– on Saturday you will come to the plot, truth ? < img src = "https://zycie.news/crrops/bf11fa/620x0/1/0/2025/03/15/j6f6jzz0tut1rtm3tfgjibqsifz7pnojyl1fet.jpg" alt = "plot @pexels" styles = "background-color: rgba (138,122,98.0.98)" > < p > I heard the same tone as always. Not a question, just waiting.

< p > I sighed.

< p > — Mom, I had other plans & hellip;

< p > — But it's for you! & Amp; MDASH; She was indignant. & Amp; MDASH; You will do something in the ice, and then you will get fruit and vegetables for free!

< p > for free.

< p > This is a word that has been repeated for years. ~ 60 > < p > I don't know when it started.

< p > maybe when dad was still alive and treated the plot as their small kr & oacute;

< p > Maybe when my mother was alone and needed someone who would work for her.

< p > but one thing was certain.

< p > It was not about love for nature.

< p > It was not about relaxation.

< p > It was a free workforce.

< p > I came there regularly.

< P >I pulled out weeds, planted, watering.

< p > I transferred a bucket of potato & oacute; w, cherries, strawberries, raspberries.

< p > I returned home dirty, tired, sore.

< p > and then my mother proudly handed me a basket with vegetables.

< p > — See ? For free!

< p > but one day, tired and frustrated, I decided to count how much it costs.

< p > — Mom, you know how many hours I spent on this plot ?

< p > — Oh, it's for you & hellip;

< p > — For me ? And if I had to pay someone for such a job ?

< p > I started calculating.

< p > — Digging land & ndash; PLN 50 per hour.

< p > — Planting & ndash; PLN 30.

< p > — Pleurning and care & AMP; NDASH; PLN 40.

< p > — Harvest & ndash; at least PLN 25 per hour.

< p > Mama fell silent.

< p > looked at me as if she didn't understand.

< p > — And so what ?

< p > — It is because your & ampquo; free & rdquo; Vegetables cost me hundreds of working hours.

< p > — But & hellip; It's a family!

< p > — And the family is slaves ?

< p > Nie m & oacute; we were winding up for each other for several days.

< p > Mama was offended.

< p > I felt like I was just breaking something that was hanging on a thin thread.

< p > but I knew one.

< p > I will never give myself a wm & oacute; that something is & bdquo; for free & < p > because nothing in life is really free.

< p > especially if it costs time, health and self -respect.

< p >< br />< strong > It may also interest you: how to care for raspberries in spring to increase yields. This proven way & oacute; b works reliably

Natasha Kumar

By Natasha Kumar

Natasha Kumar has been a reporter on the news desk since 2018. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining The Times Hub, Natasha Kumar worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my natasha@thetimeshub.in 1-800-268-7116