Well the garden continues to be a learning curve. I knew last year was a miracle. I threw the seeds in a row, Ben secured the borders, I fought thistles enthusiastically and we harvested and harvested. And I fell in love.
And This year…. (loud cricket chirps)
The topsoil is super thin here, so Ben brought dirt from a brother in law. It was wet when it arrived. He carefully leveled it off (all 5 dump truck loads) and tilled it. As soon as I had the green light, I rushed out with my seeds with the same level of energy.
Everything came up decent except the beets. But I soon realized something was wrong. Like someone hit the pause button and the plants quit growing.
“Comparison is the thief of joy” I tell myself every time I help Mother with her garden and notice that all of her plants are way ahead of mine 🤔
Then it hit me that maybe my garden just needs a good drink. To be fair, the entire Valley needs a drink of water, but I’m only responsible for my little section.
So I drug the hose and started watering. That certainly didn’t hurt anything. I’m still going to take some soil samples in to see what’s lacking, but I was so excited to see the lettuce that’s been standing still for 6 weeks grow by leaps and bounds. Visions of salads danced through my head as I watered.
Last night, I told Ben I was going to look at the garden before I fixed supper. (I know, I’m a little obsessed)
It’s hard to follow all the different “guaranteed to work” diet plans, but remember whenever everyone would just eat salad and lose piles of weight? Well I’m here to say that doesn’t work.
As I stepped out of the house the FATTEST groundhog went hobbling down the hill with my entire lettuce crop in his well rounded tummy. I wanted to cry.
This used to be a full row of leaf lettuce 🥹
When we secured the borders of the garden this year, we only put mesh fencing on 3 sides, and left the board fence beside the house as the last side. So he just waddled on in here and helped himself.
The ox was in the ditch and we made short work of closing off the last side- because I knew that once he had garden on his breath, we are in a heap of trouble.
I’m amazed at how diligent my garden surveillance has become. The middle of night finds flashlight beams sweeping down the rows. First thing in the morning- my sleepy eyes are straining to make sure that tuft of dead grass isn’t a varmint eating my crop. I’m desperate to protect what’s mine.
Song of Solomon 2: 15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”
This scripture hit me pretty hard as I’m continuing my guard duty until my resident sharp shooter eliminates the opponent.
There are so many pressures that sneak in around the main fences I’ve put in place and threaten to destroy. They’re hungry for my peace and joy. They’re after my relationships (whether it’s with God, my husband, or my family) They dig up old pain from the past. They leave me in a mess.
How much energy am I putting into establishing strong borders and protecting the things that will affect my eternal destination?
Gal 6: 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
…Catch for us the fat groundhogs… the ones that spoil the crop…
Another timely reminder from the garden 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Kendra
Bonus Pics:
3 weekends ago, we had the best surprise company 🤩
Cutest little pacifier addict in all the land
How to tell your dad is involved in prison ministry: sings “the Farmer in the Dell” as “the Farmer in the Jail” 😂
A quick trip to Missouri got me away from panicking over the garden for a few days 😂
And finally: Went to the garden before I posted this and found a new unwelcomed visitor 🤔 do snapping turtles eat lettuce too? 🤷🏻♀️
paradisemtnmusings 