This is a big decision for me, to let some things go. As a caregiver for my husband, and since he mostly paces, eats and sits now, I’ve taken on all the acreage chores, which are numerous, especially in the summertime.
I love working outside, there is not denying that, but I’ve taken on too many projects, inside and outside, for one person and it’s left me with mostly chores and no time for other things, like sewing, cooking, and baking sourdough. I can’t do it all, but doggone, I want to. However, since I’m the only one here telling me what I should and should not do, I did some thinking the other day and decided what was really important for the rest of summer, and what could be let go.
My vegetable garden. I’m letting it go along with the guilt that I didn’t produce much of my own food this year. I planted, but a late freeze took some things out. I replanted, but nothing is thriving because of the drought and heat. And, I just haven’t had the extra time to move sprinklers around. So, I made a decision to just put my garden to bed early this year, and maybe just build the garden space, but not worry about growing veggies. I’ve even thought about leveling where I was putting my garden, planting grass, and moving my future veg garden to a spot where I won’t have to drag the hose so far or where the soil is actually already garden ready. And, that has lifted such a weight from my shoulders. I can go to farmer’s market to get fresh veggies.
I did harvest a bushel of garlic this summer. I think garlic is becoming one of my favorite crops. You plant it in the fall at a time when the weeds have stopped growing and the bugs are gone. Then, you water if needed early in the spring and in late June or July, you harvest!
What am I concentrating on if I’m not growing veggies? I’m going to work on my apple trees, I have about 28 now. I have 72 black walnut seedlings that I’m pretty passionate about. I have my rows of elderberries, a growing collection of daylilies, some aronia bushes, and lots of native plants. I’m going to reconsider where I put my garden, and possibly plan out a new spot, closer to a hydrant and with better soil. I’m going to take care of and improve on what I have already planted, and be okay with that this year.
Do you struggle with telling yourself that it’s okay not to “do it all?” I do. But, it really is okay. I’ve had years where my garden produced more food than we could eat and August through October were a blur of canning and dehydrating.
If I am to have a big vegetable garden again, plus do all the other things I want to do, I either need to build the garden to be very easy to maintain, i.e., permanent raised beds in a fenced in area, or hire some help. Is that really where I want to spend my time and money? Or, do I want to plant more trees and bushes?
Have a nice weekend! I have lots of work to do today, but hauling hoses over to water the garden is not one of those things!