A Reason To Garden
What is the main reason a person gardens? Is it because they like the fresh vegetables or they like the exercise and being outdoors? There are many reasons I suppose. It is a wonderful hobby for the weekend gardener that likes to work the soil and help make things grow and it is great for exercise but, I like it because I can provide fresh food for my family. The other reason is I enjoy canning and putting up fruit and veggies in the freezer for winter use. We have food year round that I know is healthy because I grew it and kn0w exactly how it was grown.
I look forward to my garden harvest. The fresh tomatoes is unbeatable on taste and the green beans, whether bush or pole, taste much better than from a can. Corn is so much sweeter when cut fresh from the cob and frozen. It is so good around the holidays with the turkey and ham. The cucumbers are even better fresh with their crisp mouthwatering flavor.
At first harvest we get our fill of the fresh produce and we eat it everyday, then we begin to tire a little of having the same things so we start trying new recipes and then we start planning for the months ahead.
The first thing is the green beans. I try to can as much as I can, since I do it for ourselves and our grown children. Then the corn is ready and we put it up in quarts. Hopefully with a good harvest we have plenty but this year wasn’t one of them. Too much early rain, not enough time to grow. During June through September we can tomatoes into juice, stewed, whole, diced and salsa. This year nothing. My tomatoes are just now coming on, we have had a few to eat but, not enough for canning. The cucumbers are the same.
I was really disappointed with my harvest. I am hoping that a late garden will work out better. I have several late tomato plants starting to bloom, new bush beans are coming up, my pole beans are just now coming on, the yellow squash and zucchini are beginning to produce and my peppers are doing great. I believe my best crop is going to be my sweet potatoes, they have just vined and bloomed everywhere. I did get my first ever crop of potatoes to produce well this year. Also, my cucumbers are blooming like crazy and I have several little ones coming on.
So even though my garden is late and is just now beginning, I still enjoy gardening. I keep my garden tool caddy close at hand and weed out my garden weekly, make sure it gets plenty of water and pray for the sun and heat it needs to produce the food to tide my family over through out the winter months. I acquired my greenhouse this year so I am anxious to see what magic I can produce in there this winter.
With my late harvest, I hope to do more canning and put up a few tomatoes and more beans. We will see how it goes.
So if you enjoy gardening, for whatever reason, I hope your harvest is plentiful and your green thumb blesses you with the wonderful pride you feel while you watch your garden grow.