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
It is funny that you should mention your green beans not doing well. Here in the high desert of Eastern Oregon ours are struggling as well. I have never had a problem with green beans. We used Blue Lake this year but prefer Strike. It is almost too late to replant here. I would definitely be pushing the limits. But God! My dear sister in Christ, what a blessing you and your family are. Thank you for sharing a piece of real life with us.
Well said, as always thank you for sharing.
God Bless
Nancy ♡
Happy harvesting 🙂
Hi RuthAnn.
As someone who also lives in Iowa, actually not very far from you near Cedar Falls, I have lost two pear trees to the chemical drift and a couple tomato plants that died this year too. Every time I see those farmers spaying toxic chemicals on their fields, I feel like they must not understand how they are destroying their soil for decades to come. I feel sad for the animals that live in and on that soil. I guess the dollars now are more important to them than the implications of poisoning humanity now.
I am saddened that these “farmers” can not figure out a better way to make a living. I am disgusted and upset that I loose my precious food supply to a toxic poisoning of humanity by negligent people. I wish I had your grace and thoughtfulness about these matters. Thank you for the reminder. I appreciate that about your videos.
I will also add that I do have a tunnel. My tomato’s are in that tunnel, but the flaps are all open because its hot in there and the farmers around me dont exactly tell me when they plan on spraying. I currently have 3 tomato plants that have curled leaves and I know they got the poison vapor on their leaves but I had started more tomato plants than I needed so I will toss those out and replace. God does provide doesn’t He?!!
Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful videos!
Beth
I just wish I knew you when I was a child. I’m 66 with grandkids still gardening in Oklahoma. ♥️🙏
All great points: buying from grocery is worse than what we can grow, even if drift of neighboring chemicals, and not living in fear! I love the Philippians passage you mentioned, as well as 2 Timothy 1.7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love & self-control.
As I recall that drift influences the plants and eventually the seeds which may be altered to be pest resistant which is why if I heard correctly they can use farmers who use “their” seeds and otherwise for all purposes and intents shut down the farm. If I’m not mistaken this has happened. What happened in India years ago about all this? Not sure check it out and share…
I became aware of this issue by watching Celebrating Appalachia I don’t have a garden but I am glad to know the problem that is concerning so many of the people trying to grow their own food and being aware of what as consumers we may be buying with out knowing .
I so appreciate your open honesty about your faith and how you live it out practically in your everyday life. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Peace and blessings on you and your lovely family.
AMEN AMEN RUTHANN!!!!
I’m am so encouraged to see your perspective and focus on God and His care in all was for you; not giving into fear.
May God bless your family as you follow Him through this broken world.
Amen Ruthann! My heart breaks for your family, Jessica and her family and all the many other BUT God! The grace and mercy you have show is our heavenly father for sure! What the enemy means for evil God turns for good. He is all knowing and we are told to pray over our food! It isnt an excuse and it doesnt make it right but, this world is fallen and there is sooooo much evil that we dont even know. Thankfully our father protects! Love and prayers to you and your family.
Well said ! Thank you for sharing . I appreciate your insight & it is encouraging. Love & Blessings to you & your family !
Regarding vengeance…if the farmer whose herbicide drifted over your garden had intended to harm you, s/he should be held accountable…maybe. I’m sure that was not the case. Vengeance prolongs your own heart pain, is a very poor example to your children, and would most certainly create enemies of your farming neighbors. Thank you for leaving it in the hands of God!
Franklin D. Roosevelt made the statement “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. I have friends and associates who live in fear constantly. It’s so debilitating!
I’m glad you shared your video on the herbicide issues you have. I so agree with the woman who suggested spraying the plants as soon as you can smell herbicides in the air. It was just what I was thinking as you displayed the damage, only I would use a bit more power than just spraying lightly. I’d give them a good shower (not to knock down the plants, of course). But then I thought that the chemicals would just get washed into the soil, so where is the gain? My personal opinion is that the farmers are fearful people and could work more closely to The Father for better answers. I’ll pray for the perfect solution(s) for your garden, RuthAnn.
Ruthann, I am so blessed to read your blogs and watch your YouTube channel. Besides learning and reminiscing about they way we live and were raised, I absolutely love your sharing of how GOD alone is our provider and protector. May he continue to bless your family and your garden with peace and provision.
