The seasons are changing and with it the garden is turning yellow.
Today marked a milestone.
The last harvest.
And what a harvest it was!
We have diligently kept track of our garden goods over the summer and the final count is in. The garden brought in around $254 worth of food (depending on how you slice it).
The produce lines up like this:
- 18 Pints of Raspberries
- 47 Zucchini
- 49 Tomatoes
- 9 Cucumbers
- 14 Winter Squash
- 5 Yellow Squash
- 12 Eggplant
- 1 Acorn Squash
- 7 Strawberries
- 22 Jalapeno Peppers
- 7 Green Peppers
- 4 Rosemary
- 5 Thyme
- 5 Mint
- 3 Basil
- 0 Blueberries
…And 7 “Zu-squash”
A zucchini and squash plant mated to created something we call Zu-squash. It’s weird. We’re not eating it.
There may be a few more tomatoes and zucchini to bring in next week, but I think it’s safe to say the season is over. And we need to make salsa. Or ratatouille.
To my delight, as I looked over our last grab from the garden, I noticed a heart.
In the shape of a tomato.
It kind of sums up my first official garden experience.
Justin had to gently coax me into the garden when we first arrived in Oregon. I wouldn’t say I followed him kicking and screaming, but I was definitely squirming.
While I may not be psyched to let the spiders crawl on me (or my rosemary plants!) I am totally amazed at what Mother Nature showed us this summer. She kind of showed off really.
Not only did I learn how to grow a boat-load of zucchini, I also found joy in sharing our bounty with neighbors, friends and family.
To my surprise, I am totally fascinated by the power of a seed. To transform right before my eyes, sprout stalks and leaves, and finally, with a lot of sunshine, water and hope, produce fruit.
For the first time in my life I understand on a completely different level the power of planning ahead, picking while the “pickin’s good” and saving some for later.
I thought we would have raspberries forever… now I wish I would have saved some or canned raspberry jam before those branches turned bare.
It’s definitely a new season out there.
As the plant leaves turn yellow and flop down to the ground, I know there will come a day when I will crave some zucchini… although it’s hard to imagine that right now.
Just another lesson from Mother Nature.
One about abundance and love and saving a little something-something for a rainy day.
Just goes to show…
You get what you give.
You reap what you sow.
May you love what you do and eat what you grow!
More tomorrow.
Lovemore {fearless}
Jamie
