Harvest has come to an end for some participants and just beginning a new set of fun for others with the Fall crops. The weather here lately in Eastern Kentucky has lately been cold and rainy. It was a shock to get up last week to find frost on the windshield, there went the tomatoes. Then about a week later we get cold rains and hail. One of my participants wrote a little about how here garden has been doing with the weather changes.
The caner is hissing and the jars are popping, yet the mornings are getting progressively chillier.  I can see the end of my third gardening season rapidly approaching.  As the trees are turning their beautiful fall colors I look out at my once lush garden and see tomatoes throwing a temper tantrum, and the peppers and squash slowing down.  Yet, the late summer planted green beans are giving out their delicious green pods in earnest, and both the spring planted and late summer planted cabbages are standing tall (all foot and a half of it) looking delicious.  My spring planted carrots are looking huge on the surface, and I hold out a Christmas-like hope that the taproot under the soil is long and plump as the tops suggest.
My fall garden is started, albeit a tad late for certain crops, but time shall tell if it works out in my favor or not.  The late planted radishes will be fine and the turnips look wonderful at their whole two-inch height.  The carrot sprouts are adorable, and their late July planted counterparts look great!  The beets are looking small, and could probably use a watering.
Last year at this time I was sorely disappointed with the performance of the garden due to it being all nasty rock-infested, sticky clay dirt – as the word ‘soil’ would indicate life, which none was present.  All the compost and chicken manure I spread out last fall did wonders! This fall I can look out and see tomatoes who produced beautiful fruits, squash who faithfully pumped out enough fruits to feed my family through the summer and even enough to can a batch of soup!  More manure and finished compost this fall is in order and hopefully next year this time I will be remembering back with an even bigger harvest under my belt.
The garden is a blessing which I will never grow weary of, as it gives far more than I put into it.  Not only do those tiny seeds grow beautiful vegetation, but foods which nourish the bellies of my family – some of which seem to be bottomless!  The activity of working in the sunshine and the soil bring peace amongst the chaos of life.  The joy of having little hands helping alongside my own to nurture not only the living plants, but the life within the young heart next to me.