A post from Vicky. Just keep going!
This week we have a post from Vicky. She had a really significant injury just after she got most of her garden planted. Vicky never complains and has endured a lot of pain and difficulty. Where many would give up, not Vicky!
Hello Bluebirds,
Most of you have seen my gardens over the years and I'm embarrassed for you to see it now. I am usually keeping the weeds to a minimal until the very end and make sure everything is harvested. Can we still be good stewards if we have a setback? I mean usually we think of it as saving, not wasting and taking good care of things.I had a setback that has kept me from going at the pace I normally do this time of year. I got hurt and it wasn't able to be in the garden like I usually am each season. I felt guilty and frustrated and aggravated all at the same time. We talk about doing the next thing and just doing what we can when we can because the little things add up so when I could finally start doing some things again I did as much weeding as I could by sitting on my rear. When I was able to do half a row haha I really felt accomplished!
This is Vicky's idea of things are a disaster. I wish my garden looked like this!
Then this year everything started coming on all at once! It was like the veggies were in as much of a hurry as I was prior to my injury. I had my goals of how much I wanted to put up and how much we need because as you know those numbers are always different. The garden did so well I could have easily canned enough to last us 3 years plus with freezing some and drying some oh I had planned on keeping busy.But I wasn't able to do as I had planned. So as I looked at the garden flourishing daily I had to think how am I going to be a good steward of this abundance I've been blessed with? Is it possible when I have a hard time even keeping up with weeds? I had to stop and think because never have I not been able to keep up.
All Vicky's seedlings have been started from seed. She does it all!
So my first thought was that I would just do what I could. Although I wasn't able to do all of the processing I had intended I was still able to put up some and add to the pantry. And everyone knows we trade and barter a lot so we had gardeners coming to us and asking to trade for things that didn't grow well for them. So we traded peppers, beans and cabbages for some potatoes, onions and corn. Our corn wasn't ready and we didn't grow onions or potatoes. It added to our variety and was a big blessing for me because the potatoes and onions only need to be stored so no extra work required.We were able to sell some of the extra cabbages, but mostly (so that as little went to waste as possible) we boxed up and gave around 15 families and a church lots and lots of vegetables.
After thinking about it all, even though my idea of being a good steward was one thing I realized that by not letting so much produce sit out there and go to waste was being a good steward. I had to change my mindset a bit from being disappointed to being grateful for what I was able to can and put in the pantry. So can we be good stewards if we have a setback? Yes! Things just go about a bit differently and our attitude can make all the difference! So I didn't do as much as I had planned, but other families benefited and were able to save.
So many were grateful because of the rising costs that it made me feel just a bit better about things. So I wanted to encourage anyone who has a setback to not beat yourself up, but find the positive things that can come from it even if it doesn't seem like there are any. They may not be big, but they are there.XOXO
Vicky.
Thank you so much Vicky. Your garden was still amazing, you did a fantastic job. It is Spring here, the weather is gorgeous. I am planing, planting.... because you reap what you sow right? It I want to do a lot of harvesting I need to do a lot of planting! These things tend to come in windows of opportunity and too much thinking about it seems the window close! I know you will be inspirited by Vicky as I am.xxx
Hello Vicky and thank you for sharing your beautiful garden! Your garden certainly looks a lot tidier than mine! I think that often weeds will protect the soil from blowing away and any flowers will attract the pollinators. It sounds like you have made the most of your crop and sharing it has brought Blessings and savings to others. I hope that you recover soon from your injury as you move into Autumn. Spring is here for us and I am already behind with everything! Love from, Jennie in Queanbeyan, NSW.
ReplyDeleteJennie,
DeleteThank you! It's been slow going, but I'm much better than I was just a little later than I had hoped. If we get too much rain I will leave the weeds alone for a bit to help suck up the extra water. Although I didn't accomplish what I set out to do it was a joy to share with others who appreciated it so much and made good use of it. I hope you have a beautiful Spring and are able to catch up. Each day is a new day to start again.
XOXO
Vicky
I think your garden is just beautiful. It thrived in spite of the weeds and what a blessing it was to so many people.
