This isn't gardening any more...

I've come to the realize that what I'm slogging away at out in the garden isn't gardening any more.  It's officially Food Production.  While that may not sound much different, my aching back and my calloused hands assure me it is.

This is a scene that gets repeated each day, day in day out...  carrots are dug, pulled up,  greens are stripped, they're tossed in the box, hauled to the hose, dumped, washed and reloaded into baskets to carry inside.   There, they are scrubbed, bagged and finally, stored in the fridge downstairs.  Potatoes are a little easier - no washing or bagging - just box them and put them in the dark, cold corner of the garage.

Oh, the mental wresting I'm doing lately...  it's hard work digging potatoes and carrots from our heavy clay soil day after day.  I'm not whining or complaining...  I'm just saying, that this is serious WORK.  I had a few days of feeling sorry for myself, wondering why on earth I'm busting my chops to grow so much food when we *could * buy what we need.  Then I'd have more time for the million other tasks that need my attention right now.  But like a newborn baby that cries loudly to be fed, these veggies won't keep where they are.  Frost is on it's way and just like a new mother drops what she's doing to feed her baby, I too, am leaving my life behind while I tend to harvesting.

Growing healthy, non genetically modified, organic food to feed a family through the winter is not easy.  Anyone who says it is must know a secret that I don't :)  It's rewarding and satisfying, oh, absolutely, but there is NO denying it, the workload is heavy for one person.

I've come to realize that all this time spent growing food from seed to table is really what we all NEED a little more of.  The general population doesn't give food much thought short of driving to the store, buying it and hauling it home.  As a society, we spend far more time watching television each day than we do sourcing healthy food.  That, in my opinion, is a very grave mistake.

If you don't already know, genetically modified crops are in a very large selection of foods that people buy and consume every day in North America.  Educate yourself on the issue and fight it!  Buy organic food as locally as possible.  KNOW your producers and KNOW what is in your food!  Know how those GMOs affect your health in the short and long term.  Grow your own food, using NON GENETICALLY MODIFIED seed and secure yourself a supply of fresh, delicious, organic food.

It's hard work, YES, but one can't put a price on human and environmental health.  As an added bonus, homegrown food tastes SO MUCH BETTER than store bought.

These strawberries were gobbled down in mere minutes (to the sound of contented groans) when the kids got home from school today.  No store bought berry can even come close to the flavour and juicy sweetness of these homegrown beauties :)