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| Last year the chickens got out and ate this cabbage before we could. |
Today I'm wondering why I even bother gardening. I went out to harvest the one cabbage which actually grew large enough only to find that it was buggy and had to be fed to the chickens. I uncovered the lettuce to harvest it and it was also buggy and became chicken food. I do have swiss chard out there. I've never had a problem growing it and it adds some bright color to the vegetable bed. There's one plus.
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| Well we did harvest onions and herbs. |
Then I remembered the great squash massacre in which the squash bugs were triumphant with only 3 cucumbers coming out of the garden this year. None of the spaghetti squash, pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupes, acorn squash or pickling cucumbers even made it past the flower stage. And I wondered once again why I garden. I'm not sure what the answer is right now. Maybe it's the challenge to win out against what nature throws my way?
My gardening is like a puzzle. I think back to the many books I have read and wonder what is missing in my soil. Did I use enough compost? Does my soil have a mineral deficiency? Probably. The poor plants cannot withstand the bugs without proper soil nutrients. What do I need to add next year or now?
If I weigh the costs it would be more cost effective to buy veggies from the store. If I counted the many hours I spent out there working in the heat versus what I harvested I would probably give up. Well, maybe not. I don't know why I keep going back for more. It's like a battle and I won't quit. Maybe I'm too crazy to admit the truth.
Well at least I have all fall and winter to rest up before the battle begins again! Would you give up? And why do you garden?
