When it comes to work on the farm, I often use the phrases “pick and choose” and “cut my losses.” I can’t do everything. This is a reality of life, whether you have a farm or not.
When I picked the barn cleanout as my priority for this spring, I knew the timing would coincide with garden prep season. The result is that the gardens have had very little attention.
I managed to pretty much prune the raspberries (something I usually do in the fall). I weeded a little bit around the rhubarb, asparagus and raspberries. And when mowing season started I pushed the mower into the vegetable garden. I have also spent a bit of time in every flower garden, but haven’t made it completely through any of them.
It is time to pull out another phrase and cut my losses. So I’m crossing the vegetable garden off my list for this year. We had a beautiful asparagus harvest–our best yet. I’m hoping for good raspberry and grape harvests again. But that’s it. I’m not going to plant the garden this year.
I will mow as much as I can to avoid it being completely overrun. I will try to weed the raspberries every so often so that we can get to them to pick. But I don’t feel up to doing more right now.
This is where picking and choosing come in. I’ve picked my priority. I can’t choose everything. So in making my choice, I let other things go–cut my losses.
When I want to put my hands in the dirt and make some progress outside, I have plenty of flower gardens that can use the attention. And Matt’s Dad has stepped up and offered Ellie some space in his garden. She loves growing things, but she’s not into the work of a garden yet, so help from Matt’s Dad means a lot.
I’m a bit disappointed. Every year I hope that I will make some headway on the garden and get it to a point where it’s more manageable and productive. To miss another year pushes that goal farther out again. But a garden takes time, and this year I don’t have that time. So rather than keeping it on my list and letting it take up space in my brain, I’m crossing it off. As I do that, I’m also a bit relieved.
Someday we will have a beautiful, productive garden and the time to care for it. But not this year.
Home on 129 Acres 
I’ll add another phrase – out of sight, out of mind. I have two flower garden beds that I can’t quite see from the house, which is fine because I also can’t quite find the time to manage them well. After a few years of this neglect they’re full of grass and goldenrod, plus one is covered in creeping bellflower while the other wallows in Vinca minor. I’ve also cut my losses…. My small veggie garden, on the other hand, gets much attention, mainly because I’m trying to save a few bucks at the grocery store.
That’s a good one. I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one prioritizing some areas or projects over others.
Your are smart Julia in accepting cutting your losses, as we all must do in one way or another.
As you said, you canât do it all. Nobody can.
What you have achieved in growing delicious asparagus (yum) with a harvest of raspberries and grapes to follow this season is wonderful. Maintaining your vegetable garden, along with flower gardens, is something you can take pride in seeing the rewards in keeping it manageable for you.
Even if I had more space in my garden in which to grow vegetables (which Jaro and are a big fan of) my energy level at this point is in keeping on top of what I do have growing in the garden. That being a backyard perennial garden, small front garden, 16 garlic bulbs and one cherry tomato plant. In working on keeping these gardens in check I feel satisfied that they look nice which is rewarding enough. Iâm able to accept my loss in not maintaining a vegetable garden too for Jaro and myself to enjoy as well.
How lovely that Mattâs Dad is opening space in his vegetable garden for Ellie to grow some of her own veggies. Special in more than just the process of growing produce is in spending additional time together. Treasured moments for granddaughter, grandfather and yourself.
This weekend we enjoyed spending time with our grandchildren. Watching Jaro and William having a fun one on one game of catch warmed my heart.
Happy gardening Julia ! Enjoy the quality not the quantity of your efforts.
Pam
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Energy and quality are good measures as well, Pam. Thanks for the reminder.
Loss cutting = sanity saving! I can’t remember what you did this summer with the garden, but I’m betting the weeds were still waiting for you 😉
This was another pick and choose year, and the vegetable garden didn’t make it on the list again. I’ll get to it eventually, but for now I will save my sanity, as you say.