ReplyDeleteMamaHen,
DeleteThank you! It most certainly did which I'm so thankful for. The vegetables themselves were beautiful haha even if they were hidden by all of those weeds! And it was a joy to share. I especially love when children love veggies.
XOXO
Vicky
I am sorry to hear that your were injured. May your heal quickly.
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely post.
It was encouraging and full
of hope.
Those of us who live with
daily pain and sickness
understand the frustration
of trying to get things accomplished.
I have to live by just do one thing!
It may be pick a few oranges or do a load of laundry.
But at the end of the day,
I have accomplished something.
I love how you took your abundance from your garden and blessed others with it.
May God bless you for you generosity.
I try to share my garden with those around me
but the squirrels, deer and birds are not on board with it.
They feel I should share only with them. At least that's how it feels
as I watch them waddle off with my peaches!
Savannah,
DeleteThank you so much and I'm sorry as well that you have daily pain and sickness. I have learned a lot from this and one thing done is one thing done and off the list so I very much agree! OH! The critters can wreak such havoc on things we grow. It wasn't too bad this year, but we've had trouble in the past with them and there wasn't as much for us to share then, but we did have the fattest animals around. I had a giggle at waddle off with my peaches because they sure are proud of their hauls as they walk away with our bounty!
XOXO
Vicky
Great article, Vicky. So many people were blessed by you sharing the produce. We did the same this year as I was not up to canning.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs,
Glenda
Glenda,
DeleteThank you! I'm sorry you were not well either, but blessing others is just as good as canning in a way. Maybe they are canning it instead? Either way someone benefitting from it is much better than it going to waste which is just a loss all the way around of time, cost and the produce.
XOXO
Vicky
Vicki I am so glad to hear you are feeling better after your injury. You and Annabelle are amazing people! God has blessed you to be able to bless others in these trying times. Your garden looks lovely. Take care of yourself. Belinda
ReplyDeleteBelinda,
DeleteThank you so much! That was the best thing to come of it was being able to bless others. Produce wasn't as cheap this year as it usually is so my hope is that it not only gave them a little extra to work with at no cost, but that they could buy a little extra of something else with what this saved them. I know I'm thankful for the things we traded for since I don't have to buy them for now. Thanks again!
XOXO
Vicky
Hi Vicky, Thank you for sharing in your post. I also have had health and back issues for the last year and had to give myself a pep talk about just doing what I can and stop dwelling on what I used to be able to do. Thanks for the reminder to just keep going.
ReplyDeleteJudy in Maine US
Judy,
DeleteI pray your health and back issues improve. It's hard to want to do things, but your body says nope, not today. I really had to shift my focus to looking at what I could accomplish each day even if it wasn't much because each day is a new day to start again. So yes please just keep going and don't worry about anything else because just doing what you can is probably a lot more than what you think at the time your doing it. Every bit counts!!! And I think that's what is most important.
XOXO
Vicky
Vicky if you could see the state of my garden, you would not feel bad about yours at all. You paid it forward with your garden by helping out so many families. These blessing will return to you.
ReplyDeleteI am a tad envious of your green thumb. I would love to be able to grow so big cabbages. We just dont have the conditions for them here.
Trading is a fantastic way to get what you dont have. You have added abundance to your pantry in so many ways.
Well done you on achieving so much after being injured. Be proud of what you have achieved. Thank you for sharing your story.
Jane,
DeleteThank you! I have seen your garden and yours are always lovely haha, but thank you for trying to make me feel better. Cabbages like to start off at least in cooler weather and watered a lot then some good fertilizer of any kind homemade or store bought whichever you prefer because cabbage takes alot of nutrients out of the soil. If you have a shady spot that might be a good place to try again and see how it goes because they don't need to grow quickly. Or if your winters are not too terribly cold maybe as a winter crop with a row cover of some kind? I would sure have a huge learning curve if I moved there Lol.
