Pineapple Harvest Time

A couple of years ago for Christmas we bought Eloise a wicking garden in a barrel. There is a reservoir of water in the bottom, beneath the soil of the flower bed, which is drawn up into the soil by capillary action, keeping the plants fed from beneath.

As an exercise in organisation, focus and tenacity, Eloise was charged with keeping the flower bed watered and she planted some pineapple heads in it along with various herbs and spices and endless compromises.

The carrot with which she was encouraged to perform these tasks was that, if she were able to maintain a regime which fostered a successful garden, then she would be allowed a pet fish.

She still does not have a fish, having to my knowledge never having watered the garden at all without having been asked several times, but it has been watered by grownups - admittedly very infrequently - and has produced for us capsicum peppers, spring onions, tomatoes, and pineapples.

Having picked the pineapples, it would be nice if Eloise could follow through and actually try to eat them rather than just leaving them lying in the middle of the table, but I'm not holding my breath.