Full Transcript for S4E166 Lessons I've Learned From My WORST Garden EVER!!

fair. 00:04:48.353 --> 00:04:49.884 Uh, last week too. 00:04:50.334 --> 00:04:52.733 Serve as a bit of a distraction for us. 00:04:53.213 --> 00:04:56.033 And I just love the Washington county fair. 00:04:56.033 --> 00:04:58.884 You know that folks I've mentioned it multiple times. 00:04:59.184 --> 00:05:01.314 Here on the podcast. 00:05:01.944 --> 00:05:09.834 And while it was a bit of a different fair this year, because we didn't have any livestock there, no chickens, no pigs, no rabbits, no geese. 00:05:10.283 --> 00:05:11.783 No anything. 00:05:12.144 --> 00:05:16.764 I still was able to keep my streak of being an exhibitor at the Washington county. 00:05:16.764 --> 00:05:26.184 Fair alive by entering jams, jellies, pickles, uh, canned goods of all shapes and sizes as well as some vegetables. 00:05:26.663 --> 00:05:34.374 And while I didn't do too horribly bad, uh, I got five blue, three red, two white and four didn't place in the canned goods. 00:05:34.374 --> 00:05:38.934 And I got four blue, six red, seven white and five didn't place in the veggies. 00:05:39.684 --> 00:05:47.663 Unfortunately for me, fortunately for my mom and dad, they both walked up on me this year, both getting purple ribbons. 00:05:47.694 --> 00:05:52.043 Now, if you aren't familiar with that purple ribbons means best in show. 00:05:52.374 --> 00:06:01.663 So what they will do is they will judge all of the entries in one particular category and then they will choose the best of the best and award it. 00:06:02.144 --> 00:06:07.994 The purple ribbon and my mom got a purple ribbon for her apple butter. 00:06:07.994 --> 00:06:10.783 And my dad got a purple ribbon for his honey products. 00:06:11.233 --> 00:06:13.694 And I got zero purple ribbons. 00:06:13.874 --> 00:06:14.324 So. 00:06:14.834 --> 00:06:16.903 I got skunked beat. 00:06:17.713 --> 00:06:20.353 Uh, I'm going to have to do better next year, folks. 00:06:21.644 --> 00:06:22.423 It's so much fun. 00:06:22.423 --> 00:06:23.413 We have so much fun. 00:06:23.713 --> 00:06:25.934 Uh, just talking trash back and forth. 00:06:26.204 --> 00:06:29.144 And in a good way, people look forward to it every year. 00:06:29.444 --> 00:06:33.733 And so I got bested this year and I will have to do my best. 00:06:34.033 --> 00:06:39.944 Next year to bring my a game and get back in the purple ribbon category. 00:06:41.113 --> 00:06:47.684 Now while we didn't have, uh, any livestock there, I still was very active in the poultry barn this year. 00:06:47.954 --> 00:06:52.874 I helped, uh, do chores just about every morning, help tear down after the fair. 00:06:53.233 --> 00:06:57.764 But the thing that was, uh, so much fun is something that I've never done before. 00:06:58.004 --> 00:07:01.454 And that is, I had the opportunity to judge the youth poultry show. 00:07:01.963 --> 00:07:04.934 Uh, what happened is the youth poultry judge. 00:07:04.963 --> 00:07:08.564 I was not able to show up last minute due to illness. 00:07:09.103 -->

00:07:11.264 And so they were desperate. 00:07:11.684 --> 00:07:16.303 And if I'm judging the poultry contest and you know, they are very desperate. 00:07:18.163 --> 00:07:19.663 But I got called into action. 00:07:19.934 --> 00:07:27.764 They wondered if I could do it during the regularly scheduled poultry show time slot, which was 10 o'clock I believe on Wednesday morning. 00:07:28.303 --> 00:07:29.533 But I had to work. 00:07:29.624 --> 00:07:35.803 So we started judging, uh, the youth poultry show at nine 30 on Tuesday evening. 00:07:35.834 --> 00:07:38.324 And we wrapped up at 1230. 00:07:38.803 --> 00:07:41.863 Uh, on Wednesday morning, certainly it. 00:07:42.644 --> 00:07:44.324 It made for a long day. 00:07:44.713 --> 00:07:46.843 But it was just so much fun. 00:07:46.843 --> 00:07:59.774 And then they had the poultry awards for the youth show on Wednesday evening, just seeing the pictures of the kids made it all worthwhile because at the end of the day folks, that's what it's all about while I enjoy doing. 00:08:00.084 --> 00:08:03.144 the jams, jellies things with my mom and dad, and I enjoy. 00:08:03.504 --> 00:08:06.233 Uh, entering chickens in the open show. 00:08:06.593 --> 00:08:07.704 At the fair. 00:08:08.303 --> 00:08:13.853 At the end of the day, it's about the kids and making sure that they have a good time. 00:08:14.093 --> 00:08:17.694 And hopefully if they have a good time at youth level than they will grow up. 00:08:17.994 --> 00:08:21.024 To want to continue to exhibit at the open level. 00:08:21.264 --> 00:08:24.444 That's the only way we're going to be able to keep a fair going. 