Gardens are a blessing, mostly....

My husband, Gene, is a gardener. Actually, he's not, but he sure fools everyone. When we got married he often spoke unkind words about the large 3 acre garden he had to help out with as a child. He swore he hated it, and that he did not intend to have a large garden, ever. A few years ago I bought a planter box and a packet of seeds and told Gene that we should do a small planter garden and grow some of our own vegetables. We rented, so putting a garden in the ground wasn't an option (for the most part, though we did have a few bare spots in the yard we were given permission to grow in), so I thought a few pots and a few plants would be good enough. Gene is a geek, he needs to research everything, and then he needs to experiment and see if he can do it bigger and better. So, that pot and plant turned into dozens of pots and so many more plants. Fast forward to today, living in our first home, having a 1/4 acre horse corral and no horse, you get a 1/4 acre garden. If we could afford it we'd have a 1/4 acre greenhouse, but unless we somehow come into a rather large sum of money, we work with what we've got. The first year was a nightmare of weeds, and a lot of learning. This year we have continued to learn as we drown in a bounty that neither of us expected. I was not prepared for the harvest that continues even today. I am learning a lot despite the frustration at seeing my neat and clean kitchen become a fruit and veggie haven. We will learn from this year and be better prepared for next. I've never been a lover of meal prep and food preservation, but it's becoming a part of my life. Now I'm the geek, researching and trying to figure out how to use these blessings from God that happen to feed our family and build our character. It takes work to prepare the soil, prepare the seeds, nurture the starts, prepare the garden, plant the starts, protect the plants from the elements/pests/weeds, and keep them watered and fed throughout the summer. Our children groan and complain about the work, but we know that one day they'll understand and appreciate the "fruit of their labor". As we harvest and share the bounty with our neighbors, it's thrilling. I may tease my husband about that planter box and pack of seeds, but I'm grateful we're able to create such a wonderful garden today because of it.