I’m not sad to report that the garden is drawing to a close for the year. I was debating planting some fall veg but have decided against it. Mainly because I want to get things done in the garden that will make next year better. And it’s going to be a lot of work. I still have all this on my to-do list:
1. tear up asphalt
2. build more raised beds (need to draw it all out)
3. fence in garden/chicken area
4. set up composter
5. bees?
6. chickens?
7. veg wash stand
Anyway, it’s a lot. But that’s why I’m focusing on putting the garden to bed for the season. It wasn’t a stellar year for the garden anyway. I didn’t anticipate it being so hot and that the raised bed would need so. much. water. I didn’t water enough so things didn’t really take off. I also need to amend the soil this winter. Add some compost and maybe plant a cover crop to help with the soil. And I had powdery mildew like crazy. I lost all my butternut squash, yellow squash, and am now losing the pumpkins. I lost the broccoli to cabbage worms. Ugh. What a year! But it’s my first garden in many years and I did get some produce. You can see from the three pics above how small, but successful, the harvest was. I didn’t expect to grow all our food this year so I’d call it a win! The yellow pear shaped tomatoes and the strawberries were the big producers. I need to keep that in mind for next year.
We’ve also been taking walks in the woods where we gather things for our upcoming dyeing sessions. I’ve been collecting acorns, goldenrod, and keeping onion skins and avocado pits. I’m thinking winter will be a good time to start learning to dye. It’s going to be so much fun!
I didn’t get a lot of things canned this year. We did our annual 100 pounds of tomatoes, some chicken stock, some bread and butter pickles. But that’s it. I have some currants and figs in the freezer waiting to be turned into jam (separately). That will be a good project for later this fall when a lot of the chores have been done.
I’ve tucked the red, white, and blue decorations up and am now focusing on fall/halloween, but it feels like that will all pass me by so maybe I should start focusing on Christmas! HA! Not really. I’ll throw some things together soon. The days are still warm here so I don’t want to put pumpkins out yet. But I’ve been noticing other people’s decorations and I have a good idea of what I want to do outside.
The cats are getting along nicely now. It didn’t take them long to adjust to each other. They chase each other around the house. It’s nice to see Bobby Jack being so active. He might have put on some winter weight already. Ahem. So it’s doing him some good to be active. Little cat, other wise known as Corny, is doing great too. He’s snuggled up in the weirdest position next to me as I type this. He’s still really into biting and scratching but we’re trying to break him of that by distracting him with a toy and telling him ‘ouchy’ when he bites and scratches. Such is life with a kitten. I’ll do a whole animal update post soon.
I haven’t made a pie in ages (not since I made them for the county fair) and I really need to do that soon. I think it’s full steam ahead on my business/marketing plan. I signed up for a few classes this fall. One is on marketing. One is beekeeping. and I signed up for my first photography course ever! I’m excited to take my photography to the next level. I’m taking the camera that the Mister is letting me borrow (that I’ve never used). I switched gears with work as well and will be staying local this fall. This will give me the opportunity to work on my business more and I won’t be commuting 1.5-2 hours per day. There’s so much potential right now and I want to be able to capitalize on it. I’ll give you more details as I can.
Well, so much for a garden update! I guess you got a ‘life update’ instead. I’ll be back tomorrow with my “Friday Favorites” to share what’s been making me happy the past couple of weeks. Until then my friends!
Leigh
I think it sometimes get too easy to get caught up in production and neglect the things that need to be done. Your plan is a good one, and I know you’ll be glad you took the time to make your improvements. It will mean better gardens in the future!
chickenlibrarian
Thank you Leigh. It’s hard to make that decision because I’d obviously love to keep the garden going but….I like the plan of putting it to bed so I can work on improvements. I dream of next year’s improved garden space.
Daenel T.
I didn’t know you could dye fabrics with acorns. Honestly, every time I read your blog I learn something new. And that, my friend, is why I love your blog….
My grandma was a gardener and loved spending time in the dirt. I remember watching her take stuff out to her compost pile and turn soil. I don’t think I saw her happier than when she was out there. I didn’t understand her pride in having us eat her veggies, now I wish I could tell her that I get it.
chickenlibrarian
Aww. Thank you sweet friend. You can actually make flour using acorns too but it’s a lot of work. So dyeing with them is the way to go. Although I’ve always been intrigued with how acorn flour would taste. I imagine it would be a nuttier taste and I can imagine all the ways you could use it.
