Celebrating Halloween

Tonight, we are celebrating Halloween and I wish we had planted pumpkins so that we could have been visited by the Great Pumpkin. Now we probably would be like Linus and never get the visit so we bought a couple of big bags of candy. Foolish Linus and Charlie Brown.

We are celebrating our new production number of 291 pounds 13 ounces because we know the 300 pound mark is definitely in sight and will be a reality. Three hundred pounds, three hundred pounds. I keep rolling that around in my mind and I know I can do much better next year. It also makes you want to rush the seasons and that is not fair.

With the fall season, we have seen great growth in our sugar snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. We also have had a renewed growth of bell peppers because of the respite from the intolerable heat we had this summer.

The newer tomato plants have also shown the coming of the cold weather. They seem to be ripening their tomatoes at a rapid pace in order to get the fruit grown and gone before the "dying of the light".

It has been a great summer and we have produced a lot of vegetables that we enjoyed with friends and family. We have tried new methods, plant cultivar and used old gardening ideas. We know we want to change a couple of things next year, will start earlier and put lime in the boxes this fall so that the good, old fashioned Dolomite lime has a chance to permeate the growing mix.

I can wish for more production, but I know I will probably get to the 315 pound mark with the cole crops. The broccoli is already starting to show the beginning of the heads that we will harvest in the next few weeks. I am happy that I have had the time in the garden and so glad to be back there. Many happy hours of meditation and joy at seeing my plants grow.

I can still say that I am one good organic gardener. At least in my mind and the proof is on my table and in my refrigerator.