The allotment harvest set off the seat belt alarm

Once the vegetables came in at one 市民農園 (municipal allotment), the weeds started getting ahead of the grower. August heat cut visits short, and picking took up the time she had for weeding. Just two eggplant plants often meant three or four kilos to take home. After two weeks away, the haul was heavy enough to set off the seat belt alarm when she put it on the passenger seat. A weekly check had been enough after planting. In summer, a five-minute drive meant she could get there before her toddler woke up. Some eggplants grew heavy enough to snap branches in just a few days. Even after giving eggplants away, she had trouble using them up. One plant was starting to sound like plenty for the following year. The bunching onions (分けつねぎ) could wait. She pulled a stalk or two for miso soup and left the rest in the ground for another visit.