June 14th-20th, Week 12
RuthAnn’s Weekly Garden Diary
Documenting Progress and Reflections in the Garden
My attempt to document the planting, growth, harvesting, and preserving of our family’s 8000 square feet of garden.
Northeast Iowa Gardening in growing zone 4
Last frost date May15, First frost date September 15
JUNE 14th-20th, WEEK 12
If I could choose when to invite you over for a garden tour it would be middle of June! We would admire the lilies and hollyhocks while the hummingbirds and Baltimore orioles’ flit around, waiting for us to admire their fledglings. We would pick a few remaining strawberries to snack on as we wander to the main garden. There we would snack on peas while we load up our baskets with Lettuce, onions, cucumbers, broccoli, and we might even dig a few early potatoes before we wander back to the house to prepare a feast of homegrown goodness.
What we harvested this week:
- 3.5 bushels English Peas which gave us 25 pounds of blanched peas for our freezer. This equals approx. 12 meals worth of peas.
- Spring onions (fresh eating)
- Lettuce (fresh eating)
- Snap peas (by the handful for snacking)
- A few strawberries for snacking
- A few early cucumbers for fresh snacking
Other Garden Tasks:
- Tore out the Early Glow variety strawberries and transplanted some of my later variety into their place. The Early Glow blossom too early in the season for us and we often end up losing a significant part of our crop to frost. I am hoping a later variety will solve this problem.
- Added more grass clippings to the tomato alley
When our Whole World Smells like Herbicides.
We smelled it the minute we stepped out of the car after our trip to the Seed to Spoon Summit in Ohio. Elvin and I exchanged a look, we both knew. Herbicide season had arrived in Iowa while we were out of town. When thousands of acers are getting treated all around the countryside it doesn’t matter if our neighbors sprayed under perfectly regulated conditions. Herbicide Vapor can travel for up to 7 miles and still be moving around 24 to 72 hours after application.
I was prepared for what I’d find when I walked into the garden. After all, I’ve spent 25 years gardening in this area, so I’m no stranger to herbicide vapor and drift. The big change is that, nowadays, people understand what I mean when I mention it. Previously, I recognized herbicide damage, but whenever I mentioned it, people reacted with confusion, as if I were imagining things. However, since Glyphosate has been featured in the news more often over the past few years, awareness of the issue has grown. Now, many are willing to acknowledge that the experiences in my garden and orchard are genuine, and I’m not just a gardener clinging to a conspiracy theory.
I have included some photos the visible damage to the garden.
As I got on my hands and knees to pull some weeds, I started crying and then praying. After a while my weed bucket was full, I got up and walked the perimeter of our land, praying God’s protecting and healing power over the 20 acres that include our pastures, pig pens, chicken coops, pond, garden, yard and house. As I walked and prayed my heart gradually shifted, from being filled with anger and frustration to embracing humility and growth.
When I first started walking and praying my heart posture was purely human nature and I wanted to make a big fuss. I felt like a child whose favorite toy got broken or was unfairly treated, and maybe if I cried loud enough someone would fix the problem and put my world right side up again. I wanted vengeance, I wanted someone to pay for ruining my favorite toy.
The longer I walked and prayed and cried the more God started working on my heart posture:
Who cares? Well, no one cares as much about raising healthy crops from our little corner of land as I do. If I make a big fuss, I am still only a small drop in a big ocean.
So, then I am all alone, Isolated. Because no one that could make a difference care about our measly 20acres.
If I don’t make a fuss than no one will know how upsetting and wrong this whole thing is!
My chest started feeling tight, my breaths became shorter, my heart started racing and my throat burned.
“It’s the Herbicides making me sick,” I thought, “I’ve got to get back to the house.”
“I must shut all the windows and bring the family indoors.”
As I started back to the house in a feverish state, I recognized my symptoms for what they really were. A panic attack.
Deep breaths and prayer, lots more prayer.
And then I started leaning into what I know to be true about God.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Psalms 24:1
God knows and sees what is happening to His earth, and He knows and sees and cares what is happening on my tiny corner of His earth. I don’t have to yell and scream to get His attention. I already have His full attention. And his complete love too. He already knew that I would be disappointed, and He cares enough to want to hear all about it. Because it’s through the prayer of telling him how disappointed I am that my heart begins to align with His.
