So what happens when you leave your garden…

I had to leave my garden for 3 weeks for a family reunion. Next year, I’ll also have to leave for the same amount of time for my youngest sisters wedding. “Blarg!” I say, I was hoping that I would come back to a weedy over grown mess. You heard me right. At least then I’d have something I could sell this year to my town for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Instead I found things not doing well. Peas and pumpkins drying out, beans and brassica eaten by yet another whistlepig. Most things I thought would take off just died, and I was too late to save most, it was too far gone. My husband made me feel better by saying he and my local vegetarian picked a lot before he came out to the mitten. So at least it was used and it didn’t die on the vine.

It hurts a lot. I put so many man hours in out there, plus used my Christmas money to keep the costs to us down. I tore up the ground by hand, and problem solved for my plants to keep them healthy. Now it’s all gone to pot. I pouted for two days, and still am a little pissed about it actually.

Whatever…

The good thing is I have a lot of hope and maybe I can turn it around…

The garden still has a lot of green tomatoes on the vines, and when they ripen I will can them as tomato sauce. My German heirloom garlic (from the Garlic and Arts Festival, GO! It’s worth it!) grew huge so that’s good. I even have old wine I need to use up. Should be awesome! I’ll share the recipe when I make it.

I still have beans in my garden, and hope to make dilly beans this year. I’ve never made them, but am interested, and have always wanted to. I am thinking of Christmas gift ideas already. Canning or putting up things is a great way to make gifts that are unique. I love it because it’s like giving a part of yourself. Plus after they are done with the gift, if people don’t want the jar they can give it back, or give it to a thrift store. So not all bad. I’m still a little low, but it’s not so bad .