Polytunnel (December)

December draws out tomato flowers. Russian kale unfurls, corn waits to spiral. Parsley’s going to seed, mint multiplies. As day turns to dusk, the Community Gardeners settle into festivities in the polytunnel. Big salads in bowls, gladwrap rolled back, trays of snaggers off the BBQ. Beer uncapped, or pinot sipped from kitchen mugs. Everyone’s at home, surrounded by stands of cucumber seedlings, pumpkin sprouts. Conversation is where we came from, how our garden grows, what we’ve won in raffles. A Christmas tree glints and decorations hang about inside our polytunnel inside the Gardens inside Macleod inside Melbourne inside The World.