October 7, 2009

• Harvesting is finished

  The gardens, despite the fact that our soil is seriously depleted of several key minerals and such, and despite the attack of a ferocious windstorm and one or two visits from at least one bear, produced well. We had as many tomatoes as we could eat and share, and enoug peppers to put more than a bushel of strips and chunks in the freezer.  We had about a half bushel of onions over and above what we ate and shared during the season, and more corn than Sue cared to think about.  Peter's watermelons were delicious and prolific, as were Faron's pumpkins.  Most impressive of all were the potatoes. 10 bushels!

  

  Peter brought his little cart down with his 4-wheeler and hauled 'em home that way - he's got a cold-storage area in his basement.

  The guys figure that all told, they had perhaps 5 hours of work all season in the gardens (they were not weed-free!) and less than $100, apart from this little beastie which Faron purchased to harvest the potatoes:

   

  This being a potato digger.  Actually, it's just a rear plow blade that works very well for diggin' taters.

  Here's Peter enjoying the fruits (Hah!) of two harvests:

  

  Added to that, they both enjoyed it.  And we all enjoyed the produce.  Tiana actually had so much corn throughout the summer that she had ENOUGH!  We never thought she'd turn it down, but at the end of the season, she did.

  We're keeping well.  Have enjoyed visits from our former pastor and good friend, PG, and our good friends (and another pastor) Bret & Jane McAtee, from Michigan.  Both were wonderful but much too short.  (The visits, not the friends.)

  I'd though Joe & Amy and the boys would be here this coming weekend but Amy & and I (mostly I) had our dates crossed - it'll be next weekend.  Although he's definitely looking forward to time spent with Joe & and his family, Faron's much relieved to have a whole weekend (so far) to finish up his latest project, which is enclosing the back porch to make an exercise room.  He's spent just about $5 doing it so far, and with a gallon of paint and a few odds and ends, he shouldn't spend much more than $50 finishing up.  Peter's stockpile of building materials has helped but we also had various odds and ends from our own remodeling projects to put into the thing.  And it'll give him a place to ride his bike this winter, and to run on the trampoline as he feels fit enough.  Whoohoo!

  

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  • 4:31 am
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