From The Ground Up #carrotranch #99wordstories

Posted on Feb 11, 2023 by TanGental

This week’s prompt from the Carrot Ranch is

February 6, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story as a love letter to nature. You could reach back to more pastoral times of writing or enter into the future. Who is writing the letter — an ant or an aunt? Is it a lifetime of love or eons? Go where the prompt leads!

From The Ground Up

Pru Nings, Little Tittweaking’s self-appointed head gardener had a problem. The beds and borders she tended were devoid of nutrients, defeating her attempts to introduce colour to the inherently dull and horribly mistitled village ‘green’. She needed some compost. She’d tried pleading letters to local worthies and love letters to Mother Nature (though Ma Nat’s people fobbed her off that it was her time with the kids). She’d despaired, until meeting Reverend Walter Piece. His churchyard was full so perhaps they might trial terramation*. She agreed and using her unorthodox herbs she soon accumulated a suitable body of evidence.

*terramation, for those unsure is the practice of composting humans

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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18 Responses to From The Ground Up #carrotranch #99wordstories

  1. Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    Feb 11, 2023 at 12:04 pm

    Much like the tales from Lake Woebegone, you have created a most addictive community here. The book is on its way, correct?

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Peter's pondering says:
    Feb 11, 2023 at 12:37 pm

    How strange! The second time in two days that I’ve read of composting humans. It seems a dead good idea to this avid composter!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. willowdot21 says:
    Feb 11, 2023 at 3:29 pm

    Oh! Ladida 💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

  4. KL Caley says:
    Feb 11, 2023 at 5:40 pm

    An alternative to peat and organic too, gardeners rejoice 😆. Great story, Geoff. KL ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  5. JT Twissel says:
    Feb 11, 2023 at 8:27 pm

    Yikes! Not the kind of composting I want in my back yard!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Norah says:
    Feb 12, 2023 at 6:37 am

    I like the sound of terramation, but I like your final punny statement too.

    Liked by 1 person

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