August Reflections
This summer has been so full of blessings! We’d like to highlight just a few:
RAIN: Until the first week of August, we went the entire year without once needing to use our irrigation system to keep the blueberry and blackberry plants adequately watered! This was a huge blessing logistically, as we have been working hard to set up our well and pump house for irrigating purposes, but have yet to be able to connect it to the system.
FLOWERS: Though initially our flower garden struggled due to wet Spring weather patterns, we’ve since had an abundance of beautiful flower varieties that bravely weathered rainstorms and wind to bring us pops of color among a sea of green, and to provide our bees with sources of pollen and nectar - which they desperately needed.
HONEYBEES: Speaking of bees, ours have been busy little workers. We’ve monitored their hives, and we are so grateful to God for helping them be strong against disease and pests!
HEALTH: It’s no small inconvenience to be sick when the land needs to be tended to, so we are reminded again of God’s goodness in keeping us all in good health throughout this summer.
SOURDOUGH: As we transitioned from berry season to property maintenance season (the berries may have finished producing, but we’ve only just begun to weed, fertilize, and maintain!), we took up a more expansive approach to sourdough: instead of baking bread only, we’ve been creating fiber-rich tortillas, wholesome chocolate chip cookies, decadent peanut butter cookies, fluffy English muffins, delicious chocolate zucchini muffins, flaky all-butter pie crust, and everybody’s favorite - bagels! This has been such a fun adventure, one that we hope to continue from now until February, when pruning and preparation season begins.
CANNING: Ever since our children were small we’ve been “putting up” spaghetti sauce, applesauce, green beans, and other foods that keep well using a water bath or pressure canning method. This year we’ve canned blueberry jam (to sell and for our family), and the during the month of August we canned over 30 jars of spaghetti sauce using our favorite family recipe. This winter we will be so grateful for the hours spent slicing tomatoes and onions when we get to pop open a jar of sauce for a quick weeknight dinner that tastes like it came fresh from our garden!
COLLABORATION: We are amazed at the acts of kindness we’ve experienced this summer - from fellow vendors at the farmer’s market helping one another and giving of what they have to offer, to the sweetest girl, Reagan Lowery, graciously volunteering her time to create social media posts that help our brand become more widely recognized in the Greeneville area - our hearts are bursting at the seams with how contented we feel to be exactly where we are right now!
COMPANIONSHIP: This month Rod and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary! We can honestly say that we love each other more each passing year, and we are humbled to be on this journey of life together. We have been through extremely difficult times, and moments that were full to the brim with joy. Through it all, we know that God’s hand has been upon us. We wouldn’t be who we are without our gracious Savior watching over us, and we hope our lives point others upward until the day we go to be with Him.
FRIENDS: Perhaps one of the greatest blessings of all has been our continued gathering of authentic friendships with those from our church family. Our daughter came to live and work with us almost a year ago, and our small group welcomed her with open arms. When one of our sons lost his home by a housefire in January, they were there before the ashes cooled with supplies and essentials. As the weather turned colder and frost threatened our budding blueberry bushes this Spring, they came with moving blankets and willing hands to save our crop. Week after week we set up at Depot Street Farmer’s Market prayerfully hoping to sell what we brought, and our friends came to support us by purchasing berries and baked goods all season long. We have been continually reminded that the body of Christ cannot be contained in one building, and we are so thankful to be part of a community who knows how to love each other well!
