The Final Garden Phase: Indifference

Well, I guess the final stage would be eating all the food you've put up, but that's kind of a given.

It's this phase before the eating (although, we've already started eating some things) that is so tough for me.  It starts out tough because you go from running around like a chicken with their head cut off (though we do not let our chickens run around like this) canning and freezing everything in sight.  One day this summer, I actually found a little plastic toy lady in the freezer and had to stop and think whether or not it could have been me that put her there.

 

Swiss chard and weeds.

Once I get used to days without canning sessions, I get garden-lazy.  My days entail sitting and doing school with the kids and it's so easy to to ignore what is left out there.  I don't ignore the garden completely.  I mean, I use what I can so we still get fresh vegetables on our dinner plates, but in terms of dealing with it like I should, well, that's where I get indifferent.

Stevia going to seed.  We think that's okay.

Thankfully, Jamey does not have a lazy bone in his body.  He makes sure the important stuff (sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, peppers) get stored away or placed on my kitchen counter- he knows I will deal with it then.  But, there are a few projects that are mine, all mine.

Spinach and weeds.  Did I fail to mention I stopped weeding a long time ago?

For example, out in the garden right this very moment is a lot of chard and spinach I should freeze.  There is basil and oregano I also want to freeze.  There is stevia that should soon (not quite yet) be hung to dry and be prepared.  I just can't bring myself to do it.  These are the easiest projects of all- shouldn't that make them easier to do??  Call me lazy, call me unappreciative, call me tired of dealing with produce.  Any of those would be accurate, I guess.  And, it's probably a large part of why I haven't been writing about the garden much lately....

Basil and weed.

The one thing I cannot be indifferent about is the fact that this weekend, Jamey's parents are bringing us 8 bushels of apples that we will make into applesauce.  And, they are planning to help us, bless their hearts.  I can't ignore that I need to come up with jars and freezer containers to hold this applesauce as well as freezer and pantry space with which to store it.  No, no.  I can't ignore any of this.

So, as of yesterday morning, I have 80 quart jars washed and ready.  I have figured out that I have room in our chest freezer for 45 quarts and almost enough room in the pantry for the jars (the rest will get stored elsewhere).  Jamey picked up groceries yesterday and on his list were the remaining dozens of canning lids we will need.

I think I'm ready.  Are you ready?  Oh.  Did you forget you are coming to help?

Once the applesauce is done, I must, I tell you must, get to those other projects.  If I don't, it will frost and I will lose much if not all of it.  Once I get my bum in gear and get that done, I will sit down and tally up our harvest totals for the year.

And that, my friends, is when I'll be done.  I don't know where you all live, but there's a good chance you'll hear me whoop for joy from wherever you are. Pin It