00:08:24.564 --> 00:08:30.774 And so being able to have a part in that certainly was a privilege and honor, it was so much fun. 00:08:30.774 --> 00:08:31.644 Glad to do it. 00:08:32.063 --> 00:08:36.173 Uh, and, uh, yeah, it was just a lot of fun. 00:08:37.854 --> 00:08:41.964 And then one other thing that I got to do this year at the fair was some canyon demonstration. 00:08:41.994 --> 00:08:45.624 So this was the first time we'd ever done anything like this at the Washington county fair. 00:08:45.984 --> 00:08:46.734 At least. 00:08:47.303 --> 00:08:48.683 Uh, that I'm aware of. 00:08:48.754 --> 00:08:52.474 What I ended up doing was canning some strawberry jam. 00:08:52.474 --> 00:08:54.333 I did that twice on Friday. 00:08:54.693 --> 00:09:08.163 And as I did that, I talked about Canon and the different styles of Canon and so on and so forth, and really had some very positive, uh, feedback and interaction with folks and just really, really enjoyed. 00:09:08.524 --> 00:09:09.394 Doing that. 00:09:09.663 --> 00:09:12.964 But this past week has been a recovery week. 00:09:12.964 --> 00:09:15.813 So I get to the end of the fair and folks. 00:09:15.874 --> 00:09:17.614 Well, I enjoy every minute of it. 00:09:17.703 --> 00:09:19.683 I'm there every day on Saturdays. 00:09:19.683 --> 00:09:22.774 Usually I'm there almost all day, Sunday, all day. 00:09:23.193 --> 00:09:25.053 Uh, I'm there every evening. 00:09:25.083 --> 00:09:28.173 I was there all day on Monday, helping getting things set up. 00:09:28.714 --> 00:09:37.453 By the time the end of the fair comes around, I am fared out and I don't want to smell or see another corn dog and other fritter I don't want to smell the smells. 00:09:37.514 --> 00:09:47.303 See the sites I am fared out and it's unfortunate because the last couple of weeks, and I think going into next week is the state fair over in Syracuse. 00:09:47.693 --> 00:09:51.384 And I'd like to go see that Sunday, but folks, I just am. 00:09:51.624 --> 00:09:53.244 Fared out. 00:09:53.604 --> 00:09:54.533 I am done. 00:09:55.254 --> 00:09:55.854 Fared out. 00:09:56.333 --> 00:09:57.624 Uh, so. 00:09:59.693 --> 00:10:00.563 I enjoy it. 00:10:00.624 --> 00:10:01.793 I love to see it come. 00:10:02.153 --> 00:10:03.533 And it usually in about June. 00:10:03.533 --> 00:10:06.833 I, I literally, if I start thinking about it, I like start getting shaky. 00:10:07.283 --> 00:10:13.433 Like I'm almost Jones and for some of that fair food and some of those fairs, sights and smells and all of the things. 00:10:13.974 --> 00:10:17.453 But boy, by the end of that week, I am so done. 00:10:17.844 --> 00:10:18.474 So done. 00:10:18.714 --> 00:10:33.563 And so this past week here, On the homestead certainly has been a week of recovery, both physically, emotionally, mentally, and then really trying to play catch-up with some of the things that kind of got pushed to the side. 00:10:34.073 --> 00:10:37.974 As we were ramping up, getting Brian, Jay, ready to go to college. 00:10:38.033 --> 00:10:44.033 And then while we were at fair week, During fair week, just the world stops and it is what it is. 00:10:44.394 --> 00:10:48.624 And so this week, I spent some time finally getting caught up in the garden. 00:10:49.464 --> 00:10:58.104 Doing some weeding, embarrassing to say that I brought out a wheelbarrow load of weeds, like heaped, heaped, heap up. 00:10:58.524 --> 00:11:00.234 Of weeds out of my gardens. 00:11:00.644 --> 00:11:05.724 a bit embarrassing to say, we'll talk about some more, later on how we got to that point. 00:11:06.063 --> 00:11:08.703 but that was something that I was able to get done this week. 00:11:09.094 --> 00:11:10.384 Pick some tomatoes. 00:11:11.344 --> 00:11:13.624 I wouldn't say it's all of my tomato harvest. 00:11:14.104 --> 00:11:17.803 But it's a lot of it and it's pretty slim Pickens. 00:11:17.894 --> 00:11:19.274 We'll just say it that way. 00:11:19.754 --> 00:11:22.423 Um, but it is what it is. 00:11:22.724 --> 00:11:24.673 Um, I picked what I could pick. 00:11:24.673 --> 00:11:30.734 We've got a few more up there, but it's certainly not going to be anything like I'm use to. 00:11:31.214 --> 00:11:32.384 Uh, harvesting. 00:11:33.793 --> 00:11:36.734 Today I finally was able to get our pullets moved. 00:11:36.793 --> 00:11:39.854 That's something else that has

