Don't be discouraged...

Good morning!

Its Saturday; we've been up since before the sun but its a wonderful day.  :)

Our goal of a simple, self sufficient life has been a roller coaster.  I have a new appreciation for what the pioneering Canadians went through a century and a half ago.... growing a life that is healthy, fulfilling and puts food in your tummy is HARD work.  And not just physically!

Our second summer here - though the first summer with plants in the ground - has been a tough one.  We have seen two months of drought conditions... dry hard earth that has challenged even the hardiest of plants not to mention how rough it has been on animals' hooves and feet.

We also have had our share of pests!  From picking off cabbage loopers early on to finding our poor tomatoes crawling with ugly HORNWORMS!  Acckk!  Leaning away from insecticides, we tried home remedies... but in the end plain old hand picking was what worked.

Our chickens ate these uglies only AFTER I drowned the worms!

At times, I just didn't want to walk through the veggie patch.

But then you know what?  I looked around and counted my blessings.  Our hard work was paying off.  I harvested tons of carrots!  The freezer is full, bunches were given away and I replanted a second bed of these beauties!

Beans and peas were abundant - harvested once and replanted!

I have a pantry FULL of crispy pickles in all kinds of flavours.

And this week's harvest had us eating broccoli and  cauliflower with cheese AND homemade marinara sauce on fresh pasta.

Tomatoes, peppers and onions!

Though I had been feeling pretty low, the last few nights of rain has brightened my outlook and  I can  see we're not out for the count just yet!  These small triumphs put enough fuel in the tank to keep going and show our girls that we can do this.  :)


Jeanette