Magical Neighbors

Category: Garden in the Ghetto | Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:24 pm

Incredible amounts of updates for the last month and a half. It's been so busy that I'm left yearning for my usual time with the Stew.

For starters; my Dad has the most amazing next door neighbor. Clem (Chowder to his employees, family and friends) is a giant Russian landscaper and future mythical creature of Oregon folklore. My Dad gave him a deal on a sewing machine cabinet for his wife, Marfa, maybe 7 years ago. Ever since he's given our family random gestures of radness ranging from Alaskan smoked Salmon
"I get this from my Brothers, there is too much"
Homemade salsa
"Marfa tell me to bring this to you"
Help loading music equipment
"Where is your husband? Where is your father!? You are too little to carry this"
And everything in between.
Last week he noticed Dad and I struggling to get the new garden situated after the paver stones were installed (pictures soon!). On Wednesday we had 5 yards of soil delivered and were trying to get it in by nightfall. Clem helped cart it to the back yard (that man does wonders with a shovel), let us borrow a suitable wheelbarrow, rototilled what was left of the netted sod, had his son edge the front lawn, etc.
During all this he offered us part of his new vegetable garden. I'm not shocked that the sweet elderly couple that moved from the large property behind us (developers had been pressuring them to sell for decades) gave him full permission to do what he wanted with the yard that will eventually become a 7 lot cul-de-sac.
By Thursday afternoon Clem had tilled 4 new rows for us
"You don't want fence blocking all the sun for your tomato, grow them here. It will make them bigger."
All week I'd be raking the new dirt and planting what I could and he'd pop his head over the fence
"It look good in there, but you'd better start planting vegetables here! Chop-chop"
followed by a hearty laugh.

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gardenmama wrote on Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:29 pm:

You have a wonderful neighbor!

Biita wrote on Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:39 pm:

Hee hee,,,gotta love us Europeans! J/K,,you don't have to, but he is awesome. Wonderful that he knows so much, and is willing to help and give great tips for you and your dad. I know up here we neighbors share just about everything we have or get, and it is so great that he is being old world there in america!! Kudo's for you and your neighbor.

eileen wrote on Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:28 pm:

Lexxi you are so lucky to have such a good neighbour. I only wish mine were half as wonderful as yours!!!

Droopy wrote on Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:02 am:

I'd trade my neighbour for yours anytime, you lucky girl you!

gardengater wrote on Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:08 pm:

Whatever happened to the good neighbor policy? That was how our forefathers survived in this country-doing for each other. Enjoy your garden.

Gardengater