Instead of going to school that morning, Olivia took Sasha to the Vet in Brindleton Bay.
Clever girl, although such a behaviour did not affect her responsibility in any way.
Sasha was cured, and that was the most important. Then Olivia could run off to school just a couple hours delayed. Hm, running from Brindleton Bay to the Newcrest school? That's quite a distance!
Back home Sylvia was trying to deal with her aching back. She was no longer as quick at gardening, effective enough yes, but at the price of needing more resting between those working hours. Tending nearly 20 plants sure takes some efforts! Donna never paid much attention to the garden, but perhaps Sylvia could involve the grandkids for assistance?
This evening there was a meeting at the local Gardening Club. All my worlds have a variety of interest clubs, and Sylvia was a dedicated member to this one.
The meeting was held at Newcrest Main, there was a small stage used for all kinds of meeting activities and cultural events. The Garden Club leader informed them about the farm rights restriction that recently was given by the Region 12 Council. A political act in order to reduce food waste and of course to secure the real farms' income.
Sylvia listened very carefully. At first it all sounded like a good thing, but then she suddenly realized that it would affect her own private garden!
The new restriction meant that no household could grow more than 10 harvested plants without owning a farm right, and it was not allowed to grow multiple plants of the same sort, either. Each farm right was for a certain specie, so if Sylvia wanted to grow more than 1 potato plant, she would need to own one potato farm right. A right that would allow her to grow 10 potato plants.
In short, the Region 12 Council did no longer want any regular household to grow food for sale! What a shame!
The Garden Club members were hardly upset, because most of them were dedicated to growing flowers and a few herbs, not really that much food.
- I grow more than 10 edible plants, should I apply for a farm right?, Sylvia asked.
- Farm rights are extremely hard to get! The council already offered those rights to the many farms.
- So, I can grow unlimited flowers, but restricted vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs?
- Right, Mrs Clump! Maximum 10 edible plants, but wouldn't that be quite a handful already?
Sylvia was back home again, eating lunch on the terrace with Donna.
- So, I will need to reduce the garden or grow flowers instead of food! I currently grow more than 10 species, it will be hard to decide what plants to keep.
Donna did not answer. She was too busy eating the fresh salat made from Sylvia's garden produce.
Sylvia decided to grow herbs only in her outdoor kitchen. She could even spline plants, to achieve more variety.
Then Donna walked up to tell news.
- Mom, did you hear from Fiona lately?
- No? Why?
- Well, a friend of mine told me she have been seen in San Myshuno, quite wild and crazy.
- What?
- She's obviously married the wrong guy, mom. He has the wrong friends, they smoke and drink a lot!
Sylvia realized that she had been too focused on her main heir, Donna. She had not seen Fiona in a long time, and what about the boys - Rudolph and Sammy - both had their families in the city. Sylvia had not even seen her city living grandchildren in a very long time!
- I should go visiting them all, Sylvia said. - I might talk some sense into Fiona, too!
- Perhaps you could bring her a gift - her cat?
- Oh, that's not a good idea, Donna! Have you not noticed how much Olivia adores that cat?
Late at night a visitor appeared in the garden.
It was late Abraham, returning to check on his folks. He floated about for a while, checked on them all. But nobody noticed him.
He even read a poem to Sylvia, but she was in her deep sleep plundering about farm rights and a misbehaving daughter in the city.
More in a few days!
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