A stinky gopher is eating my garden.  It seems that it has been a particularly difficult year in the garden with more bugs than usual, seeds not germinating, and things eating the plants that do come up.  I know that I am not alone as I have read of others having difficulty.  We had to dig up all the potatoes already to save what we could.  The gopher may have won the battles, but I won the war.  I would have liked to hear his little sigh of frustration when he couldn't find any more potatoes.  He headed to the carrots.

The potoates are curing in the garage and we are considering planting more.  I canned some carrots, beets, and turnips.  I am considering pulling all the carrots and canning or freezing them to keep them from the gophers' jaws.  I must have some fat and happy gophers!

We harvested our first green beans, summer squash, and zucchini.  We have save most of the squash and bean plants from bugs, but they got the cucumbers.  This is a year when I am happy to have plenty of pickles canned.  This is the reason why people talk about having two years worth of food put away in case you have a bad harvest.  I preserve extra if I have the produce and the room to put it, but we need so much each year it is difficult to get ahead. 

Next week is our family vacation and we are really looking forward to it.  I am off of work now for 10 days and I can't wait to spend some time at home.  The girls and I are working on aprons, bonets, and nightgowns on the sewing front.  We figured out our sow is not bred so we will need to get a piglet or possibly go without pork for a few months.  As always we are keeping busy and enjoying our little homestead. . .

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Posted by Handmaiden

There is nothing to compare to gardening. By the sweat of thy brow. Each year brings something new and challenging. I have been growing gardens for 45 years now and still am challenged anew each and every year. In the years when so many wonderful children were at home, gardening was a family affair as well as the preserving of it. Now that I am down to 2 of my 18 children at home the logistics of the garden are totally changed.LOL My big problen this year is squash bugs. They have destroyed anything that is related to a squash and have even laid their eggs on my yellow wax beans!! SO what I say every year is, just wait until next spring.LOL Many blessings to all of you

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