The Harvest is Coming

Potato Garden before Weeding

We have had animal trouble.  The skunks are no more.  I think the garden gate is now secure enough that the groundhog cannot get in.  However,  as I sat in the basement one night in a meeting, the groundhog waved at us in the window.  I have applied pepper around to keep the groundhog at bay, but we will see.  It was reported that while they did not eat crops in the secret garden, deer have bedded down there.  All of God's creation desire a bit of the harvest.

Amaranth- note flower

However, other than some weeds, the potato garden is great!  I had transplanted some muskmelons and they are in bloom.  The cucumbers will soon be flowering.  The potatoes look great!  Compare the two pictures.  You can distinguish the purple potatoes from the reds.  The only issue is the amaranth.  This was an experiment in nontraditional grain.  As you can see, some of it has started to flower.  That would be fine, except it should be about five times as high.

Purple Potatoes - Note color

Snap Peas between potatoes

At the congregational garden,  things are picking up.  The tomatillos have fruit.  Some of the tomatoes are starting to blossom.  The beans are up.  Cabbage is making a slow recovery.  The second planting of beets are beginning to emerge from the soil along with parsnips, root parsley, and carrots.  We will be picking greens on Thursday including perpetual spinach, rhubarb chard, and beet greens.  There may be some lettuces as well.  The early onions are almost ready, but I think we will wait until next week.

Listen and hear my voice;

    pay attention and hear what I say.

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When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?

    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?

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When he has leveled the surface,

    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?

Does he not plant wheat in its place,

    barley in its plot,

    and spelt in its field?

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His God instructs him

    and teaches him the right way.

Cucumber

Muskmelon

In Isaiah 28:23-26, there is an extended comparison between the way a farm is planted and how Israel is to behave.  We have broken up our soil and had even two plantings so far.  There may be some more planting, but the in farming and the work of the Lord, there are right ways to do things. If the farmer keeps planting melons in August, there will be no crop.  In like way, if we do not do things according to the plan of the Lord, we may well end up in disaster.  In the text, Israel sought to trust in countries, rather than the Lord.  Ultimately the harvest of Gan Am Messiah and in our lives is based on our trust in the Holy One.

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