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that you injured yourself. You still had a great gardening year and, as you say, you were a good steward by not wasting what grew. My garden looks so much worse than yours, and nothing grew in our wet weather EXCEPT weeds, and I couldn't get in there (still can't, really) to clean them up because it's so wet. And that galinsoga!!!! (We call it Gallant Soldier.) What a pain! One minute it's small, and then next day it's a huge bush that chokes out everything!!! Our chickens like it when it's small, but it leaves so many seeds everywhere. At least you aren't the only one in the weedy boat! Take care of yourself and get better soon!
xx Jen in NS
Jen,
DeleteThank you! I'm so sorry it's been so wet for you. We've had some years where it was too wet and it's no fun slogging around in the mud and the tomatoes especially were nothing to brag about because they rotted. I'm sorry your on the weed cruise too not a pleasant boat for sure! We had a bush pop up that had the biggest flowers and was so pretty. I thought I had scored something nice, nope it was poisonous and I had to have the hubby get rid of it. I do hope when things dry a bit you'll be able to salvage some of your garden. That's so much work!
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI pray that you are healing well from the injury. Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom and encouragement. You have been a blessing to so many. Yes, life changes and with that we must adapt and do things differently and find joy rather than sadness in what we are able to do and press on and be good stewards of all that we have. I say this as one who experienced a life altering injury about five years ago and as my grown children say , "you're bionic mom" (a knee to hip rod in one leg, 3 rods in the other hip.) that required months of physical therapy to learn to walk again. God always makes a way when there seems to be no way. You have been the reason someone smiled today. Be well, stay safe. Cookie
Cookie,
DeleteI'm getting there more each day, thank you as well for the encouragement. You've come a long way since your injury and you accomplish so much! Your right God does make a way. I think pressing on and not giving up is the best thing we can do because in the end those are the lessons we will carry with us the most. Thank you Cookie.
XOXO
Vicky
Hi Vickie,
ReplyDeleteI can really sympathize with you over the weeds! Luckily we don’t have the physical problems you have but old age has taken its toll!
Both with us in Florida and my M/L Donna in Indiana, rain and bountiful weeds really stunted the garden. So many weeds and so much rain to keep you out of the garden! Donna was enthusiastic about keeping the retirement home’s flower garden going and it did her a lit of good. However, those rains caused such puddles and mud that she had to give it up for this year! Might try some fall mums for her!
Our small plot is loaded with weeds and still it’s over 90 at 12:35. Just too hot. Maybe later or early tomorrow.
Your plot looks wonderful. So much possibility but those weeds! However, you’re on the right track to preserve what you can and share the rest!
So glad you’re improving and thanks for sharing!
All our Best,
Rick in Florida and Donna in N Indiana
Rick and Donna,
DeleteThank you so much! The weeds were the abundance I didn't appreciate haha! Flower gardens are so beautiful, but just as much work as gardening especially when mud and puddles are involved so mums will be beautiful! I absolutely love mums I find them simply gorgeous. And they really add some extra color to the Fall surroundings like a beautiful painting. We had an abundance this year for sure, but I have been able to put up some which is a blessing, especially come winter. I'm happy to share especially since I can't keep up this year. Thank you again!
XOXO
Vikcy
Thank you for sharing and for the encouragement! So sorry to hear about your injury. I am thankful that God blessed your work. What a blessing you've been to many: the 15 families, the church food pantry, and all of us Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie (Ohio )
Dear Vicky, I hope and pray that you are well after the injury. When in pain one can*t feel or do anything else - your garden is beautiful and blessing so may people seems the best thing to do. I think somehow every good deed will come back to you exactly when in need.
ReplyDeleteI loved your article, I too feel a bit overwhelmed at the end of the season and think I will pause for a while. I was busy doing a lot of extra things and I feel my strentgh and concentration is at a low level. I try to beat the feeling of guilt of not doing enough and I always plan on not doing much from tomorrow/ next Monday/ at the first of the month Etc. I truly feel and look tired.
Take care everybody - much love from far away - Laura_s_world from Romania
Vicky, I’d be so proud to have a garden as good as yours even with the weeds! Soil in your part of America must be wonderfully fertile compared with our ancient leached thin souls in much of Australia.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a quick and complete recovery and please enjoy the productivity that you and your garden did achieve. 👏🏻
Kate
This is what my garden looks like all the time. I have been known to mow between rows if the weeds make me itch. And I'm not ashamed of it. ;-)
ReplyDelete