A Week Before Christmas At The Urban Garden

As Christmas approaches it seems as if everything is put on hold so that last minute gifts can be bought or party details can be taken care of. My self I am thinking about getting things organized for spring. I can’t help it it is just a part of me that goes back to what I was taught when I first started in groundskeeping. I think the less stress the better and organization leads to less stress. Planning is a key part of this.

Currently we are reorganizing the shop area. I started by cleaning out all the old parts and attachments for equipment we no longer have. this has freed up some shelf space. Next I have set up areas that like items are being put into so that related items can be put together until final organization takes place. All the irrigation items in one area, all the trowels,hand pruners, and clippers in another. This way all the wayward tools and parts that were not returned properly will get back to the area where eventually you will be able to just go and pickup what you need with out searching. This of course is all well and good but the final part will be to make sure that at end of day things get returned at the end of the day. If this is not implemented then all the work will be for not.

My hope is by Mid January to have this work complete but I know that even with the best of intentions that I will be lucky to be through by March. There are always diversions along the way. The day before yesterday when I came in a car had been parked in the lot and had a transmission leak that caused a big puddle of fluid in the parking space. The car did make it out of the lot trailing transmission fluid all the way till it got almost to the end of the Emergency Room Drive where it finally gave out and dropped all the rest of the transmission fluid on the ground. Of course this needed to be cleaned up right away as transmission fluid is extremely slippery and hazardous to walk on. So 250 lbs of oil dry latter it was safe to walk and drive on. This is just one of the many sidecars that take place during the course of the week in a large institution. We are always doing something non gardening related yesterday it was filling pot holes in the parking lot and today who knows! It is not possible to have precise plans of what you are going to do each day but you just hope for the best.

When I was younger I looked forwards to Christmas with a lot of anticipation and excitement now I think of it more as a day off and hope it don’t snow. I do enjoy seeing the grand kids open their presents and some time spent with family to catch up on things but the gift giving and receiving I can do without. Either you like me or your don’t but don’t feel obligated to buy me something or obligate me to buy you something. If you want to show me how much you care then just sit and talk with me for a bit and tell me what is happening in your life. Then humor me and listen to me as I drone on about myself. I know half the stores in America would close and millions would be out of work with out the Christmas Buying Season. I just have to wonder if this is what Christmas really is all about. Some how I think the gifts the three kings brought to that little baby lying in a manger over 2000 years ago has some how gotten all convoluted and many people now stress themselves out trying to BUY just the right thing to show how much they really care. I think you can not measure what some one feels about you by what they buy you but it what they give you that is more important.

Well enough of that sidecar. It is time to head for the Urban Garden and to get started on the days plan. Hopefully today will will be able to get a lot done in the organization project. But then again we will see what the day holds.