Once upon a time three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders. "Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup from stones."
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. "Now this will be a fine soup", said the second soldier; "but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!" Up jumped a villager crying, "What luck! I've just remembered where some has been left!" And off she ran, returning with an apronful of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. "You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones", said an elder, "and we shall never forget." The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: "There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast," and off the soldiers wandered down the road.
Although there are no beggars, starving soldiers or hiding villagers in Copperopolis, we have plenty of stones, a full half acres worth to be exact.
This half acre of stones, better known as the Bill Albee Memorial Copperopolis Community Garden is located on O’Byrne’s Ferry Road between Copper Meadow and Copper Hills. Jack’s Jimenez, under the auspice of the Copper Parks and Recreation, is chairman for the community garden.
“Right now it’s a half acre of raw land enclosed by a five foot fence that has no lock,” say Jimenez. Volunteers will improve the land, plant the vegetables and tend to the garden; however, the gate will always remain unlocked. When asked if he was concerned that people will take all of the vegetables Jimenez said, if people take what they need, then that’s what the gardens for.”
Improving the land has already begun. A few weeks ago True Value Rock Yard donated the use of a backhoe and operator; the rock riddled ground was tilled, graded and leveled. Once the ground was worked loose volunteers from the Sierra Ridge Academy showed up and for five hours straight dragged rocks the size of basketballs out of the garden.
Like the stone soup story, many people are chipping in to grow a bounty of vine ripened tomatoes, juicy melons and other fresh vegetables. “People come by and check out what we’re doing all the time,” says Jimenez. It’s too early to plant but people are getting in line to help. We are in touch with a representative at U.C. extension who is giving us tips on enriching the soil. Students at high schools, as well as other volunteers, are starting plants right now to donate for planting in the spring.
As planting time arrives and the garden takes shape, Copper Gazette will contribute to the stone soup by donating time to follow and report on the progress of the garden.
As the war weary soldiers said, “it is only by sharing that we may make a feast". If you have something to share, call 785-PARK.
Soldier stone soup source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/
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