not gotten done. 00:11:39.854 --> 00:11:41.083 Like it normally did. 00:11:41.144 --> 00:11:49.224 Normally by now, my pullets would have been outside on grass, for weeks and just this year due to the rain and due to other obligations. 00:11:49.614 --> 00:11:52.913 I finally was able to get things moved around today. 00:11:53.333 --> 00:11:59.214 And make it so that they can get outside and enjoy some of the sun, the sunlight. 00:12:00.053 --> 00:12:01.313 I feel really bad about it. 00:12:01.703 --> 00:12:05.394 Um, but again, because of how rainy it's been this summer. 00:12:05.903 --> 00:12:10.333 Um, it's been the third rainiest summer in recorded history. 00:12:10.333 --> 00:12:19.153 So since they started keeping track of those statistics, uh, they've only had two other summers that were as rainy as this summer. 00:12:19.183 --> 00:12:21.344 And both of those were in the late 1800. 00:12:21.344 --> 00:12:24.734 So this has been the rainiest summer in over a hundred years. 00:12:25.183 --> 00:12:29.864 And that certainly has put a kink in my plans many times. 00:12:30.224 --> 00:12:32.293 Um, because either. 00:12:32.653 --> 00:12:36.974 Uh, I had time to do something and I couldn't because of the rain. 00:12:37.453 --> 00:12:42.494 And then when there was a break in the weather, I would have other obligations that I needed to fulfill. 00:12:42.764 --> 00:12:46.063 And so I wasn't able to do some of the things that I really needed to do. 00:12:46.484 --> 00:12:49.903 Uh, and that's just life on the homestead sometimes. 00:12:52.134 --> 00:12:54.173 Something else that was fun that happened this week. 00:12:54.173 --> 00:12:58.823 As I found a really cool kitchen gadget, I'm a sucker for cool. 00:12:59.094 --> 00:13:01.614 Old vintage kitchen gadgets. 00:13:01.644 --> 00:13:03.803 And I, I found one, it's a rival. 00:13:04.163 --> 00:13:06.594 Uh, P shucker and bean cutter. 00:13:06.594 --> 00:13:08.484 So one side of it, as you. 00:13:09.323 --> 00:13:12.203 Turn the crank and you feed the peas or the beans into it. 00:13:12.533 --> 00:13:17.663 It actually pops open the pod and the beans or the peas are released. 00:13:17.933 --> 00:13:22.494 And then the other side, as you feed the beans through it, it cuts them into long. 00:13:22.854 --> 00:13:26.663 Strips kind of that French cut style, green bean. 00:13:27.114 --> 00:13:35.974 And so I brought that home yesterday because I have a lot of Lima beans that I need to process as well as some shell beans that I needed to process. 00:13:35.974 --> 00:13:37.683 And I wasn't sure if this was going to work. 00:13:37.984 --> 00:13:42.244 It's billed as a P shocker, but I thought I'm, this might work. 00:13:42.274 --> 00:13:45.394 And so it did seem to work pretty well. 00:13:45.724 --> 00:13:48.514 Uh, as I ran both some shell beans through it. 00:13:48.874 --> 00:13:51.244 As well as some Lima beans through it. 00:13:51.453 --> 00:13:59.344 And, uh, then when I ran some of those flat Roman style

pole beans, That I I've discovered that I really, really like through it. 00:13:59.374 --> 00:14:02.134 It seemed to cut those up into nice little strips. 00:14:02.494 --> 00:14:05.313 And so I think I'm going to really like this a little gadget. 00:14:05.583 --> 00:14:12.394 Uh, it's going to be more than just a novelty to have around, but it does seem like it's going to work well for me. 00:14:12.783 --> 00:14:16.533 As I kind of wrap up this year's garden. 00:14:17.734 --> 00:14:23.673 The last thing I wanted to share with you is that yesterday, Bonnie and I spent quite a few hours washing our camper. 00:14:23.673 --> 00:14:30.663 We have a small fiberglass, camper from 1977 that, uh, we absolutely love it. 00:14:30.693 --> 00:14:32.224 It's perfect for the two of us. 00:14:32.614 --> 00:14:34.264 And we can pull it with our vehicle. 00:14:34.594 --> 00:14:38.524 But, uh, we had some lichen that was starting to grow on the outside of that. 00:14:38.524 --> 00:14:52.624 And so we gave it a good bath yesterday in preparation for next weekend's event, over in Greenfield, New Hampshire next weekend is going to be the fall gathering to the homesteaders of new England. 00:14:53.014 --> 00:14:56.313 And you are not going to want to miss that. 00:14:56.344 --> 00:15:03.663 I am so excited about it because I'm going to have the opportunity to meet some people that I've talked with online. 00:15:03.663 --> 00:15:05.224 I've actually had on the podcast. 00:15:05.524 --> 00:15:07.803 Um, but I've never met them in real life. 00:15:07.864 --> 00:15:10.984 Troy McClung from the pasture pig podcast is going to be there. 00:15:11.293 --> 00:15:13.783 I'm going to get to meet Al alumna from lamina acres. 00:15:14.153 --> 00:15:16.943 I'm going to get to see Don Bradner from little mountain life. 00:15:16.943 --> 00:15:22.313 Again, going to get the hangout with Jack and Jackie from, uh, the mindful homestead again. 00:15:22.823 --> 00:15:25.793 And, uh, I'm just so excited about that. 00:15:25.823 --> 00:15:27.594 Going to get to see rich Giordano. 