They didn’t forage the forest for sustenance,
Just for treats; raspberries, blueberries, chanterelles.
Their food grew underground and not in the dirt.
Crazy right? That’s what Darrell thought the first time seeing the tomatoes with their stringy roots dangling in nutrient rich water.
More amazing were the dense rice paddies that generated enough food to feed two thousand people.
At the head of each garden colored lights indicated the status; juvenile, first harvest, last harvest.
The final garden to see, rows and rows of flowers.
“Are they edible?” he asked.
The answer, “Not for the stomach, but the soul.”
Rochelle Wisoff’s Friday Fictioneers 100 word story photo challenge brought us a prompt from Rowena appropriate for the season. Who isn’t thinking about gardening this time of year? Or at least looking forward to flowers blooming once again.
Today’s post is from the POV of the novel I’m preparing to publish, “The Caller and the Healer”. Check out my “About” page for more on that.
Featured photo of gorgeous tomatoes from Py Tran at 79 Shutterstock.
Clare Graith 