Here are the rewards for hand digging two acres of hard packed soil, shifting 3 tonnes of manure, digging trenches, hammering in innumerable 9ft fence posts with a 10lb sledgehammer in 110F heat, watering, weeding, feeding, digging some more and repairing old stone walls.
So on a blistering August day, what better than to pick an incredibly sweet and juicy watermelon, chill it and share with friends and neighbours.
This is a natural masterpiece six months in the making and every bite is being savoured.
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Photo: Produce from my garden at Saladaviciosa. Courtesy of the author.