And I get what you’re saying about wanting to tell our grandparents that we ‘get it’. My grandparents had a huge garden and my Mamaw (of lemon meringue fame) made everything from scratch. But I didn’t pay attention to any of that. I wish I did though.
Bekah
What a great season you have had. While your garden may not have produced the quantity you would have liked, you still had some tasty fruits and veggies to enjoy! There is always much to figure out when starting a garden in a new location. AND, you have had a bazillion other things to focus on this year as well! Trying to organize and plan for your business is a huge deal. Adding a new kitten to the mix, while fun and cute, is still another critter to feed, think about, cuddle. Plus just living life and enjoying it all. We can’t do all the things. Or, maybe we can, but we would never do them well. Maybe this year was a trial year for the garden while you worked on your business and then next year, when things are running smoothly, you will have a garden so bountiful you won’t know what to do with all of the produce 🙂
I hope you enjoy your fall season…and a yummy pie!
chickenlibrarian
Awww Bekah. Thank you. Thank you for your wisdom. That is exactly what I needed to hear. You always think you can do it all but then you need to step back and realize that you can’t and things will work out okay. I appreciate your insight and encouraging words ❤️
Tracy
All sounds quite good! 🙂
We’re up to 141 pounds of tomatoes harvested thus far, and as I type this, I watch my husband processing pasta sauce with some roasted tomatoes. He’s tired… I’m tired. 🙂 There are more tomatoes ripening in the lower garden. Egads.
We are going to put in garlic and shallots to over-winter. I’ve pulled up all the beans, and as soon as we pull out the corn stalks, we can plant the garlic (3 varieties) and shallots. Hopefully they will do well!
Love your photo of the canned sauce (?) on the porch railing. So pretty. And I didn’t realize you had a cat before you brought home the kitten you rescued. So glad to hear they are getting along!
Regarding raised beds and building – just a thought: We skipped building beds, just put 6 inches plus of compost the first year on our plots and no tilling (we practice the lasagna method of gardening – subscribing to “do not disturb your soil microbes” philosophy). Results were great. Second year, no till, no built beds, added maybe 4 inches of compost on top of the first-year beds. Absolutely fine. My two cents? Building raised beds might look prettier, but really, not worth the time and money. Our earthworms are plentiful. BUT, everyone needs to follow their true gardening path! 🙂
chickenlibrarian
WOW! 141 pounds of tomatoes?!?! My goodness that’s a lot. But I love it. I’m sure you are tired. It sounds like a lot, and is a lot. But just think of this winter when you’re making pasta and sauce and you can say that it came from your garden. You grew it. And canned it/froze it, etc. That’s such a good feeling.
The picture is indeed of our canned sauce! I took a picture like that last year of the tomatoes and it just seemed like a good place to take that pic. So it might become my yearly picture of the canned tomatoes!
Your winter garden sounds ideal too. I still have brussel sprouts left to pull. I was trying to give them a chance, but they just won’t grow so I’m done done. I’ll pull them this week and then start mixing in more compost and get some cover crop seeds. Let it do its ‘thing’ for a little while.
I like your suggestion for alternatives to raised beds. I think the biggest reason I’m thinking raised beds is actually two reasons. One is the current ground cover is asphalt. I’m not sure how quickly things will grow once the asphalt has been removed nor what kind of condition the ground is in (what kind of chemicals, how many rocks, etc. etc) so raised beds, while expensive, might be the better bet to get us started. The second reason is that since we aren’t in our permanent homestead, I’ll need to be able to disassemble the garden, chickens, bees, etc. etc. and move them. Although with your suggestion that’s not even an issue. I’m also not talking a lot of raised beds. I probably only need 3 max. At least for next year. I’d like to give my plants a little more stretching room. But I do take your suggestions into consideration. I think we’ll have to wait and see how it all shakes out. And since we’re being so frugal lately the raised beds might just get axed!
Keep me posted on how your garden endeavors shape up!