00:15:27.624 --> 00:15:30.024 He is such a hoot, such a great guy. 00:15:30.384 --> 00:15:31.854 Looking forward to seeing him. 00:15:32.153 --> 00:15:35.244 But beyond all of that, what I'm so excited about? 00:15:35.244 --> 00:15:35.754 Focus on. 00:15:36.083 --> 00:15:38.394 Excited about seeing you again. 00:15:38.933 --> 00:15:42.803 I got to meet so many of you last year at that event. 00:15:42.864 --> 00:15:47.543 And I'm just excited to be able to see some of you again this year. 00:15:47.874 --> 00:15:53.153 And to make new connections with others that maybe I've not had the pleasure of meeting. 00:15:53.484 --> 00:15:54.323 In real life. 00:15:54.744 --> 00:15:55.703 And the good news. 00:15:56.153 --> 00:15:57.683 I kind of give you the bad news. 00:15:57.923 --> 00:16:02.663 The bad news is that the, the ticket prices did go up as of September 1st. 00:16:02.663 --> 00:16:04.854 So they're now$35 for the

weekend. 00:16:05.333 --> 00:16:17.964 But folks what a steal of a deal, what a great opportunity for you to get together and spend time with other like-minded individuals and learn some great information along the way. 00:16:19.673 --> 00:16:21.293 And for$35. 00:16:21.923 --> 00:16:24.563 I mean, that's a cheap ticket to be able to meet me. 00:16:24.563 --> 00:16:24.923 Right. 00:16:27.144 --> 00:16:27.744 No folks. 00:16:27.774 --> 00:16:30.563 I really, really am so excited about this event. 00:16:30.774 --> 00:16:34.583 I look for, I've been looking forward to it since, since last year's event. 00:16:34.974 --> 00:16:35.394 Ended. 00:16:35.663 --> 00:16:46.644 The other thing that's really, really great about it is if you have a camper, if you got a 10 or whatever, There's a campground right across the road from the park Oak park where this event is held. 00:16:46.974 --> 00:16:52.014 So it's just a really convenient way for you to be able to spend a weekend. 00:16:52.583 --> 00:16:59.063 And, and enjoy great fellowship, make community learn some wonderful things. 00:16:59.364 --> 00:17:01.644 So folks tickets are still available. 00:17:01.884 --> 00:17:05.304 So head on over to new England homesteaders.com. 00:17:05.304 --> 00:17:07.584 New England homesteaders.com. 00:17:07.913 --> 00:17:08.933 To buy your ticket. 00:17:08.933 --> 00:17:10.703 You're not going to want to miss this event. 00:17:11.034 --> 00:17:12.114 It's going to be great. 00:17:12.534 --> 00:17:13.703 I'm looking forward to it. 00:17:13.943 --> 00:17:16.314 I hope to see you there. 00:17:16.614 --> 00:17:17.034 All right. 00:17:17.513 --> 00:17:20.183 All of that said, let's jump on over to this. 00:17:20.183 --> 00:17:22.314 Week's charting the course. 00:17:29.183 --> 00:17:38.124 So as I went out to pick vegetables, to put them in the fair this year, it really confirmed to me what I had suspected, what I really knew in my heart of hearts. 00:17:38.124 --> 00:17:43.253 And that is that this is probably my worst gardening season. 00:17:43.703 --> 00:17:44.003 Ever. 00:17:44.693 --> 00:17:47.064 My first couple of years of gardening. 00:17:47.604 --> 00:17:49.884 We're far better than this year. 00:17:50.304 --> 00:17:51.594 Of gardening this year. 00:17:52.223 --> 00:17:53.784 For many, many reasons. 00:17:54.114 --> 00:18:03.384 But it has not been up to the level of production that I have been used to in the past. 00:18:03.624 --> 00:18:14.814 And when you have a gardening season, like I've had this year where it seems like your entire tomato harvest is going to fit into two stainless steel bowls. 00:18:15.594 --> 00:18:17.844 Uh, that's very disheartening. 00:18:18.473 --> 00:18:26.544 And when other things that you've been used to growing almost with, with little effort, I didn't grow at all. 00:18:27.054 --> 00:18:28.763 That's very, very discouraging. 00:18:29.064 --> 00:18:38.423 And when you look at a situation like we've had this year, a gardening season, like

this year season, You can very easily become discouraged. 00:18:38.453 --> 00:18:40.013 Disheartened, disillusioned. 00:18:40.104 --> 00:18:43.824 I guess I could throw, I don't know what other word you want to throw in there. 00:18:44.483 --> 00:18:47.634 But to the point to where you just want to throw your hands up and say, screw it. 00:18:47.663 --> 00:18:48.114 I'm done. 00:18:48.114 --> 00:18:49.253 I'm not going to garden anymore. 00:18:49.253 --> 00:18:50.453 It's not worth the time. 00:18:50.453 --> 00:18:52.644 Effort, energy, the money. 00:18:52.943 --> 00:18:55.104 Uh, It's just not worth it. 00:18:55.463 --> 00:18:59.604 Um, and it, you could easily just throw your hands up and quit. 00:19:00.713 --> 00:19:04.644 But even with a bad gardening season, like I've had this year. 00:19:05.723 --> 00:19:08.723 I've actually learned some very helpful lessons. 