And when our hearts align with our father’s then we catch a glimpse of his great vision for His creation. What is it that God cares more about than the purity of his Earth? The People! God cares more about the hearts of His people. I know he is grieved when we are not good stewards of the earth, but I am certain that He is even more grieved when we are not good stewards of the soil of our hearts which are eternal.
And so, because I know little ole me, on 20 acers, is powerless to stop the evil by clamoring in indignation, I will do what I know is within my power, I will pray for the healing of the land and the people that dwell in it, and I will focus on the soil of my heart more than I focus on the soil of my garden. I know that God in His goodness can heal the land through soil microbiome that we have been faithful in building over the last 25 years. I know that God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
What good thing can God grow out of the soil of my heart? The longer I walked and prayed the more aware I became of how contaminated the soil of my heart was and how twisted and ugly some of the fruit I was producing was. By the time I had circled back to the garden my Joy had returned, and as I pulled weeds, I was praising God for using something that the enemy meant for evil to bring about more fertile heart soil that will grow better fruit and has the potential for leaving an eternal legacy.
Pouring bitterness, unforgiveness and fear onto the soil of my heart does more damage to mine and my family’s health than the herbicides that are floating around me as I sit on the patio typing this. I am not naive about the negative effects of these dangerous herbicides, I have been actively trying to shield my family from them best I know how for the last 20 years, this week’s frustrating experience was simply a reminder to be more focused on the health of my eternal soul than I am focused on the health of my mortal body.
Watch for Saturday’s YouTube video on how we help our plants recover from the effects of herbicide drift or vapor.
53 Responses
My heart needed this so much. Thank you!
Thank you for reminding us, we are all in the Lord’s hands.
I will keep you and your family in prayer, concerning herbicides and drift. You are a good example to God’s glory by letting God control the soil of your heart!!
What a beautiful example of how God wants us to do!! Sadly I’ve found myself staying angry and frustrated than God would like. Thank you for reminding me that my heart posture is way more important than my weeds, than inconsiderate people or even the crazy drivers we have here in Dallas. I’m going to sit on my porch in the shade and pray as I should. Thank you!!
So thankful we serve a Big Enough God. He is faithful. He is There, with you on your 20 acres. This post touched my heart so much. I will agree with you in all of your prayers. Thank you for sharing God’s message in such a thoughtful way.
Your blog post today is such an encouragement to me. I so admire your godly wisdom. Thank you for all that you do.
I understand — we have the same problem on a smaller scale. Thank you for the good reminders of God’s care.
Dear Ruth Ann,
Thank you for the reminder that God cares most about our hearts.
As a person with a small suburban garden, I do not face the same challenges of “herbicide season” that you do. I do not have to deal with omnipresent herbicide drift. But I still am affected by herbicides and insecticides — in the food that I must purchase because I don’t have room to grow very much, and in the chemicals that my nearby neighbors apply in their yards.
So I also need to find my peace in God’s healing power and joy.
I love how you chose to lift your eyes and change your heart posture, that is so good and needed for us on this earth. I find it interesting that you chose Jer 29:11. Here are the verses earlier in the chapterJeremiah 29:5-7 ESV
[5] Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. [6] Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. [7] But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.29.5-7.ESV
And here is RomansRomans 8:20 ESV
[20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.20.ESVRomans 8:21 ESV
[21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.21.ESVRomans 8:23 ESV
[23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Have a blessed day in your garden as you cultivate His blessing there. Thanks for sharing such personal things of your life.
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.23.ESV
I am so sorry for the damage you came home to. Your garden was so beautiful. God is the best place to go when you have such a heavy heart. God bless you all. Happy 4th.
Ruthann, thank you for this; I needed this reminder today. Absolutely, anger and division are much stronger poisons than anything “man” can create in a lab. I am reminded of the necessity of praying blessings over all things. I’ve seen the result of not doing that, and I’ve seen the amazing result of doing it!
And you shared one of my most favorite Bible verses!
Love to you and your family!
Amen!! I don’t have a garden, but definitely pray over my area, house, air and trust God for His protection daily. Blessings to you and your family!!
