Our little Porch Garden

Getting resettled in Maryland is a challenge after such a long stay in the rainforest.  The amenities are welcome, I must say.  But the last time I lived in an apartment was decades ago, so I require to do some adjusting.  Back in the rainforest, I had built a little raised-bed garden that was producing nicely for me.  Here we have no real estate for gardening so we undertook to create a Porch Garden on the landing that is the entrance to our second-storey home.

When I was visiting last year, I purchased several pots of herbs from a local florist's shop.  We had basil, thyme, oregano and rosemary growing well on the landing and available for some of the recipes we had come to enjoy.  My wife overwintered the herbs indoors.  They were in good shape when I rejoined her last December and we started making plans for an expansion of our incubator herb farm.

We use a lot of mint, basil and rosemary in the preparation of  meals. Hoping to get more herbs, I made another trip to the florist but their selection was very limited. Nevertheless, I snagged some spearmint and some basil and parsley that were ready for transplantation.  A trip to Walmart courtesy of my father-in-law allowed us to secure some large pots, tools and potting soil.  So after a transplantation session, the beginning of our Porch Garden was underway.

We also purchased a tomato plant with the intention of trying a Topsy-Turvy hanging planter.  Unfortunately, the Porch Garden would not accommodate the hanger so we transplanted the tomato in a large pot just for kindness' sake and not really expecting anything of it.

We also started chives from seed I secured on an expedition to Big Lots.  There is a flower box mounted on the porch rail where the landlords normally planted flowers each spring.  They maintain the property in a lovely state with hedge, shrubs and flowering bushes.  We decided to forgo the annual flowers and attacked to flower box with our new cultivator to rid it of last year's debris and prepare the soil for the chives.  To our delight, they sprouted dutifully and are doing just fine.  We look forward to seeing their purple blooms.

On another shopping trip we purchased three houseplants, one of which can be seen hanging out in the herb garden.  It's so uplifting to have plants around.  Our Porch Garden was growing.  And there was yet another opportunity for expansion.  On the main rail were mounting brackets for a second "window box".  We managed to find one at Big Lots and after melting some holes in it, I was able to secure it to the brackets using cable ties.  It has become home to some basil sprouted from a kit, and the spearmint and parsley I got at the florist's.

The next addition to the Porch Garden was a shoe rack - honestly!  We had bought one for the house to accommodate our collection of sandals, flip-flops, sneakers and other footwear.  When I was sitting on the porch watching the plants grow, it occurred to me that a second shoe rack would be perfect to give the garden a makeover.  So the Porch Garden now looks a little more organized and is easier to tend.  And yesterday we discovered some baby tomatoes.  How about that.

Leaving the Rainforest

I have left the rainforest indefinitely and relocated to Maryland USA.  My wife is from here and, after twelve years in the rainforest, she longed to return.  So here we are.  I have applied for status as a resident - the well-known "Green Card".

I had secured residence in Costa Rica.  I brought the required documentation with me from Canada...police report, proof of financial solvency and marriage and divorce certificates.  It took three days of running around San Jose getting copies, stamps and fingerprints for submission.  One month later, I received my residence.

Now to repeat the process in the US.  The Application was easy to find and download online.  We read it through and once the shock wore off, set out to complete and submit it.  But it was clear that this was to be a major project.

First was the gathering of numerous documents; birth certificates, marriage certificates, financial information, affidavits.  Then there was the translation of documents from Spanish to English.

Once the documents had been accumulated, they had to be copied for submission and the originals carefully guarded.

Next came passport-style photos to be included with the application.

Next was a medical examination administered by a certified physician.  In our case, the nearest certified clinic was located in a community an hour's drive from home.  This required renting a car.  The up side was that there was an Asian market at the same location and we were able to secure some ingredients unavailable in our neighbourhood.

Also necessary were flu and pneumonia shots.  These were secured at a nearby pharmacy on the return trip to pick up the medical report.  This required another car rental.

Armed with all the required documentation, we were finally able to submit the Green Card Application.

Then came the first "hiccup".  We received a notification that the financial confirmation we had submitted was not acceptable.  Homeland Security required transcripts from the IRS in spite of the fact that in the application it indicated these could be presented at the interview which was to come later, because it took a long time for IRS to process transcript requests. 

Online once again, we submitted a request for transcripts.  Upon receipt, we sent a copy to Homeland Security.

The next step was the collection of "biometrics".  We received notification of my appointment in the mail.  This could only be done at a designated location in Baltimore.  To get there we had to hire a service we had used previously to go to the airport.  The appointment went smoothly.  They took a digital photo and digital fingerprints.  I was in and out within a half-hour and we drove home.

I was astonished to receive in the mail, within a week, an official ID card that was also an Employment Authorization.  I had no idea this was part of the process.  I have no recollection of any reference to this authorization.  But, of course, it is happily accepted and suggests to me that, for the most part, my application is in order.

Two days ago, I received notification of our interview - once again in Baltimore.  This is a major event.  The purpose is to determine whether or not our marriage is legitimate and not simply for the purpose of obtaining a Green Card.  To this end, we have another monumental session of data collection before us.  We have been provided with a checklist of documentation that we must bring to the interview. 

It is curious to be asked to demonstrate the legitimacy or normality of a relationship.  We have been led to believe that they ask very specific questions regarding information partners should have about one another.  I understand why, of course, but it is a little daunting to accept that my future will ultimately rest in the hands of one individual.  I take some comfort in the fact that the interview is scheduled early in the morning on a Thursday, not a Monday or a Friday!

So we will have to hire the service once again to get to the interview and hope this is the final step.  Although the application suggested the process could take up to a year, so far from downloading the application to the scheduled interview, it has been less than six months.  And I guess I can work if I choose to...that's a good thing.

It's a lot different from living in the rainforest.