00:19:09.054 --> 00:19:11.814 And I think these are some lessons that will help me. 00:19:12.294 --> 00:19:15.624 As I move forward in my gardening career. 00:19:16.253 --> 00:19:17.753 Call it career, but whatever. 00:19:19.523 --> 00:19:21.144 As I gardened into the future. 00:19:21.503 --> 00:19:26.213 These I think are lessons that will help me be more successful. 00:19:26.574 --> 00:19:37.824 Um, as I learned from what took place this year, So the first lesson that I learned is perhaps a very simple and obvious one, but that is that you can have too much of a good thing. 00:19:37.913 --> 00:19:41.693 Namely, you can have too much water now. 00:19:42.534 --> 00:19:50.483 In the past I've had, I've struggled with a bit of the opposite, uh, situation where we've had some very, very dry gardening seasons. 00:19:51.084 --> 00:19:54.804 But what I found is that it's much easier to add water. 00:19:55.433 --> 00:19:56.844 Than it is to take water. 00:19:59.273 --> 00:20:09.624 You can go out and you can do a lot of things in your garden to either, um, a put moisture into the soil, to hold moisture in the soil with, with a mulch and so forth. 00:20:10.044 --> 00:20:24.743 But again, to take that moisture out of the soil is very difficult, but more than that, To be able to get out into work in your garden when it is rainy and nasty, and it's a downpour and it's a monsoon and it's like, you don't really want to be out there. 00:20:24.743 --> 00:20:27.713 And there's certain things that you really shouldn't be touching when they're wet. 00:20:27.713 --> 00:20:31.463 For example, beans, you really shouldn't mess with those when they're wet. 00:20:31.884 --> 00:20:34.913 It really does put you in a bit of a bind. 00:20:34.913 --> 00:20:47.364 And then when you have other things that are going on in your life, Then you find yourself in a situation where, as I mentioned before, you might have a window of opportunity to work in the garden and the weather isn't cooperative. 00:20:47.364 --> 00:20:50.844 And then when the weather is cooperative, you don't have that window of opportunity. 00:20:51.263 --> 00:20:56.304 And so I discovered this year that it certainly is possible to have too much of a good thing. 00:20:57.196 --> 00:21:00.317 Irrigated the garden, a handful of times at the beginning of the season. 00:21:00.826 --> 00:21:03.497 I didn't have to pull hoses out there. 00:21:03.586 --> 00:21:06.257 Uh, from probably mid June on. 00:21:06.767 --> 00:21:12.436 Uh, I have not watered my garden one time haven't needed to, um, because we've had so much water. 00:21:13.606 --> 00:21:17.326 The second thing that I learned is that perspective is. 00:21:17.926 --> 00:21:18.616 Important. 00:21:19.096 --> 00:21:21.317 It's important to understand. 00:21:21.856 --> 00:21:24.767 The reason why the garden season. 00:21:25.217 --> 00:21:26.747 Has been so poor. 00:21:26.777 --> 00:21:37.307 Now, some of that certainly has been because I didn't do some of the things that I could have done or should have done in order to be as successful as I possibly could have. 00:21:37.876 --> 00:21:43.396 But then there were reasons why I didn't and there were reasons why I couldn't do those things. 00:21:43.757 --> 00:21:48.317 And so having that perspective also, it's not making excuses. 00:21:48.557 --> 00:21:52.126 It's just being real and honest and understanding. 00:21:52.126 --> 00:21:52.606 Okay. 00:21:52.787 --> 00:21:53.326 Yes. 00:21:53.446 --> 00:22:00.277 Maybe these things didn't do as well as, as they should have, but there were reasons why that happened. 00:22:00.846 --> 00:22:02.557 Uh, one of those was. 00:22:03.426 --> 00:22:04.957 That I had a late start. 00:22:05.196 --> 00:22:06.426 You might remember that. 00:22:06.426 --> 00:22:09.396 Back in early April, I went to a. 00:22:09.906 --> 00:22:11.376 Alaska to visit my brother. 00:22:11.916 --> 00:22:19.386 And so that just put me behind and it felt like I was behind from day one in the garden. 00:22:19.957 --> 00:22:20.826 And. 00:22:21.696 --> 00:22:24.817 I never felt like I really ever caught up. 00:22:26.676 --> 00:22:28.957 Do I regret going on vacation up there? 00:22:28.987 --> 00:22:30.876 No, it was the right decision. 00:22:31.207 --> 00:22:32.257 Was it poor timing. 00:22:32.257 --> 00:22:32.497 Yeah. 00:22:32.527 --> 00:22:34.567 But it was a timing that we could do it. 00:22:34.626 --> 00:22:38.376 So it is what it is, but that certainly was a contributing factor. 00:22:38.826 --> 00:22:44.676 The rainy weather, as I mentioned, another huge contributing factor, probably the biggest contributing factor. 00:22:45.007 --> 00:22:55.326 Because I couldn't get up there and we'd like, I should have, I couldn't get up there and prune tomatoes, like I should have, I, I couldn't get up there and harvest things in a timely fashion. 00:22:55.537 --> 00:22:57.037 Like maybe I should have. 00:22:57.037 --> 00:23:03.217 And I had things that ended up rotting on the vine and things that got too big on the vine because I couldn't harvest them. 00:23:03.217 --> 00:23:04.477 I

