First off, last Thursday, we had the Cook Area Garden Club out for a look-see at our homestead. Of course, I was a little nervous…most of these people had beautiful flower beds and weed-free smaller gardens. And, of course, we don’t! Food comes first around here, even though I love my flowers. And even in the garden and berry patch, we have plenty of weeds, but plenty of food, too!

 I waited to pick the ripe crops in the garden so the Club could see and taste different ones. The only problem with that is that when they had come out (all 50+ visitors!), I had to get busy and can.

Wow, did I…DO I! I first put up way-mature green beans — the pigs got quite a few real seedy ones. Then there were pepper rings, pickled peppers, dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, and spaghetti sauce. This afternoon I’ve got to pick more tomatoes for chile. (I think there are bushels of very ripe ones out there laughing at me!)

 Our Garden Club visit was great, though. Folks asked hundreds of very good questions and took notes. Some even took tomatoes and Hansen’s bush cherries home for seed. I introduced a lot of people to Backwoods Home Magazine who had never even heard of it before. All in all, it was fun and I hope to see some of these folks back out for a visit when I can spend more time with individuals. It did give Will and me a little glimpse of what our three-day seminars next year might be like…and it quickly made it evident that we must limit our seminars to 25-30 people…50 was too many to answer all the questions and spend individual time with everyone.

 Well, I’ve got to go for now; the canner is ready to empty so I can fill it up again! Whew. But it’s so satisfying to fill up the pantry with all that good food. — Jackie

7 COMMENTS

  1. Man, I wish my garden had turned out like yours. Between the flooding & the grasshoppers (did I tell you I hate hoppers?) my garden was nonexistant.

  2. Jackie,

    Maybe I should have made it clear that the volunteers I couldn’t kill were tomatoes, not people!!! Ha ha.

    Jackie

  3. Jackie, just a notice, that first pic of the rainbow, if you look, there is another rainbow, you have a pic of a double rainbow! lol! Hope it brings luck on your garden below, but don’t think you need it!

  4. Everything looks great Jackie and Will! Glad you enjoyed the group… you two will put on some great seminars I’m sure. Know how it is with those tomatoes. With about 100 plants, we’re certain that each time we pick the ripe ones, all of those green ones at the front have turned pink!

  5. Jackie, I am still laughing at your caption about having ” . . . volunteers here and there that we just couldn’t kill.” You must have REALLY been stressed! :)

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