The long game

Going to the grocery store is so easy. Grab a basket, squeeze fruits and veg from all over the globe, any season of the year. But while that is an amazing perk of western society, it lends itself from a significant detachment between kitchens and the source of our food. There is no word to describe the sense of pride that comes from feeding friends and family vegetables that were coaxed from seeds in the  bit of earth 20 feet from the kitchen table! It's a connectivity that is almost spiritual, even if it's just a few weeks of the year from a years worth of effort - it's worth it!

 Last year I was conservative with my veggie garden. It was the first growing season in this place. I had to learn the light, the soil and most importantly the pests that I would have to share the harvest with!

This year I have the added bonus of my new-to-me greenhouse for seed starting this season too. Oh what a joy that is to have. It is downright lush in there!

Now that I feel a bit more confident in what this yard has to offer, the planting selection is in full swing.....

Zucchini; last year the fruit never matured and rotted before I got many fruit. This year is a new spot int the garden and waaaaaay more plants (from my greenhouse seedlings) to hopefully win by sheer numbers.

Beans; last year the green pole beans did very well here, so just a few more plants because I have the space.

Peas; some were wormy, very sad about that, but enough were good to put them in this year.

Potatoes; I didn't wait long enough last year so they were small but delicious! A few more mounds to play with this year.

Tomatoes; huge volume of green fruit last year, but a badly timed rain ruined most of them before they could ripen, It was tragic. This year when they come out of the greenhouse, I will make sure they have a cover somehow.

Onions; something ate the baby onions from the inside out, I don't know what, but I am trying again this year with red onions and leeks.

Swiss chard; I mixed them with lettuces and spinach last year, and that didn't work well for harvesting (but it was a pretty plant combo to look at) this year the chard has it's own space. As for lettuce and spinach, I will be container gardening these delicate greens this year.

Winter squash; last year was a complete flop. Rotten before they were the size of oranges. I won't be trying again this year.

Radishes and beets;  they grew fast and plentiful, but where very riddled with holes. At least the beet greens were nice. I tried from seed this year, but only a few are sprouted so far.... Ah well.

Broccoli; it did well with tiny heads, but I just harvested and more came back. Packed full of rich flavour  I am trying from seed this year, so far very wimpy little sprouts.

NEW for ths year;
Cucumbers: staying in the greenhouse.
Peppers: for the greenhouse.
Kale: started in the greenhouse and put ou last week, so far so good.
Bok choi: started from seeds, but when I set them out in the garden they bolted to flower immediately!
Sunflowers: looking good, they will be a treat for the chickens.
Melons: some seeds from a grocery store fruit, we will see if I get anything from the little sprouts I planted last week.
Figs: 2 new trees... Hopefully they will get enough sun for fruit.


I hope these very much loved baby plants reach their full potential in my garden.... If they fail, it won't be from lack of love on my part. I am loving the gardening this year.

Whoa is me

The title nails it.
I'm feeling sad these days
- my no gluten, no sugar experiment hasn't transformed my body/energy levels
- still heavy, puffy and achy as often as not
- there never seems to be enough money to plan something outside of basic monthly stuff
- my father-in-law is not taking his heart condition seriously
- the house is always dirty... always, even right after vacuuming there are hair balls and grit bursting out of their hiding places.
- my grand plans for decluttering are derailed by stuff that I am powerless to get rid of.
- bills keep growing, but pay doesn't
- my small world isn't doing enough to preserve the big world
- my kids aren't doing well at school (quite poorly actually)

That's enough of that.
On the bright side
- I'm living in a calm, wealthy country
- lots of love in my life
- I have safe drinking water and food
- there is beauty all around
- my home is well appointed and comfortable
- I am employable
- no debt (other than the mortgage)
- I can read and have access to as much information as I could ever handle
- my garden is sprouting

so really my whoas are not that bad in the grand scheme of things... I just fell blasé right now.