couldn't get to them. 00:23:04.777 --> 00:23:07.567 Because again, the way the rain. 00:23:08.376 --> 00:23:11.977 Um, was falling and the windows of opportunity that opened up. 00:23:12.547 --> 00:23:15.307 My schedule just didn't necessarily. 00:23:15.636 --> 00:23:16.356 Sync up. 00:23:16.686 --> 00:23:20.886 But the other thing that I found as I got to the fair and I was starting to put my entries in. 00:23:21.846 --> 00:23:26.136 I wasn't the only one that had a difficult time this year with gardening. 00:23:26.136 --> 00:23:34.477 And in fact, there are a number of people that I know who are very experienced gardeners, people that have been doing this for longer than I've been alive. 00:23:34.777 --> 00:23:41.257 And they, this year have had a hard time with a lot of the same crops that I've had a hard time with this year. 00:23:41.257 --> 00:23:44.616 At the fair, we probably had the least number of tomatoes ever entered. 00:23:44.616 --> 00:23:46.207 At least since I've been putting. 00:23:46.626 --> 00:23:49.477 Uh, vegetables and cucumbers were way down zucchini. 00:23:49.866 --> 00:23:51.307 Was way down. 00:23:51.696 --> 00:23:59.946 People were having a hard time growing those things, just because of how wet and rainy it has been this year. 00:24:00.247 --> 00:24:03.606 And it's not that misery loves company, but it's also one of those things. 00:24:03.606 --> 00:24:06.307 Again, giving you that proper perspective to understand. 00:24:06.606 --> 00:24:07.416 Hey, wait a minute. 00:24:07.957 --> 00:24:09.517 I'm not the only one in this boat. 00:24:10.267 --> 00:24:12.126 Other people are struggling too. 00:24:12.817 --> 00:24:16.386 And there are just certain things that are outside our control. 00:24:16.777 --> 00:24:17.467 And, you know, what. 00:24:17.977 --> 00:24:20.676 We'll give things a try next year. 00:24:21.126 --> 00:24:22.686 But not everything was bad. 00:24:22.686 --> 00:24:25.176 I had some things that did very well this year. 00:24:25.567 --> 00:24:27.666 I tried a couple of new pole bean varieties. 00:24:27.696 --> 00:24:29.676 I've mentioned this before on the podcast. 00:24:29.946 --> 00:24:31.807 That have been wonderful for me. 00:24:32.017 --> 00:24:33.636 They've been very prolific. 00:24:34.176 --> 00:24:36.126 They are very tasty. 00:24:36.457 --> 00:24:37.747 And they're very versatile. 00:24:38.166 --> 00:24:44.017 And so I have been very, very happy with those pole bean varieties. 00:24:44.916 --> 00:24:48.186 My root vegetables have done surprisingly well. 00:24:48.547 --> 00:24:52.386 In the past, I've had problems with my root veggies, rotting on me. 00:24:52.777 --> 00:24:53.467 Turnips. 00:24:53.946 --> 00:24:57.277 Uh, in particular have rotted on me and folks. 00:24:57.517 --> 00:25:03.396 They just absolutely wreak when they rot, but my turnips have done very well. 00:25:03.666 --> 00:25:05.586 Cauliflower did well for me. 00:25:05.586 --> 00:25:08.436 I've struggled to grow cauliflower in the past this year. 00:25:08.436 --> 00:25:11.767 I've grown several good heads of cauliflower. 00:25:11.767 --> 00:25:13.356 I grew a wonderful head. 00:25:13.656 --> 00:25:18.007 Of broccoli this year, my cabbages have all done very well. 00:25:18.007 --> 00:25:24.906 Although some of them are split because I didn't harvest them in time, but they still did produce very, very well. 00:25:25.356 --> 00:25:30.576 Um, and so there have been a lot of things that have, uh, produced. 00:25:31.267 --> 00:25:35.707 Much better this year than they ever have another great example of that on my line will beans. 00:25:36.186 --> 00:25:38.826 I'm going to have a bumper crop of Lima beans this year. 00:25:39.936 --> 00:25:41.166 Totally shocking to me. 00:25:41.616 --> 00:25:43.747 Um, but they have produced. 00:25:44.076 --> 00:25:45.186 Very very well. 00:25:46.386 --> 00:25:50.047 Another thing I discovered this year is that pelleted carrot seed. 00:25:50.707 --> 00:25:52.326 Is worth it, at least to me. 00:25:53.497 --> 00:25:55.237 I actually did a bit of an experiment. 00:25:55.237 --> 00:25:56.946 I planted some Malcolm M. 00:25:57.126 --> 00:25:59.287 Oh, K U M carrots. 