Oh, happy day! Oh, happy day!!! Picture me doing the 'Thank you, Jesus Happy Dance', first outside around my garden, then through my kitchen and down the hall to my office to write this post. It may seem a trifle thing to you but I brought in my first bean harvest this morning and that excites me, no end!
A garden, no matter how large or small, is vital in our aspirations of living a simple life. Anyone can grow something in a pot - even from an apartment. If you're not growing something, you will have a bumper crop harvest of excuses. Salt with that?
There are a few things I do not like about my personality but I enjoy the fact that I get so excited about the simple things in life. You can pack more thrills into your day that way..hehehe. I was busily picking the morning greens harvest when my eye caught sight of a bean. "What's this?" says I. I placed my greens in the wheelbarrow and went back to investigate. Sure enough, my bean plants are now covered in tiny baby bean pods but there were a few large enough to pick. Not anywhere near enough for a meal, by any means, but enough to make my day!
I inspect the garden carefully every day but have not paid much attention to the beans because they do not produce as quickly as the squash and greens, etc. I've planted 4 types of beans to-date this year. White beans first, then black beans and lentils and lastly, pintos. I staggered the planting times so they are not all ready at the same time. This is my first year for black beans and lentils, so I'm learning their ways as I go. The white beans are the source of my delight and happy dance this morning. If you've had experience with lentils, please let me know what to expect. I try to plant something new every year.
On another note, growing squash is not for the faint of heart. I do intensive planting which means spacing things much closer than recommended to better utilize my water and help keep the weeds down by the the close leaf coverage. It works well with squash. Both the yellow straight neck and white scalloped squash are doing very well. When the plants are covered with ripe fruit to harvest and many brightly colored blossoms, bees are everywhere. I like the bees, they provide a better harvest and they tickle my husband when he slows down to watch them. Harvesting the squash is where having a strong faith comes in handy. Once I spot one ready to pick, I have to stick my arm deep into the dense plants to get it. This requires blindly maneuvering between bees doing their own harvesting of pollen. I have not been stung yet and plan to keep it that way. If you're allergic and/or get scared by bees, growing squash is not for you.
The greens are playing out and next week should be time to harvest any turnips I might get. I planted the bulk of my seed close together for more of a greens harvest but did space some out between the rows of white beans in hopes of some turnips. The last of the radishes have all been pulled. I had under-planted them with the pintos, so as the bean plants started over-shadowing them, I just harvested the last of them. The Swiss Chard keeps plugging along but it does far better in the late fall and winter.
Oh, and this morning I was bitten by the first mosquito I've seen this season. It was vicious! It did not, however, deter any joy from the bounty of the harvest. Thanks, Lord!! No wonder we have Thanksgiving Day! I bet the pilgrims were easily thrilled gardeners, too!
