Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Final Garden Phase: Indifference

Well, I guess the final stage would be eating all the food you've put up, but that's kind of a given.

It's this phase before the eating (although, we've already started eating some things) that is so tough for me.  It starts out tough because you go from running around like a chicken with their head cut off (though we do not let our chickens run around like this) canning and freezing everything in sight.  One day this summer, I actually found a little plastic toy lady in the freezer and had to stop and think whether or not it could have been me that put her there.

Swiss chard and weeds.

Once I get used to days without canning sessions, I get garden-lazy.  My days entail sitting and doing school with the kids and it's so easy to to ignore what is left out there.  I don't ignore the garden completely.  I mean, I use what I can so we still get fresh vegetables on our dinner plates, but in terms of dealing with it like I should, well, that's where I get indifferent.

Stevia going to seed.  We think that's okay.

Thankfully, Jamey does not have a lazy bone in his body.  He makes sure the important stuff (sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, peppers) get stored away or placed on my kitchen counter- he knows I will deal with it then.  But, there are a few projects that are mine, all mine.

Spinach and weeds.  Did I fail to mention I stopped weeding a long time ago?

For example, out in the garden right this very moment is a lot of chard and spinach I should freeze.  There is basil and oregano I also want to freeze.  There is stevia that should soon (not quite yet) be hung to dry and be prepared.  I just can't bring myself to do it.  These are the easiest projects of all- shouldn't that make them easier to do??  Call me lazy, call me unappreciative, call me tired of dealing with produce.  Any of those would be accurate, I guess.  And, it's probably a large part of why I haven't been writing about the garden much lately....

Basil and weed.

The one thing I cannot be indifferent about is the fact that this weekend, Jamey's parents are bringing us 8 bushels of apples that we will make into applesauce.  And, they are planning to help us, bless their hearts.  I can't ignore that I need to come up with jars and freezer containers to hold this applesauce as well as freezer and pantry space with which to store it.  No, no.  I can't ignore any of this.

So, as of yesterday morning, I have 80 quart jars washed and ready.  I have figured out that I have room in our chest freezer for 45 quarts and almost enough room in the pantry for the jars (the rest will get stored elsewhere).  Jamey picked up groceries yesterday and on his list were the remaining dozens of canning lids we will need.

I think I'm ready.  Are you ready?  Oh.  Did you forget you are coming to help?

Once the applesauce is done, I must, I tell you must, get to those other projects.  If I don't, it will frost and I will lose much if not all of it.  Once I get my bum in gear and get that done, I will sit down and tally up our harvest totals for the year.

And that, my friends, is when I'll be done.  I don't know where you all live, but there's a good chance you'll hear me whoop for joy from wherever you are. Pin It

8 comments:

  1. Yep, I'm there as well. There are a few herbs that still SHOULD be picked and dried, but I may or may not get to that. Everyone around us had frost last night, but somehow, we escaped. Probably not for much longer. We have potatoes and carrots in the ground yet, which will be harvested by the end of the month. But otherwise, I'm SO done. And the freezers are stuffed. So are the canning shelves. I hear ya.

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  2. This is so true...indifference has already set in here. I think going to Belgium set me back quite a bit! I wasn't focused on the garden at all. And do you know I didn't can a thing this summer? Oh well..that's OK. Next year!

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  3. I'm with you all the way on this, m'dear. I still have tons of squash to do and the apples on our trees and another couple of bushels we'll be picking up next week.

    I've been looking for my oompf (my dad used to say, "I don't have any oompf left.") for the last week or so, but haven't had any luck finding it.

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  4. It looks so yummy! Would love to have some of that spinach :-)

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  5. It sounds like you had another very successful gardening season this year. I love seeing that incredible patch of stevia, I hope you find a good use for it...and then tell all about it so that we will be inspired to grow some again next year.

    I thought you guys were coming over to help me with my canning this year?:)

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  6. I wanna come help make and can applesauce!!! :D

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  7. Indifference set inhere a while ago. Being in the first trimester of pregnancy certainly had a lot to do with it. Now busy with tomatoes which are finally ready and purchased from the farmers market. Getting together with two friends on Monday to have a salsa canning day. Hope I have enough oomph to make it through the day!

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  8. Yippee!! Yahoo!! (Almost) for you. :) Have fun putting up all that applesauce. It is very sweet that your hubby's parents are willing to help!

    Blessings,
    Camille

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Just a friendly reminder, if you know me personally please try to refrain from using my name. There are those who may try to locate me, break into my pantry and steal my pickled beets. Thanks:-).

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