RuthAnn,
You are amazing! I’m so thankful you are my sister! I love watching your videos and reading your blogs! You came to Waco recently and I wanted so badly to come see you, but it didn’t work out this time. I hope to meet you this side of Heaven someday! This year was my best pickle crop and my best pickling okra as well because I followed your simplicity! In years past, the recipes were complicated and heating jars and sterilizing lids etc. I have enjoyed it all so much more since you have simplified it all! AND my family likes the pickled veggies better this way as well. One more thing, we are in the swimming pool business and we have lots of pool salt for our pools. Pool salt can be used in canning and making ice cream as well and is very inexpensive. In fact, I think it enhanced the pickling flavor a bit. Anyway, blessings on all of your endeavors, my sweet sister in CHRIST! You exhude The Holy Spirit!!
All is Grace (a gift),
Laura Wilhite
Thank you for your words, sometimes we all need a reminder that we truly are not alone and that Father God and The Lord are always with us. A good reminder to feed our soul with abundance of prayer.
Hi Ruthann, I appreciate you and your heart and desire to please the Lord over what your mind and flesh were telling you. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much God loves us and what His heart is truly after; US! Our hearts! And staying with Him through the process. Thankful for you and your beautiful, surrendered heart for Him. ~SE
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am praying for protection, health and wellness in your family’s mind, body, and spirit.
Ruth Ann that was written so beautifully. I had an event yesterday that left me feeling angry, frustrated and a bit alone. I prayed as well and received peace. We have a good Father. Much love and respect to you and your family.
Ruth Ann you are spot on with this post. Our Father knows our needs. I love the way you spoke of the soil of your heart. I pray that more people will keep there eyes on our loving Father.We need to remember that if God is for us who can stand against us .We can do nothing of ourselves. Lifting you and yours up to the Lord. I enjoy watching your channel.
Unfortunately autocorrect did a couple of unwanted edits and did not include Don’t related to the need not to consume plants that are used to mitigate harmful agricultural chemicals from soil. Please do not post my original comment as I do not want anyone being confused by what to do as it relates to these plants used to regenerate the health of contaminated soil.
Thank you!
Ruth Ann your blog post is so helpful to me. I will call on the Lord more and wholeheartedly and worry less.
I’ve learned that we do live in a fallen world and we are subject to many things that we wish we weren’t exposed to. Whether it’s people’s actions or the people themselves.
But God does love us all and I know it grieves His heart to see the abuse that’s going on in His creation, but it grieves His heart all the more when He sees His people reject His love and provision for salvation through Jesus.
I’m very grateful for His unending and unconditional love. I’m so unworthy yet He makes me worthy.
Thank you!
Such great advice!
We live in a fallen world but our Creator is in charge of us.
Ruth Ann, As the daughter of a multigenerational farming family, I began (as a young child!) to be quite concerned about the use of man made chemical to replace human labor to manage agricultural products. As a seventy something woman living in a highly protected property that avoids all chemicals, man-made fertilizers or biological, I know I can only do what I can do. I evaluate the health of my immediate environment by the amount of flora and fauna that flourish on our property. I try to grow plants that are especially beneficial at regenerating the soil by mitigating the harmful chemicals others are using that drift onto our property via the air and winds. A word of caution to anyone using similar plantings- they should be consumed by man or livestock.
I too pray for God’s guidance for us to be better stewards of this beautiful planet we are blessed to live our “earthly” lives upon. It seems my answers, from my childhood to my later years is too do what YOU can and to set a goid example for others. I’m all about faith in action – I think it reaps a bigger harvest!
What a beautifully written message for all of us! Thank you for these reminders and for pointing us to our Creator and our Savior!
Thank you for addressing this subject. Your common sense and knowledge is appreciated.
Wish i could identify the “smell” of glyphosate like you can!
Will be looking forward to hearing hearing more.
This is all so true! We are no longer in the Garden of Eden, and there is sin and destruction all around us that we can do nothing about; just the sin that’s in our own hearts. I love this picture of redemption… God uses gardens to teach us so many lessons ☺️. This is the victory that overcomes the world- our faith!