Mrs. Bergman’s Babies
Around Lakeside Marblehead, the Bergman family still grows
produce in the abundant fields surrounding the quaint vegetable stands. Bright red apples on wooden signs catch the
eye of passersby, but this is only a rich detail. Almost everyone visiting Lakeside
area notices the wonderful displays of vegetables and flowers. Bergman’s steps
up to the plate preserving the history of a long standing family enterprise.
Locals put in orders for Mrs. Bergman or her daughter to
have ready in the springtime. At a time
during a bygone day she’d leave the door to the produce section ajar and she operated
on the honor system for the locals.
The fertilizers were organic for a long time, as she allowed
fishermen to throw scraps of the catch into a compost bin. The results came in the form of the most
beautiful, healthy nursery products. The finished results of flat after flat
displayed abundantly in multiple rows signaled the coming of spring. Well into her eighties, Mrs. B roasts her
own peanuts in an iron pot belly stove that’s been around even longer than she
has.
She’s a tiny framed widow who lost her husband a few years
back. Still very clear minded, she runs
her operation flawlessly with the help of her daughter and a handful of loyal
employees. Sporting a stylish hairdo,
there isn’t a gray hair to be seen on her head.
She’s got a nearly flawless complexion, and walks a perfectly graceful
stride.
Lately she has gotten very attached to her plant starts –
almost as if these were her babies. The zucchini
starts were sold out quickly this year.
So, Mrs. B started a new batch to compensate. Always a late bird, I couldn’t find the
zucchini plants anywhere, so I asked her assistant for help. Mrs. B overheard me and beckoned. We walked all the way to the back of
greenhouse number four, and there were her babies. Before she would let me buy them, she had to
explain that the tertiary growth had not begun yet. From there came a complete set of
instructions qualifying the forward movement of selling me one or two of these
plant babies.
Later, I went there looking for dill. I like to have the dill plants mature early
because I mix up pickling brines ahead of time. That way, when the avalanche of
ripening produce hits, I’ll be ready for canning. When I asked about the dill, I got the advice
that it’s too soon for dill yet, because it would be ready to harvest too
soon. It’s a fast growing herb.
“Aren’t there any seeds I could get?” I asked.
“No,” she answered.
And her assistant confirmed.
Amused, but still wanting my dill, I went back to the tent
with the seed display. Searching,
searching up and down the rack, I finally found them. The dill seeds were hidden at the very bottom
of the display. They were tucked behind
some flower seed packets. I was hoping
Mrs. Bergman wouldn’t be there when I checked out with my packet of dill. I would have felt guilty if she knew I had
not followed the earth mother’s advice.
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