Well, look who’s making a comeback — the garden! After suffering a tragic case of “death by goat” over the July 4th weekend (because nothing says freedom like hoofprints in your broccoli patch), it’s finally pulling itself together. Honestly, I wasn’t sure it would. I nearly held a memorial service next to the compost pile, complete with a eulogy for the fallen vegetables and a moment of silence for the lettuce that never stood a chance.
But hope springs eternal — or at least it re-sprouts if you replant fast enough and glare menacingly at the fence every time a goat walks by. I’ve noticed they don’t make eye contact anymore. They know.
The squash and cucumbers are making up for lost time, flaunting more blossoms than a prom corsage stand. The beans and peas are hustling to prove they belong in the garden and not a petting zoo disaster film. The second-round broccoli and cauliflower are looking cautiously optimistic, probably whispering to each other, “Just lay low. Maybe the goats won’t notice us this time.”
The tomatoes — bless their squashed little hearts — weren’t eaten, just flattened during the great goat evacuation of ’24, when my English Shepherds reenacted the Normandy invasion: barking, snarling, and herding like their diplomas from Dog College were on the line.
And now for the harvest update… drumroll, please…
I picked three green beans today. Yup. Three. Count ‘em: one, two, three. (Yes, I did. Out loud. In the garden. With the dog watching me like I’d lost what was left of my marbles.)
So, naturally, I’m having a Three Bean Salad for lunch. Heavy on the optimism, light on the actual salad. Might have to supplement it with a slice of cheese and a prayer.
But hey — it’s a start. Every garden’s comeback begins with one brave sprout, one hopeful blossom, and a gardener stubborn enough to keep planting, no matter how many goats declare war. Victory gardens didn’t win the war in a day either.
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©2010 Sandy Davis | American Way Farm
4 comments:
My sister makes "Dilly beans". I just made some for the first time, but you have to let them "cure" for a few months. I will get to taste them in August. I've had my sister's dilly beans before and they are delicious. They are pickled, and have some red chili for spiciness. If you are interested I can give you the recipe. :)
I've had them before and they are delicious, but I leave out any hint of hot spicy stuff. Mild taco sauce is too hot for me!
I have a great way to make them - I grow lots of beans (well, I usually do, except for the goats having other plans for them) and give a lot to my neighbor who makes the dilly beans, then gives some back to me. Now isn't that an easy recipe? OK, so I'm lazy. But I prefer to look at it as using my time efficiently. LOL
Reminds me of when I ate the entire year's crop of our cherry and plum trees one year...2 cherries and 5 plums lol
LOL At the "3 Bean Salad"! I missed the Death by goat but I think that was when I was without my PC.. I like the way you make Dilly Beans!! That a good trade!
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