the brass spike of her cane into the dirt to keep it standing, then pulls off the slated wood armor she wore, leaving nothing but a simple red woven shift. She takes up a spade standing nearby. "Know not I the ways of seeds and growth, but I ken well enough shifting stone. Do ye beasts care for a song whilst we work?"
Silver looks at the squirrel and smiles. “I don’t know, you can sing if you want I guess! “Then he goes back to the salad he took from the cart.
Zoomy thinks for a moment as he fiddles with a platter of salad he himself was eating off of, "I would not begrudge a song."
Biff shrugs. “You can sing if you want, but I am not going to...;
Rinzo wanders in and faintly catches Biff's words, "Somebeast intends to sing? Dependin' on what they be singin' I might join in."
Jake walks over to where the salad is and gets some and a glass of water, he sips the water a little and nibbles on the salad as he sits for the moment to rest.
Silver smiles. “Well we are getting some nice work done, wot!"
Oz nods "Yes a lot of work is getting done and that is good"
Biff nods. “Yes we are and it’s going rather nicely I think!"
Zoomy attempts to help. After trying for several moments to figure out what he was supposed to do he realizes why he works in the kitchens.
Jake watches as he eats his salad and smiles "Sort of neat how a lot of what’s in salad starts like this. Little seeds in the ground, sort of cool"
Silver nods. “It is cool...if you think about it we could be eating wot we just planted this time next year!"
Oz looks at Silver " a lot will be ready for Fall harvest Silver"
Honeyfern walks into the gardens and blinks, "Lot beasts look jolly well busy wot."
Silver nods. “I know but there will still be some when we plant again next year!"
Biff smiles and waves to Honeyfern. “Hello Honeyfern!"
Jake smiles as he sees Honeyfern and finishing the last bite of salad and last bit of water he had he walks over to her and grins "Hey "
Monzcarro tsks and shoulders her spade like a soldier would a pike. She casts a haughty gaze over the beasts stuffing themselves at Zoomy's trolley, "A beast eating before work be done, now there be a shame," she calls, though there's no bite to her words; she's grinning. The tall squirrel raises the spade and turns on her heels, neatly as a dancer and marches to the side of the field, her voice rising into a sprightly and fast song that makes one's paws want to move. "We're on the one road, sharing the one load - We're on the road to who knows wheeeere. We're on the one road, it may be the wrong road, but we're together now who cares? North beasts, South beasts, comrades all! Dullins, Bellast, Cork and Abbey all; we're on the one road, swingin' along, singin' a soldier's song!"
Zoomy waves to Honeyfern as he collects his platter of salad again and begins eating again. The whole planting thing does not work well for him.
Honeyfern smiles at Jake "Hallo love" She walks over to see what she can do to help and watches for now not being sure what to do yet.
Oz listens to the singing as it starts and smiles, he looks over as the sound of small voices are head and chuckles as he gets up to make sure the dibbuns stay out of trouble, he brings them some salad and gets some juice as well, he motions for them to sit and smiles as they do so "Eat first then maybe play somewhere nearby"
Zoomy rises from the ground and gathers his platter, "Well I reckon I need to take this dirty dish to the kitchens, I will leave the trolley here for all who are hungry."
Silver hmms and finishes his salad. “Well I guess it’s about time I got back to work...
Jake chuckles "Yeah guess there is still work to be done huh" he says.
Biff laughs. “don’t worry Silver we are not far behind you!"
Honeyfern smiles and decides to help a vole she sees to clear some dried up weeds and place them in a pile away from the gardens,.
Silver starts planting the seeds again...
Biff smiles. “When did you learn how to farm Silver?"
Oz keeps an eye on the dibbuns as they eat salad and drink juice, after they finish he lets them play nearby, but away from any dangers if there be any nearby.
Silver looks up and sighs. “My parents were farmers...before they were killed and the farm burned down......."He does no say anything after that...
Jake helps to move a wheel barrow of stone and weeds, a couple strong otters help him out, after its moved he dusts himself off and nods at the otters as he looks to the abbey, "I will be back later" he says and heads inside.
