DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?!
Has anyone else wondered what they were thinking when they remember the ginormous amount of food they just planted? I having that right now as I remind myself about the 54 cabbage seedlings I have on my steps. LOL
Comments
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@COWLOVINGIRL Hahaha! Do you love sauerkraut? That was my first thought when I saw your number of cabbage seedlings.
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Yes, or else every friend, family member and neighbor is going to be getting a care package from you in a few months.
The most unfortunate part of gardening is the seasonal formula you always hear about. So when you garden you nurse, tend, pray and work with every plant for weeks to months and then they all tend to ripen to harvest all at the same time. Then you stand there and are so proud of yourself because you made it happen.
Now you have 54 heads of cabbage and you wonder what am I supposed to do?
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@greyfurball yep. When I was a kid, mom had a huge garden. I hated those weeks where too much stuff needed to be canned at the same time.
Of course, we ate off of that garden all winter, so it was a good thing, but there were some looong kitchen days in the heat of summer.
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Where I grew up, folks always grew more than they needed. They would put up a sign, "Honor garden. Take what you need, pay what you can." Or, they would share with neighbors and such. I knew one man who purchased 20 acres and planted just for the old folks, widows and single mothers in his community - no charge; he wouldn't accept a penny, even if he had to deliver to their doors. In return, he was bombarded with cakes, pies, jams, etc... which he would then share all winter. He was a good man. He lived outside of Altavista, VA. My car ran hot and I ended up stopping in front of his house. I had barely popped the hood, when he came out with his tools to help. What makes it more incredible is that he worked in a factory all night. Most folks would sleep all day, but he spent his time caring for others. The world needs more men like him. I've known a few, mostly old farmers in the rural south, who cared for everyone in their communities just like family.
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Our family has always planted a huge garden for as long as I can I remember and the excess produce - fresh and canned - was distributed to family and friends and neighbours. I still continue the tradition as I have not learned how to not plant everything that actually sprouts lol!
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@COWLOVINGIRL That is fantastic! As others have said above, that gives you the opportunity to share generously with others...or barter! Bartering can be so fun. You could even trade seedlings for something unique or that you forgot to plant.
You could give some to a friend & start a growing contest with them!
We give excess eggs to a friend who cannot work. His favorite food just happens to be...eggs! It is so fun to give & he truly appreciates it. Those are the folks I love to directly support in this way, the ones who aren't greedy & use others & take generosity for granted. He gives us much joy in return, and that is immeasurable. He has become like family now over the years. 😄
One year, I was given more tomatoes than I could use. I donated them to the local foodbank. You might want to check if you can donate fresh produce to yours. They are needing more food than ever right now.
I had been given an excess of apples another year. I put away a lot of apples and still had too many! It was good to share those as well.
We have given saskatoons away just recently, and I am hatching out a few silkie chicks to give a young man who had trouble hatching his.
Yesterday, we arranged to barter some excess with another family. We will have so much fun!
Generosity is an excellent character trait & one that I have been re-cultivating. It has been rewarding & I plan to continue looking for more opportunities. I would encourage you to do the same where you can.
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@COWLOVINGIRL good for you, you'll be the cabbage queen of your town. So nice to share, barter, give back. Well done.
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Thanks @jodienancarrow!
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Every single time! Seems like I over plant and then look at the seeds or seedlings i have left to plant and ask myself where in the world am I going to plant these??? I tend to have the same sentiments about garden space as most people do about money. How much would make me happy? Just a little bit more than I have right now. :)
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I totally get it naomi.kohlmeier! Me too!
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@COWLOVINGIRL I've heard that you can dehydrate cabbage just like other greens, and even make chips like kale chips. I haven't tried it, though.
I had over 100 kale transplants this spring. I start them in plastic jugs or boxes, then transplant into individual pots. I transplanted them very young because the container was getting too crowded; I didn't expect very many to live. The vast majority did, around 70 went into my garden, and I went around begging everyone to take the rest. Most of the plants were so vigorous that it was a shame to let them die.
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@judsoncarroll4 I wonder what the world would be like if the vast majority of people were as caring as that man.
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I would love to be able to grow enough to give away a bunch like that! We give a few eggs to a friend in abundant weeks, and I have given her cherry tomatoes too, but I can't get enough of anything else going! I believe we are here to care for each other, and I love seeing how gardeners do it. ❤️
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@COWLOVINGIRL thats a lot of kale! Mine was jammin and then came along those nasty white moths that left behind little green worms that quickly became very hungry big worms. Kale now a disaster! Disappointing because I wanted to share with a friend who loves the stuff!
Do you have a problem with those worms?
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soeasytocraft I don't right now. Have you tryed diatomaceous Earth?
P.S. am I spelling that right?!
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@judsoncarroll4 a lady in my daughters town does the honor system. I think that’s fabulous. It sounds like you’ve spent time around some beautiful folks. It’s wonderful that the gentleman knew how to grow, shared and those he shared so generously returned his kindness with goods he could also use or give. What a great concept.
@COWLOVINGIRL do you have a root cellar or long term storage area for some, ferment
@Cornelius im thinking it would be a beautiful place to be. There is so much hate, greed, and selfishness today it’s so heartwarming to know these people still exist.
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maimover I don't have a root cellar but I do have a basement that stays pretty cool.
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I think I ask myself that question every day @COWLOVINGIRL. In my mind I think "this won't take long at all"...if only my body could really do all that! The simple things aren't always simple. But it is so nice to share with family, friends and neighbors. Giving is so much better than receiving. It doesn't matter if it is excess plants, produce, other food, crocheted items, herbs, there is always someone who can use it. So we just keep plugging on, right lol?
It does a heart good to see so many caring people when all we tend to hear about from the world is negativity.
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😉 Yes, you are! "Diatomaceous" it is!
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Everyone around here seems to plant more than we need. Oddly, we don't all plant the same thing. We exchange food, give food away, put food up, or...
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