Your response is a sermon! God bless you 🙏🏻
We planted two varieties of green beans. Both grew abundantly last year. Hubby planted the Jades FOUR TIMES with zero germination! The Blue Lakes were planted twice with be very poor germination. We gave up for this season.
washing your fruits and vegetables with a cleaner or baking soda whatever you do is gonna be better than what you’re gonna buy in the store and your neighbors are farmers markets will have the same issues. possibly taking something for the toxins there’s a lot of things on the market and trust in God that he is going to keep you healthy and well
Trust in the Lord and he will protect. I love your outlook on everything. God bless.
I am so glad that you shared your experience with herbicide drift. I appreciate your response to this tragic event and how you are choosing to deal with it. God is good all of the time. I believe many people are exposed to herbicides, some are totally unaware of it and some have no idea how to deal with it.
There are probiotics in fermented foods that help our bodies eliminate herbicides and certain chemicals from our bodies. Sauerkraut has the strongest probiotic to remove herbicides from our bodies.
Many plants also remove herbicides from the soil and help it to heal. Indian Mustard, sunflowers and alfalfa are several such plants. Composting with manure speeds up the process significantly. Also, Biotiquest has a product called YieldShield that you can spray on soil and it will break down harmful chemicals like glyphosate.
You are such an incredible human blessed with Godly words and His Spirit to speak through you. I miss hearing you a ton on IG, you’re so incredibly busy these days and so am I, but when I need to hear an audible voice in all the noise to calm me, it’s to your youtube I go. The special thing about that is, it isn’t necessarily YOUR voice and words that are so comforting, it’s because they are washed with the One who holds us all in the palm of His hand and even though some may not know what draws them to you…that’s it. It’s Him. And this article shows it once again. God bless you RuthAnn. Thank you for being you and thank you for being here.
I agree with you about God’s love and protection and that we cannot live in fear. I think fear and stress can cause so many problems in our health, some perhaps worse than others. I don’t believe there is any way possible to avoid all the toxins and problems in this fallen world, but God’s love is everlasting and He has promised us His peace as you said! We can only control what we can control. I am still a work in progress about being judgy at times, though. 🙄 Thank God for His mercy and grace. I am grateful for you and your recipes and the knowledge about homesteading. Thank you so much! ❤️
I love the way you think which is common sense! It seems in this day and age that is gone out the window. Thank you for what you have given all of us. Sharing God infinite love.
I am a new subscriber to both your YouTube channel, and your blog. The Lord has blessed me, by putting your channel in my YouTube feed this week. I thank Him and I thank you.
I try everyday not to live in fear, it’s hard, but your words of wisdom have helped. Thank You!
Whenever I am filled with trepidation and fear for our country and its citizens, my mind and soul roils with questions of what can I do? Will goodness and justice prevail? Will our country survive these new assaults on our freedoms? The only way I find any peace is to turn to God’s words. In the end, His is the ultimate power and our only mission is to pray for His guidance and protection. He will lead the way. Thank you for modeling this message for us!!
Good luck with all those gardening challenges! Your adventures inspire me! God Bless!
Good morning 🙏😊
WELL SAID! Ruthann! I absolutely love and admire your spirit and how you deal with all the things life throws at us. We should all take your lead and always remember that God is good All the time and He protects His people. What a wonderful witness you are to your family and to all of us.
It would be so easy in today’s world to fall into the trap of trying to get revenge or “justice” for all the worlds evil but but in reality it is far better to step back and let God do His work.
Thank you again for sharing. Have a blessed week 🙏
We also have a problem with herbicide drift. Ours comes mostly from two directions, south and west. On the south side of our garden I have planted a row of Russian comfrey which has grown up quite tall and acts as a dense hedge of protection from that direction. Not perfect but at least a first line of defense. On the west I have planted a mixed hedge of native trees and shrubs that not only serve the pollinators but hopefully filter out some of the drift. So far, none of them have succumbed to the drift themselves as they seem more resistant than tender annual plants. I lived in Europe during the Chernobyl crisis and learned at that time that we are totally dependent on God to protect us when there are forces beyond our (meager) control.