00:26:00.067 --> 00:26:03.547 As both non pelleted and pelleted side-by-side. 00:26:04.027 --> 00:26:06.277 And the pelleted did far better. 00:26:06.487 --> 00:26:12.366 Not only were they easier to plant, but they seem to have germinated much better. 00:26:12.757 --> 00:26:15.217 And so definitely for me, that's. 00:26:15.517 --> 00:26:17.227 A positive lesson that I've learned. 00:26:17.616 --> 00:26:20.916 That it seems like pelleted carrot seeds. 00:26:21.366 --> 00:26:26.616 Are worth it for me and are something that I'm going to, uh, continue to buy. 00:26:26.977 --> 00:26:27.817 In the future now. 00:26:28.116 --> 00:26:33.336 In the past I've experimented with pelleted tomato seeds versus non pelleted tomato seeds. 00:26:33.696 --> 00:26:35.257 I didn't find a whole lot of difference there. 00:26:35.797 --> 00:26:41.106 I felt like my germination rates were just as, just as well with the non pelted as the pelleted variety. 00:26:41.497 --> 00:26:48.727 But it seems to me like, at least with carrots and maybe it was just this year, I don't know, but I planted the same variety, Malcolm. 00:26:49.116 --> 00:26:50.317 Right next to each other. 00:26:50.707 --> 00:26:56.376 And my germination rates were much better with the pelleted versus the non pelleted. 00:26:56.646 --> 00:27:01.477 And certainly it was way easier to plant the pelleted varieties. 00:27:04.176 --> 00:27:10.987 Another thing that I've learned is that not having, uh, things to, uh, preserve. 00:27:11.616 --> 00:27:13.807 He's actually been a good thing for me. 00:27:14.497 --> 00:27:22.356 Maybe I'm looking for the silver lining in the cloud, but not having to stress about canning up a bunch of things. 00:27:23.017 --> 00:27:32.487 Um, has, is certainly been nice with the exception of the one night where I was Kenyan

up green beans and I was turning off canners at two 30 in the morning. 00:27:32.547 --> 00:27:33.567 I have not had. 00:27:34.017 --> 00:27:35.277 Anything like that. 00:27:35.606 --> 00:27:37.166 This canning season. 00:27:37.196 --> 00:27:39.446 Now I did have several days in a row. 00:27:39.477 --> 00:27:43.106 I was canning up jams and jellies and I did beats and a whole bunch of things. 00:27:43.106 --> 00:27:44.037 It was one weekend. 00:27:44.487 --> 00:27:45.567 And seen canning. 00:27:46.257 --> 00:27:48.537 But it hasn't been that pressure. 00:27:49.527 --> 00:27:59.727 That I've experienced in other years where my garden was producing so much that I had to do something with that crop and I had to do it right then. 00:27:59.967 --> 00:28:02.666 In fact, there have been some years where during the fair. 00:28:02.997 --> 00:28:12.237 I would go over to the fair and then I would get home at nine o'clock at night, and then I would start preserving things and I wouldn't turn canters off till two, three o'clock in the morning. 00:28:12.747 --> 00:28:13.616 Um, which is crazy. 00:28:13.646 --> 00:28:15.416 I don't think I'd be able to do that now. 00:28:15.747 --> 00:28:18.567 Uh, I was much younger when I used to do stupid stuff like that. 00:28:18.896 --> 00:28:24.267 but certainly not having the pressure of having to preserve a bunch of things all at once. 00:28:24.567 --> 00:28:28.467 Has been, uh, a blessing in disguise, we'll say. 00:28:29.787 --> 00:28:31.616 The last thing I would say is this. 00:28:31.977 --> 00:28:34.676 Uh, prioritizing. 00:28:35.186 --> 00:28:42.146 Other things over the garden this year certainly was the right thing for me to do this year. 00:28:43.346 --> 00:28:51.596 As I mentioned, there were times when I would have a window of opportunity to go up to the garden to do things like weed, like harvest, like. 00:28:52.287 --> 00:28:54.386 Uh, prune my tomato plants, whatever. 00:28:54.957 --> 00:28:55.586 And. 00:28:56.547 --> 00:29:05.576 I had all the things that I needed to do, whether it was helping Brian, Jay with certain tasks to get ready to go to college, or just all the things that were going on during the summer. 00:29:05.876 --> 00:29:08.666 And I prioritize those things over the garden. 00:29:09.477 --> 00:29:10.467 I don't regret that. 00:29:11.217 --> 00:29:12.537 I don't regret that at all. 00:29:12.896 --> 00:29:13.166 No. 00:29:13.166 --> 00:29:25.886 I understand that I come at this from a bit of a place of blessing and privilege and, and I, I hesitate to use the term privilege because I feel like that word has been almost weaponized. 00:29:26.547 --> 00:29:28.406 Um, to guilt trip people. 00:29:28.497 --> 00:29:30.747 And I don't, I don't want to do that at all. 00:29:31.287 --> 00:29:33.326 Um, but I also understand. 00:29:34.346 --> 00:29:41.186 That I don't have to rely on the food out of my garden in order to be able to survive. 