Harvest Day

It's really happening!  Lettuce is in great supply!  The turnips are beautiful!  And the strawberries .... well, let's just say that both Jen and I used a lot of self control in order to collect them for freezing instead of eating them all!  Thank you God for the Harvest!

Growth!

I apologize for not updating for so long!  The excuse?  My camera was out of batteries.It's just not the same without photos!

So I thought I'd show you how much things have grown.  The top picture  is of our beautiful potatoes.  I was off island a few weeks ago and ours look so much better and bigger than the professional growers in Skagit County!  (A little pride here, but not the bad kind)






The garlic is huge!  But not ready to harvest yet.  We've been kicking ourselves a bit because we planted it before we planned this year's garden.  This was a lesson crop.   It's a beautiful crop and smells so good.  We are looking forward to salsa!




Here's a shot of our lettuce bed.  WOW!  I didn't believe greens could taste so good!  We have had a little bit of a problem with bolting of the spinach and the arugula, but we continue to replant as we pull the others out.  What satisfaction it is to bring home dinner.  Salads are first and foremost in our lives right now!



Here's our own Vanah Jen showing our lovely tomato hot bed.  Farmer Steve built a beautiful structure that should hold up for a number of years.  We found the row cover at the local Thrift Shop for a dollar!  (A really good deal).  All our "babies" are planted and stay warm and cozy in their little box..  We have one plant in blossom.  The little marigolds surrounding the bed will keep out the bad bugs that love tomatoes.  They are so perky and happy - brightening the garden.

There's Farmer Steve!

He's got a new hat which helps him fulfill his Farmer role.  But take a look at this:  Compost!  Steve has become the compost expert!  He has read tons, tried various things and now each time he turns the pile, a beautiful haze of steam rises.  (That means everything is composting at it's proper rate!)  This compost will be used in the garden beds add nutrients for the years to come.  Sorry, Brownes, but we won't need to purchase anymore from now on, but we appreciate you guys getting us started!

Peas! We Have Peas!

 

If you look at our older posts, you'll see the saga of the peas - so we thought it only fair to give you an up date!  Today we discovered our first pea!  What satisfaction to do this - to plant, water, pray and then realize that the harvest is coming!  Of course we've began to harvest other things, but somehow, for me anyway, seeing this precious pea in real life brought it all together and made all the hard labor worth it.  Jen's discovery squeal put a smile on my face!

Before Our Very Eyes!

Amazing!  Awe Inspiring! Amazing! 

Today we spent a few hours working in the garden.  All was so beautiful - the sunshine, the birds singing, the dogs playing.  Steve built a beautiful structure for the tomatoes soon to be transplanted.  It was just a lovely day.

AND THEN....  Jen and I found a few bean sprouts that were not above ground when we first arrived in the morning.  We were jumping up and down (ok, not really, but in our hearts!) and could hardly believe what was happening!  Then a squash plant poked its head up through the earth.  Back to the beans - and yes - there were more.  We were watching the miracle of growth right before our very eyes! 

Sometimes we walk through the day and, at least in my experience, don't see much going on - growth, change, healing, newness, etc.  And then when we least expect it - Ta Da!  We see the evidence of things not before seen!  How amazing our God is to continuously work in us to grow, create and birth newness of life in to our hearts, minds, bodies and souls. 

History of the Friendship Garden

Steve & Jen purchased property and built a beautiful raised bed garden and began an orchard about three years ago.

 

Here they are with a beautiful little apple tree that 

looks to be very fruitful.

I came along in the summer last year and just sat soaking up the sunshine, Jen's irreplaceable love and friendship and began sharing little bits of knowledge I'd picked up from a Master Gardener I had worked for years ago.

After discovering we worked together so well, Jen and I talked over tea one wintry afternoon.  

We had come to the table with the same proposal - Could we share the work and harvest of the garden for 2010?  We laughed as once again, we found something we had in common.  Our minds continue to think alike. 

So we agreed and began planning.

 Steve has expanded the orchard to include so many wonderful and new things like this pomegranate.  Apple, nectarine, pear and cherry trees are looking very healthy and happy. Also introduced this year are blueberries, raspberries, Marion berries and blackberries.

It's kind of a mystery how people who cross our paths walk with us on roads we could never imagine taking beforehand.  Sometimes they are short brief strolls - and others they are hikes which take us to new heights as we discover new things about our strengths, weaknesses and the love of friendships.

As you sow, so shall you reap...

Sowing - it sounds so easy and so fun. But the reality is it is plain hard work! Already we have worked amendments into the soil - Farmer Steve was great! He got a tiller and tilled all the beds so we didn't have to do it by hand - like Jen is doing in this picture. We're too old for that!



But oh, how amazing it is once the tiny seeds are planted and show up! It brings a personal satisfaction that not much else can match. (Ok - well there are all those things you are thinking of right now - but just go with me on this one :)




Of course then there is the satisfaction of the harvest. Bella found this as she plucked her first radish out of the ground with pride.



We work to be faithful in what we have been given - that does not mean perfection. It means trial and error and doing the best we can at the moment. Seems like a great way to learn those life lessons every one needs. I think that is why I love gardening so much. Nothing is ever wasted. At the very least I learn something new. It's ok to try something and fail. And succeed. There are always surprises. It's ok to get dirty and have fun and laugh. It's a precious gift.