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| The "tomato table" |
At times this feels very overwhelming. I will admit, sometimes when I look at the "tomato table", as it has come to be called, I inwardly groan. That's the tomato table in the photo above. I know it is not pretty, but I am keeping it real. I also have a fridge full of cukes, squash, zucchini and eggplants that need a final resting place. I often choose not to think of those.
I can barely keep up with processing everything. I am often up until midnight waiting for something to finish cooling so I can store it, pull it out of the canner, etc. Last night I dreamed I was chopping veggies for canning!
That feeling quickly passes, however, when I think about how many people are struggling this year with their gardens and more importantly, their farms. Drought and heat are taking their toll throughout the country. I worry that this may be how things are more and more in the future. This year I got very lucky and I know and appreciate it!
I also think about all of the people in this country who struggle to get enough food. I know that, overall, I have been very lucky in my life so far. For this I am thankful.
After these realizations I look back at the tomato table and give thanks. Thanks for all that I have in my life. Thanks for having such a bountiful year. Then I pull some of my best specimens and set them aside to share with friends, family, and those who are not as fortunate as we currently are.
Thank you Mother Nature for blessing me this year. Please send some rain to those who need it. Happy gardening everyone!
That's great! I am glad to hear of your success. I hope to get to abundance some day. :)
ReplyDeleteYou will get an abundance! It has taken me about 10 years to get to this point. Also, I don't want to oversell my abilities. This year a lot of luck was involved.
DeleteI love your tomato table--we have a tomato counter. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also very thankful for how well the garden is doing. We are getting much more tomatoes than last year, however all of our squash died. I'm trying a second batch of squash, but even if they don't do well, I'm happy with everything else. :)
Funny thing is,my second batch Os squash has just sat there and done nothing (which is alright since the first round is still producing).
DeleteSM was just complaining this morning that he didn't have any countertop space to make breakfast @;) Tomatoes are everywhere here too.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see pics of your tomato counter :).
DeleteI know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed by the harvest and all that processing, but that's why we do it isn't it? Great to see your tomato table and all those beauties! I think we will not have a good tomato year this year, but I'm ahead of the game in many other veggies, so have much to be grateful for too.
ReplyDeleteSorry hear about your tomato harvest. I have definitely been there in past years.
DeleteGardening is a blessing, isn't it!? To have so much food and be so grateful. Nice job. This is my first year weighing everything also... isn't it astounding to produce so much!? I just went over 300 pounds of vegetables harvested also.
ReplyDeleteYay! Congrats. It is astounding to see how much food you can produce!
DeleteWonderful sentiments!
ReplyDeleteI understand sometimes feeling overwhelmed, although for me it's garden tasks in general since my hubby is the canner in the family :) But then I look back at all we've done and have put up and feel it's worth it :)
OMG! A husband who will can! You could rent him out and make a fortune!
DeleteSorry to be commenting on this blog three years late, but I thought I'd mention, there are always food pantries and charities serving the homeless that need FRESH, WHOLESOME food. Most of what gets handed out to struggling families is, not surprisingly, canned goods. The homeless often get a big scoop of curry or something for meals, filled mainly with potatoes (cheapest thing for the shelters to buy).
ReplyDeleteI hope all gardeners remember to bless the needy with their good, wholesome fruits and vegetables, and maybe even plant an extra row or two to share with people in need once the harvest comes in.