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You are here: Home / Kitchen Chronicles / Chronicles of a Postage Stamp Gardener: A Major Stumbling Block

Chronicles of a Postage Stamp Gardener: A Major Stumbling Block

July 29, 2011 by Alison

Evidently, my garden was thriving while I was away. Neighbors helped out in preventing over-ripening — and got some nice veggies for their trouble. And before I left, we all enjoyed many salads, petit peas, string beans, fabulous kale, beets, cherry tomatoes and even carrots. I’d say my postage stamp garden is a resounding success. But the other day, I hit a pretty major stumbling block — an obstacle that sadly, could end my gardening days.

Last Wednesday, still jet lagged from my flight home, I was out in the garden nonchalantly pulling weeds. I began to get a few pesky mosquito bites, but since my garden was pretty overgrown, I plugged away. As I was tugging around the carrots, I was stung by something. I’m not sure what it was, but since there was no trace of a stinger, it was probably a wasp. Now, this small incident may not be a big deal to most people, but I am allergic to bee stings. So, instead of coming inside to treat the sting with ice, I watched my hand begin to swell and saw dozens of small red bumps forming. With two of my kids nervously watching, I called 911 to get some help. After two Benadryl’s, a trip by ambulance to the hospital and some steroids, I am completely fine but shaken up. I’m also afraid to go near my garden.

My friend Emile, an avid gardener, says that she’s never been stung before and that I shouldn’t be so discouraged. But I am. Having nearly died as a young child from a bee sting, I have lived every single day of my life in fear of getting stung again and going into anaphylactic shock.

What’s a person like me, someone who’s afraid she could die from a single sting, doing taking such a chance? It seems to be a risky summer pastime for a mother of three. I’m a hyper cautious person, one who would never drive after drinking or go into the ocean if there were riptides. So how can I garden in a world full of bees? I suppose I could wear clothing with long pants and sleeves. . .but couldn’t the bees manage to sting me anyway? Plus, with the recent 107 degree temperatures, this isn’t a likely solution.

I’m still trying to figure things out but I wanted to share the latest developments in my life as a Postage Stamp Gardener.

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Comments

  1. Kalyn says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Couldn’t you make sure you have an epi-pen in your pocket whenever you go out in the garden? It would be a shame to give it up.

  2. georgette says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    So sorry Alison.

    As a mom to a severely peanut-allergic child who can’t go anywhere without an Epi-pen, I get the fear.

    We avoid anything that could possible cause her to have a reaction, so I get your fear of gardening after your sting.

    I wish I could give you better advice. I try to teach her to have a healthy fear of peanuts, but at the same time, I don’t want her to be afraid in life. So far, I don’t think I’ve accomplished that.

  3. Alison says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    My epi-pen is always close by. And you’re right, it would be shame to give it up. (I don’t think I can!) I’m in shock mode since I was just stung and am afraid I’ll get stung by more than one. Happy to report though that I just braved the garden to transplant some weepy looking tomato plants that had been in pots and I survived. So, for now I am going to be extra cautious, wear gloves and long sleeves and keep that epi-pen on hand. Thanks for the encouragement!

  4. Alison says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    Georgette –
    My dear mom who had to watch me blow up, turn blue and nearly suffocate at age 4 successfully instilled the fear of death in me. She still reminds me to pack my Epi-pen everywhere I go. And now I have my eleven year old daughter reminding me as well. So, I don’t think I have a healthy fear of bees but I suppose at least I’ll be safe. Allergies like peanuts and bee stings are terrifying. But better to be safe than sorry. I completely empathize with your dilemma.

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About Alison J. Bermack

It all began when I was a child cooking with my dad, the kitchen a magnet for cooking and camaraderie, a refuge from adolescence. I spent countless hours chopping, sautéing and simmering my way through childhood. And now, with three kids of my own, I’m still chopping, but this time through their childhood and often with friends.

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