June 21st – June 27th, Week 13
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 21st to June 27th, WEEK 13
This week my mom was visiting from Pennsylvania. She spent a day at my house and of course we took a walk to the garden. We each ate a cucumber, admired the radish blossoms that were covered with honeybees and other pollinators. She confirmed that the English peas were done producing and then she pulled a handful of beautiful red beets and we added them to our dinner menu. We watched the Honey bees enjoy the radish and cucumber blossoms And my heart was made happy.
What we harvested this week:
- 1.5 bushels English Peas which gave us another 8 pounds of blanched peas for our freezer. This brings our total to over 30lbs of peas harvested.
- Spring onions (fresh eating)
- Lettuce (fresh eating)
- Snap peas (by the handful for snacking)
- As many cucumbers and we can eat.
- Red beets for fresh eating
Other Garden Tasks:
- Tore out all the English peas, and the baler twine/steel t-post trellis we had built for them. The pigs and chickens were happy for a mid-day treat.
- Planted (where the peas were) 20 lbs. of Kennebec potatoes; this is our winter storage variety of potatoes.
- The green beans I replanted came up so sparsely again, I transplanted all the beans into one row, making room to try a different variety and a third try to grow enough green beans to fill our family’s needs.
Reflections
After sharing last week, here in the garden diary and on YouTube, about the herbicide damage our garden has received, I have received many messages. Most of them are compassionate, kind, and encouraging, some are suggestion we seek vengeance, some are concerned about us consuming the food in the gardens. My mind starts spinning with the good suggestions, the opportunities for vengeance seeking and slowly fear and worry start to creep in.
What about growing in a high tunnel or greenhouse?
This seems like a good idea at first until I remember that it is June and all the venting systems would be wide open allowing for herbicide drift or vapor to enter the same way it enters the garden.
What about watering or using a sprinkler system to ‘rinse the plants?’
This is a great idea! And one that I will implement in the future! The problem will be to decide when to water! I believe if I lightly rinse the most sensitive plants, like tomatoes whenever I smell herbicides in the air, I might be able to make a difference!
Should the family and I not go barefoot on our property until after we have received rains?
We have heavy dew each morning that washes the grass and if we are concerned about being barefoot then we should also be concerned about touching anything else on the property. Also remembering the how great God’s creation really is has helped me not live in fear, what is greater here? The energy and healing power of God’s earth or the manmade thing that is herbicide.
Should we not eat the cucumbers and other veggies that are coming from our garden?
If we aren’t eating the fruits and veggies from our gardens, then we are going to purchase them. The options are; purchasing from the grocery store, where more than herbicides have been used to grow, and ship the fruits and veggies. Locally grown, where every garden and field lives in the same herbicide fog that we do. It is hard to believe that this is a better option for our family.
Every time my mind starts running through all the options I come back to what I know to be true about God’s Character and His word.
Fear is not of God. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
And finally, while some are called to be warriors, to go to battle, to march around the city until the walls fall. I do not feel that calling.
The beautiful thing about living in God’s will is understanding that not everyone has been given the same calling and conviction. Instead of falling into the trap of judging those that have been given different giftings, talents and callings I want to cheer on those that are walking in God’s will for their own life rather than try to convince them that they should be making decisions that reflect my calling.
33 Responses
Good afternoon- we always enjoy your videos. Our family did English shell peas again this year, with about 3 gal shelled in the end. We planted Dual from Berlin Seed Co. My garden rows are 30’ long and I planted six rows. I was curious how this compares to yours. Our peas sort of die on the vine and we only do one planting/harvest.
Any tips
And info would be greatly appreciated!
Just a thought, would the farmer be willing to let you know when he was going to be spraying? Although I do believe that some may come from further away. Thank you for sharing everything that you do!
Hi Ruth Ann, I just love your way of thinking and your unwavering faith in our Lord. Have you just decided to use water to wash the garden so to speak?
Amen, And how very awesome you have been given that wisdom , god tels us to ask for wisdom and when we ask and are given we have a responsibility to do what the Holy spirit directs us to do, which as you said will be something different for each of us.
God Bless and happy Gardening
A regulatory agency will be able to tell you what is safe. They can find out what chemicals were sprayed in the air. The label tells how many feet you need to be away from the property line. They are not allowed to spray to the edges of their property. The farmer needs to stop doing that. Are they even aware of the damage to you? My heart goes out to you and your family as you cope with a danger that you did not create or welcome. But saying nothing, and letting it happen over and over, is not your only desirable option. When Joel Salatin’s neighbor let his dogs loose to run all over Joel’s farm, destroying plants and animals, he would not give them back until the neighbor paid for the damage. Now the neighbor does not let his dogs run loose. If your neighbor pays for damages, he/she may begin to find a way to spray that does not cost so much in reimbursement. Give your neighbor the opportunity to make it right.
Thank you for your garden update. I wonder…have you spoken to uour neighbors? Are they aware of the dangers? Not only to your family but to themselves as well. As a cancer survivor, I have listened to Joel Salatin and Dr. Sina McCullough, our food chain has been deeply compromised. I trust God and what he has created for us to eat however not everyone has listened to current information and what the products are actually doing to the human body. Somehow, I see a round table meeting of some sort just to give the farmers something to chew on. Maybe some of them will start to listen!
I will continue to pray for all of you.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
https://homeopathyplus.com/agrohomeopathy-an-introduction-to-healing-plants-and-planet-with-homeopathy/
https://learning.wholehealthag.org/agro-homeopathy-webinar
Ruthann, I had overspray/Drift damage on my peppers and tomato plants and treated them with Homeopathic Medicine Arsenicum Album 30c within a very short time they had healthy new growth and looking vibrant and healthy. I did a quick search for links for you. God’s creation has always been amazing, but when I learned about Homeopathy –made from elements God created it BLEW MY MIND!! His CREATION IS MUCH MUCH MORE AMAZING THAN I CAN EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE!! I would love to talk to you about this gift from God!!
I know with your exposure to so many families, God will use you to bless so many with homeopathy for gardens and healthy families! LET’s talk. I’m your north neighbor near Northfield, MN and sister in Christ! I also have used and distrubuted Shaklee(for 35 years) on our little farm and family homestead that you have helped grow in so many ways. Grateful for you! And seeking to bring Glory to God with you!! Cindy
Ruthann, I believe you handled this problem correctly and with a godly attitude. I incourage you to continue to respond to folks like you have. Good for you! I enjoy your emails. Thank you for sharing and God bless you!