Harvest for our lives! (video/action)

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is standing at the eastern edge of the Orchard, whose branches are green-leaved and some heavy with fruit. One of the firetrucks is parked behind him. Nearby are tables stacked with baskets and boxes, for the collection of fruit, plus vegetables, herbs and other edible plants that are growing in gardens amongst the trees. Another table is covered with dishes of food and glasses of wine and other beverages, refreshments for the workers. (This post is backdated to May 21.) ]

A few days ago Dr. Sweets was talking to the community about organizing supplies for the upcoming relocation to another planet. Various efforts are now underway.

At the moment, we are harvesting the Orchard for anything that can be stored or cached, in case the trees are damaged in the move or the new planet's climate is cold or hot enough to kill off the trees and plants.

The Fire Brigade is volunteering a fire engine to be a transport vehicle for whatever we collect today and in the next few days. We need to get the produce to locations where it can be stored safely.

And for that, we need some locations! Would anybody like to volunteer or suggest some?

We could use some more help with the picking, too! Everybody welcome! We have food and drink for you -- harvesting is thirsty work, and hungry work.

I understand that some of you have gardens here in the Orchard. We won't touch your plants without your permission. Just let us know. If you are donating your produce, we'll help pick it, if you like.

Comments

[Video]

[imhisaunt]

Oh! The bakery has a very large storage space beneath it. You are welcome to use it.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Thank you, Delmar! I remember you made that space into a refuge during our battle to clear the Null out of the city. I sent some people there, and I'm glad they had that option.

Expect several truckloads of produce to arrive in the next few days!

[imhisaunt]

Alrighty then. I'll make sure everyone who works here knows to expect you just in case one day I'm out.

[so_dark_a_road]

We're good, then!

[Video]

[swiftlet]

I can help if you need some. I need something useful to do and my hostling would appreciate me in a garden.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Thank you, Swift! Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Your hostling? Who's that?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

You're welcome. It'll be nice to so something besides sit around for a change.

The closest word for it would be "mother." Cobweb. He isn't here, but he always loved his own garden in Forever.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

There is so much to do. We'll all be hustling to get everything done that needs to be done.

His name is Cobweb? But how nice, for you to think of this garden-loving mother-like person as you pick fruits and vegetables amongst the rows of an orchard.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

At least there was a warning. As I understand it there wasn't before.

[Granted he hadn't been here for any of that, but. He'd taken some time to look.]

Yes it is. I wonder sometimes what he would think of this place.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

There wasn't a warning last year when Fear split the city in two and moved only one half. We were all devastated, until he finally had enough energy to bring the other half along and put them together.

But we did have warning of the move right before and the move right after the battle with the Null. Problem was, we were so busy fighting that most of us didn't have time to worry about food or supplies. I think a few people were working on it, but we were all hungry for a while after we got to this desert planet.

I guess its best Cobweb is not here. But what would he think of Hadriel? Has he ever been in a strange situation?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

It sounds awful. I wasn't here for that, at least. I don't know what I would have done, to be honest. Most days it feels like I'm ornamental at best.

Not so strange as this place, no. I don't imagine he would enjoy much of it, but I suppose he'd learn to live with it eventually, although the fit he would have at first would be legendary, I'm sure.

[Video]

[sonofacesius]

I'm happy to help out. It can't be that much different than harvesting strawberries at Camp.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Thank you, Will! You've spoken of this Camp before. And say, there are strawberries here, too.

Re: [Video]

[sonofacesius]

Well then I should be fine. I almost missed picking strawberries. I'm glad I can help.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

You'll be the strawberry-picking expert, then! [ Grin ]

Action

[utulien_aure]

We should probably leave at least one cache near each of the housing complexes, in case we're cut off from each other when we land.

[Fingon replies, coming in with a large basket of peppers under his arm]

Should we consider drying or pickling them as well?

Action

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin turns and smiles to see Fingon with his harvest basket already full. ]

Sounds like a good idea. We could put them in heavy wooden boxes, or else ask some of the residents of each complex to host a cache in the buildings.

Drying or pickling would be good, too, I think. Want to clear up the kitchen and give it a try tonight? I'll scrounge the stores for bottles with tops that can be sealed well.

[bythewaves]

You know you need but ask.

[ Maglor comes up behind to ruffle Curufin's hair. ]

Where do you need me little brother?

[ Dear Sweet Eru but it's nice to be able to talk again ]

action

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin smiles when his hair is ruffled, and he turns half-around to meet his brother's eyes. ]

That depends on what you want to do. Shinny up the ladders and pick apples, pears, peaches, etc.? Or raid the berry patches and the vegetable gardens? There's plenty of ripe produce. Or you could start on the piles that others have already picked, and pack it into the boxes and carry it to the fire engine. Oscar and I cleared the truck bed of all the equipment, so there'll be plenty of room to shove the boxes in.

[ He slings an arm around Mags' shoulders. ] It's great to hear your voice again.

action

[bythewaves]

I could do either. [ Maglor smiles at him fondly, tugging him close enough to tidy his clothes for him ]

Tis not as if there is much for me to do elseways!

action

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin chuckles as Maglor fixes his collar for him, as he did when Curufin was a child who was so eager to get into action that he barely buttoned his shirt in the morning before trying to fling himself out the front door. ]

Perhaps not. Still, it is an honor for us, to have the great Bard of Valinor and Beleriand come to pick fruit for us! [ He's teasing, of course, but the admiration is genuine and always has been. ]

action

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor snorts at him, amused ]

You speak as if we never climbed trees to pick the fruit when we were younger!

[ And more daring escapades than that, but they had been young then. And there had been a lot of testosterone edged dares ]

action

[so_dark_a_road]

Oh, certainly we shinnied up the trees to steal the fruit!

[ Well, not always steal. . . after all, some of those trees were in their own backyard. Just not all of them. ]

Mother used to laugh at us when she caught us.

[ Fruit trees and worse! Oh, those testosterone-edged dares! ]

(Video)

[handofsilver]

I am on my way, Atar. I fear I overslept! (Nightmares fatigue him during the night and he needs more rest than his kin because of them - and because of the shape of his body.) The healing herbs will need to be cut carefully. I will bring a satchel for them.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Thank you, my son. I will be grateful! [ He knows, of course, of Cel's nightmares and his fatigue, and the story of how his son came to be so grievously injured that even now, after many months of healing time and Elrond's kindly efforts, his body is still not completely recovered and perhaps may never be. All the more reason to be touched by his son's eagerness and willingness to exert himself. ]

I know you will handle the healing herbs with the utmost care, and in the future, others may have reason to be thankful for your skillful gardner's hands. [ For Cel is that, not just a smith, but a nurturer of living things human, animal, and plant. ]