To be honest, I don’t know a lot about gardening. What I do know dates back to another time and place before plastic and pesticides.
When we woke up in the morning, we tasted the wind and surveyed the clouds. We had a huge garden plot plowed and harrowed by tractor-drawn machines. After that, our only tools were metal hoes and garden rakes on handles of wood, with which we gauged long rows in the earth, planted seeds, and fought off the weeds. Or our own two hands, to pull out the weeds who’d got out of hand, and finally to pick the peas, beans, and corn. Oh yes, we had forks to dig the potatoes.
So a few years ago, when Janice LaDuke invited us to write a poem that begins «If I know anything…» this is what came out of my old-fashioned pen (previous published in a chapbook, Black Cat Tales (2018):

If I know anything about gardening

It’s about dropping seeds steadily into the furrow
tamping the earth over them

It’s about earth worms
wriggling under my bare feet

It’s about hoeing on and on
drawn down the row by my sister’s stories

It’s about lettuce
sprouting shy but determined

It’s about tomatoes sweet and juicy
cleaved and slathered with mayo
slipped between slices of homemade bread

It’s about sweet corn
rushed from the stalk into a pot
still sweet and succulent

It’s about bushes of peas beans potatoes
withering before winter winds

If I know anything about gardening
it’s about dirt and more dirt
it’s about living and dying

GARDENS & MARKETS
In short, ‘tis the season for gardens, and garden markets, four of them in the Haut-Saint-François. The one in Dudswell is already launched and continues Saturdays, 9 to 11:30 a.m., until September 14, at the heritage garden, 167 Main Street (facing the town hall).
Bury’s market in the Memorial Park kicks off June 15, and continues July 13 & 27, August 10 & 24, and September 7. It’s at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At the Sawyerville Community Garden, 70 Randboro Road, the weekly public market begins June 29 and ends September 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Over at Canterbury Centre, 1095 Victoria Road, the market kicked off last weekend, and comes back Saturdays July 27. It continues weekly until August 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oh yes, speaking of gardens: On the magazine stands in the Cookshire IGA and the Dépanneur Lachance in Sawyerville is the May Townships Sun about gardens and gardening in the Eastern Townships. Featuring flowers! This lush issue is guest-edited by Angela Leuck.
GARDEN BEE, 25th
An inaugural garden bee is planned at the Sawyerville Community Garden on Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m. to noon. Helping hands are invited to help with tasks related to getting the garden open and running for the 2024 season. For more information, contact jcsawyerville@hotmail.com, or check the Facebook page, Jardin Communautaire Sawyerville.
BROOKBURY POTLUCK, 25th
The Brookbury Hall is open for business! The first event of the season will be a Spring Potluck supper and Silent Auction on May 25 at 5 p.m. The Hall’s address is 571 Brookbury Road (aka Route 255). Info: Brenda Bailey, 819-884-5984.
SmART SCIENCE, 25th+
SmART Science workshops in English continue the next three Saturday afternoons, 1-3 p.m., for families with children aged 9 or older. It features «Engineering Squad» activities devised by Science Wizard Angie Aucoin. The series is sponsored by Literacy in Action. Space is limited, so sign up first with Angie@lia-estrie.org, or 819-346-7009.
STAINED GLASS IN BURY
What? A special exhibit of 14 «stained glass» mosaic artworks created by children aged 5 to 15 during «Paspareil» workshops led by stained glass artist Chantal Guertin.
Where? You can see it at the Bury Library, located at 569 Main Street in Bury (side door of the Victoria Multifunctional Centre). The exhibit is on display until Canada Day, when the pieces will be sold.
When? The exhibit is accessible during the library opening hours, Monday from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
CANTERBURY CONCERT, June 21
Heads up for St-Jean-Baptiste weekend: A concert at the Canterbury Centre on June 21st at 8 p.m. for the Fête Nationale features traditional Quebec music with guitar, mandoline, accordion, violin, bass, and voices. The musicians are Paula Chiasson, Normand Breton, and Christian Nolet. Tickets: $15. The Canterbury Centre is at 1095 Victoria Road (Route 214), Bury. Info: 819-872-3400.
BROOKBURY, June 22
Hotdogs, salads, chips, and ice cream sundaes! It’s the Brookbury Barbecue planned for Saturday, June 22, at 5 p.m. Entry: $10/person. At the Brookbury Hall, 571 Brookbury Road (aka Route 255). Info: Brenda Bailey, 819-884-5984.
PARTY IN SAWYERVILLE, June 23
Loisir Sawyerville is to host a Fete-Saint-Jean-Baptiste party on Sunday, June 23, from 3 p.m. to midnight at the Sawyerville ball park. Bouncy castles, a canteen/bar service, a bonfire, and music are lined up for the evening. More details to be posted soon on the Loisir Sawyerville Facebook page.
CHURCHES
United. Penticost 1 services are May 26 at 9:30 a.m. in Cookshire, and 11 a.m. in Sawyerville, followed by the Annual Congregational Meeting. Penticost 2 services are the same times and places on June 2nd. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Baptist. Sunday services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m., at the Sawyerville Baptist Church, 33 rue de Cookshire. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-889-2819.
Anglican. Sunday services are on May 26 at 10 a.m. at the St. John’s Church in Brookbury, and on June 2nd at 9 a.m. (new time) at St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire. To find services in the deanery, check the schedule at deaneryofstfrancis.com/calendar/. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by May 23 for publication June 5.