00:29:42.207 --> 00:29:43.886 I'm very blessed in that regard. 00:29:43.886 --> 00:29:47.366 I know there are some people that, that is the case. 00:29:48.386 --> 00:29:50.636 And I don't take that for granted at all. 00:29:51.146 --> 00:29:55.136 Uh, But I I'm in a spot. 00:29:56.007 --> 00:29:56.906 Where if. 00:29:57.656 --> 00:30:00.237 I don't have a tomato harvest. 00:30:00.537 --> 00:30:04.136 Number one, I've got a lot of tomatoes still in the basement from last year. 00:30:04.527 --> 00:30:05.487 So I'll be all right. 00:30:05.906 --> 00:30:06.957 Be able to eat those. 00:30:06.957 --> 00:30:08.126 And probably it's a good thing. 00:30:08.126 --> 00:30:11.037 I'll be able to kind of get some of the old stuff out. 00:30:11.576 --> 00:30:13.797 And then bring in some new stuff next year. 00:30:13.797 --> 00:30:14.336 Hopefully. 00:30:15.626 --> 00:30:20.757 But if I don't have it in the basement, I'm blessed enough that I can go get it. 00:30:21.146 --> 00:30:22.707 You know, it's, it's readily available. 00:30:22.707 --> 00:30:28.856 I've even thought about maybe going and buying some canning tomatoes from some of the pick, your own farms that we have around us. 00:30:29.426 --> 00:30:33.446 And, and canyon up some stewed tomatoes and canyon up some sauce. 00:30:33.446 --> 00:30:33.596 And. 00:30:34.436 --> 00:30:37.707 I'm not sure if I'll do that or if I won't, I haven't made up my mind. 00:30:38.156 --> 00:30:41.967 But again, I am very, very fortunate in that. 00:30:42.356 --> 00:30:46.467 I don't have to rely on my garden to keep body and soul together. 00:30:47.186 --> 00:30:49.826 And so I keep that in perspective as well. 00:30:50.336 --> 00:30:55.346 I would certainly have approach things a lot differently if that were the case this year. 00:30:55.886 --> 00:30:58.527 And so I want to just kind of keep that. 00:30:59.067 --> 00:31:01.527 Um, in mind as well. 00:31:01.977 --> 00:31:05.817 Understanding that I am very, very blessed. 00:31:05.817 --> 00:31:08.457 I'm very privileged in that regard. 00:31:08.846 --> 00:31:10.287 And so I had. 00:31:10.946 --> 00:31:12.747 I had the opportunity. 00:31:13.047 --> 00:31:15.717 To make those kinds of decisions whereby. 00:31:16.287 --> 00:31:18.957 Uh, other people might not be able to do that. 00:31:19.196 --> 00:31:20.156 And, and I want to. 00:31:20.846 --> 00:31:22.376 Just be cognizant of that. 00:31:22.707 --> 00:31:29.186 'cause, I don't want anybody else to feel like you have to make the same decisions that I did. 00:31:29.696 --> 00:31:32.247 Um, because your situation might be different. 00:31:33.386 --> 00:31:35.277 And, and I, and I realized that. 00:31:35.817 --> 00:31:49.136 So anyhow, those are some of the things that I did learn this year from having probably the worst garden that I've ever had in my years of gardening now, going on, I don't know, 15, 16 years of gardening. 00:31:49.707 --> 00:31:52.616 Um, Not, not a good one. 00:31:52.767 --> 00:31:56.247 Um, but there's always next year and we'll see. 00:31:56.817 --> 00:31:58.767 What, what takes place? 00:31:58.797 --> 00:32:04.166 I certainly hope your garden has performed much better than mine has, but if it hasn't. 00:32:04.977 --> 00:32:06.896 You know, there's always next year. 00:32:07.106 --> 00:32:08.126 Don't lose hope. 00:32:08.576 --> 00:32:09.686 Try to learn. 00:32:10.017 --> 00:32:15.537 What you can, the best you can from what went wrong and what things you can correct. 00:32:15.896 --> 00:32:16.946 Try to correct them. 00:32:17.277 --> 00:32:19.436 And what things were outside of your control? 00:32:20.067 --> 00:32:20.906 I'll give them to God. 00:32:20.906 --> 00:32:22.106 There's nothing you can do about it. 00:32:22.106 --> 00:32:22.586 Anyhow. 00:32:23.307 --> 00:32:26.096 All right folks, that's it for this episode. 00:32:26.096 --> 00:32:27.326 I hope you found it helpful. 00:32:27.326 --> 00:32:31.676 If you've got any questions, reach out to me, Brian, at the homestead journey.net. 00:32:32.336 --> 00:32:34.287 Or you can reach us on all of the socials. 00:32:34.346 --> 00:32:36.446 The links are in the description. 00:32:36.836 --> 00:32:42.116 Don't forget about the fall gathering of the home setters of new England happening this coming weekend. 00:32:42.567 --> 00:32:44.426 In Greenfield, New Hampshire. 00:32:44.457 --> 00:32:49.977 You're not going to want to miss that new England homesteaders.com is where you can find more information. 00:32:50.247 --> 00:32:53.277 And buy your I definitely don't miss out on it. 00:32:53.757 --> 00:32:55.287 Until next time, everyone. 00:32:55.707 --> 00:32:57.446 Keep up the good work.