Biff frowns. “OH...sorry about bringing that up Silver..."
Silver just keeps planting the seeds, not looking as happy as he did...
Oz watches Silver and looks at the dibbuns again as they have found a puddle...again, he sighs.
Silver hmms and watches the dibbons play in the mud and laughs a little.
Wydran walks into the gardens. "Hello," he says.
Silver looks up from his planting and smiles a little. “Hello Wydran."
Wydran looks to see what Silver is doing. "Planting for the spring?"
Silver nods."Yep...it’s been a long time since I have helped plant though....
"
Wydran asks, "Can I help?"
Silver nods. “Feel free!" and then hands Wydran some seeds.
Wydran takes the seeds and smiles. He kneels down to help dig where they will be planted.
Silver smiles. “Have you every planted before?"
Wydran says, "Yes, back home with my family..." He seems reluctant to go on.
Silver nods. “Aye my family had a farm also..."He sighs and a single tear rolls down his face...
Wydran stares at the ground, not realizing he has dropped several seeds in one spot.
Silver hmms and smiles a little. “You don’t want to put that many seeds in one hole."
Wydran blinks and sees his mistake. "Sorry," he says.
Silver nods. “It’s ok..."
Wydran says, "I'm glad I found the Abbey. It's so peaceful here. Though the Abbot told me there were vermin here in the winter."
Silver nods. “Aye...not the best time for anyone..."
Wydran seems interested in the Abbey's history though he doesn't inquire further. "So what exactly are we planting right now?"
Silver shrugs. “Anything and everything, the abbey eats a lot you know!"
Wydran laughs. "I suppose so."
Silver hmms. “Well it’s true, and there is a lot of hares here!"
Oz walks back to the gardens after helping the dibbuns inside for their nightly baths and stories, luckily an abbey sister is helping with that, he nods "Greetings"
Wydran looks up and waves to Oz with a smile.
Silver Looks up from his planting and waves to Oz.
Kiara skips into the gardens and looks around, she goes over to a patch of dandelion flowers close to the path and sits down watching the beasts work, well she is a dibbun so isn't like she can do much.
Oz looks over at the dibbun and keeps an eye on her, he glances over to the other beasts "So how are things going then?"
Silver smiles. “They are going fine. “Then he waves to Kiara. "Hello Kiara."
Kiara smiles as she sees Silver, she nods "Hallo uncle Silver" she giggles as she remembers.
Silver smiles. “Would you like to help us plant the seeds Kiara?"
Kiara blinks "Me too little to plant foods"
Silver smiles. “No you are not, my parents thought me how to plant when I was your age."
Oz watches Kiara to make sure she stays out of trouble.
Kiara tilts her head and smiles "Me not gonna be farmer when get big..gonna be bow shooter beastie...." she giggles again and nods "Me will shoots the bad beasts all gone."
Silver laughs. “Well you can still learn how to plant, it can be fun."
Kiara walks over to Silver to see what he is doing.
Silver smiles. “Do you want me to show you how to plant the seeds Kiara?"
Kiara smiles and nods, she sits down to watch him plant the seed.
Silver smiles and starts to show kiara how it is done...
Wydran continues to plant the seeds he has.
Oz watches this from where he is and smiles "Your good with dibbuns Silver."
Kiara watches and smiles all this is interesting, she even gets a seed and places it in a ready hole made for a seed and smiles as she covers the seed up and pats the dirt down softly.
Silver looks at oz. “Not that good. “He smiles. “Kiara just likes me."
Oz chuckles "I am sure other dibbuns like you too and there is Charlie, I am sure he likes you I would hope, how has he been doing anyways?"
Kiara looks up as Charlie is menched and seems curious.
Silver smiles. “He is fine, have not seen his around for a few days still..."
Oz nods "I am sure he is around somewhere, maybe sleeping in the dibbuns room"
Silver smiles. “I know he is."
The planting of seeds go on for a while longer.
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