JakeSnipadoodle scaled

Play with Your Food

A Garden Party with Some Uninvited Guests

If you know Jake Snipadoodle – you know he likes to grow. His curls might be white but he has a green thumb and a heart that goes pitter patter for all things that take root and grow up through the soil. Every year he grows his own vegetable garden with great success and each year it gets bigger and bigger. He even supplies the best of his produce to local businesses around Honeysuckle Hollow like the Hoppin’ Farmers Market and tomatoes to the Curlicue’s Pass-the-Pasta restaurant. But this year, there seems to be holes appearing in his produce plan…

It all started out well in the spring, there was nothing unusual about Jake’s garden. Jake loved his solo time playing in the dirt. He would save different seeds and pits from vegetables and fruit to plant when it got warm. He had a few things he grew every year including cauliflower, cabbage, beets and carrots. His favorite thing is to talk to his plants. And that is where we find him today when there is a mysterious discovery.

“Good morning garden! You are looking lush! Looking green and oh-so-lovely,” Jake sang out into the morning sunshine before bending down to take a closer look.

“What is this? Small holes throughout the cabbage leaves. Hmm! And more over here on the carrot tops. Oh, no there are so many small holes in the beet tops too.” Jake took a step back and let out a large sigh. This would not do. He stuck his hands into his overalls and looked up into the clouds. He did this sometimes when he was thinking deeply.

“No one wants a cabbage with holes in it! What will I give the market? The restaurant?” He sat back in the soil. And just as he did, he heard a small squeak.

Jake jumped back to see a small army of lady bugs. They were in a neat row and each carried a small piece of green leaf in their mouth.

“Ah ha!! Ladybugs! Ladybugs are feasting on my garden,” Jake frowned down at the group. He heard a very quiet whisper and bent down to lean in closer.

The ladybug whispered in Jake’s ear. Jake nodded taking in what the ladybug was saying. And every few minutes would nod his head and let out an, “I see” or a “You do have a good point there lady bug.”

The next day Jake got up bright and early. He took out his rake, shovel and other gardening tools and started to create. Once he was pleased, he took a step back.

“Ahem, ladybugs! Attention ladybug friends please come out come out wherever you are!”

The ladybugs all appeared in a red line and appeared to lean in.

“I have made this for you! It is a special ladybug restaurant where I will supply you each day with plant clippings to feast on! Nothing will go to waste. You are welcome to enjoy a delicious meal here.”

Jack had fenced off a small patch close to his garden that would act as a compost area and double as a special place his insect friends could enjoy a tasty meal. Jack watched as his new spotted friends headed off into the area and made themselves at home.

If you listened very very closely – you could hear them cheering between bites.