Ripe

This title was inspired by the message at Brentwood Church.  When I started this project I wanted to share my gardening experience and I have found that I want to write about more experiences because they are all interwoven.  Today's message was about choosing joy.  It really spoke to me that we have a choice to choose joy over sadness and that is really what God wants us to do.  This project has helped to me to that.  I have experienced joy though the achievements and the relationships that have been cultivated along with the plants.  When life starts to beat me down I can look at this small patch of space that used to be barren and now is producing new life and find hope.

I am winning the battle with the groundhogs on the cucumbers and might get to eat a couple before the season is over.  Anxiously awaiting the beautiful watermelons, pumpkins and cantaloupes.   As the zucchini and squash wrap up their season I am preparing for the winter by freezing pounds of zucchini.

I couldn't help but take a couple of pictures of last night's dinner.  Everything was grown in my yard.

Let the eating begin......

This is my favorite part of the garden so far.  The vegetables are plentiful and delicious.   I have been able to make meals for friends and family.  I've even given veggie baskets as birthday gifts!

Just because I am enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of my labors the work is far from over.  I am still battling  nature and by that I mean all the animals that think I am growing food for them.  I can't figure out if it is deer or groundhogs or bugs or all of the above.  As all of you are also experiencing it has also been a very dry summer and the rain barrel has been empty.  So an unanticipated expense of a higher water bill has been an adjustment to my budget.  Don't get me wrong it has all been worth it.  I learn something new almost every week and am already laying the plans for next year.

There have been some newcomers to the party.....

watermelon

cantaloupe 

It's been amazing to watch everything start from a tiny seed and then become a plant and begin to bear fruit which also starts small and will hopefully grow enormous and delicious.