(单词翻译:单击)
英文原文
The soil in the courtyard was dry and rocky. The courtyard had been constructed over a garbage dump, and in order to start my garden, I had to remove a great many rocks to allow the plants room to grow. At the time, some of my comrades joked that I was a miner at heart, for I spent my days in a wasteland and my free time digging in the courtyard.
The authorities supplied me with seeds. I at first planted tomatoes, chilies, and onions—hardy plants that did not require rich earth or constant care. The early harvests were poor, but they soon improved. The authorities did not regret giving permission, for once the garden began to flourish, I often provided the warders with some of my best tomatoes and onions.
While I have always enjoyed gardening, it was not until I was behind bars that I was able to tend my own garden. My first experience in the garden was at Fort Hare where, as part of the university's manual labor requirement, I worked in one of my professors' gardens and enjoyed the contact with the soil as an alternative to my intellectual labors. Once I was in Johannesburg studying and then working, I had neither the time nor the space to start a garden.
参考译文
监狱的大院建在垃圾堆上，土质干燥坚硬，乱石丛生。为了开垦出菜园，给作物腾出生长的空间，我搬走了许许多多大石块。那段时间里，我的空闲时间都用来挖掘那块荒地，为此，一些朋友戏谑我打心眼里就想做一名矿工。
当局给我提供了种子。我首先种了西红柿，辣椒和洋葱，这些都是耐贫瘠且无需精心照料的蔬菜。刚开始收获很少，但不久就有了改善。当局没有后悔允许我种菜，因为菜园一开始丰收时，我便经常送给监管人员一些最好的西红柿和洋葱。
我一直对园艺情有独钟，但是直到我被关押之后，才有机会照料自己的菜园。早在福特哈尔上大学时，我就在一位教授的菜园里种过菜，这也是学校对体力劳动要求的一部分。辛苦的脑力劳动之后，我就到菜园里去，沉浸在与土地的亲密接触中，自得其乐。可是当我到约翰内斯堡学习和工作之后，就没有时间也没有地方开垦菜园了。
