Another Cycle Begins

 As the light rain falls on the Corn and Peas we planted yesterday I take some time to reflect on last years garden. Like most years there were some things that did well and others that did not. The Cilantro and Basil did not germinate well, the beans all got the Mosaic Virus, and the Squash and Cucumbers died from Squash Mildew but not  before yielding 29 Butternut Squash and 37 quarts of pickles and all the Cucumbers that we could eat. All else did fantastic. From a 6,300 Square Foot garden we ate all we wanted and stored the surplus for Winter. We canned :
  28 quarts of Tomato Juice
  18 pints of Salsa
  10 pints of Ketchup
  We froze:
  19 quarts of Spaghetti Sauce
  6 gallons of Tomatoes
  10 pints of Shell Beans
  10 pints of  Peas
  11 pints of Sugar Snap Peas
  In the cellar we put in:
  1 1/2 bushels of Carrots
  1 1/2 bushels of Beets
  2 bushels of Rutabagas
We dehydrated 11 quarts of Tomatoes and 11 gallons of Mushrooms, canned 4 quarts of Mushrooms and pickled 10 pints of Fiddle heads that we wild harvested.
  We made 10 pints of Pear Butter and 12 pints of Peach Jam from trees around the neighborhood that have been abandoned.
  We made:
  4 gallons of Raspberry Wine
  5 gallons of Rhubarb Wine
  5 gallons of Dandelion Wine
  5 Gallons of Pear Wine
  5 Gallons of Elderberry Wine
  5 gallons of Peach Wine
  We planted Byron Flint Corn which we ate all Winter and still have enough to last two more Years.
  We raised 30 LaRouge Broiler Chickens for the freezer
  Some of our bounty is long gone and some is still bountiful. We are adjusting, and planning and planting,singing and celebrating as the new Season unfolds.
  It is indeed Magnificent to bring the cycle around full.