I Ate Radishes on Saturday!

I ate radishes on Saturday! Yes! They were from our very own garden too! It is such a wonderful feeling to eat the first fruits of our labors each summer. I have never grown radishes before, but upon learning the food value and how quick they grew-- I had to try. I found out that the pioneers would almost always plant radishes when they settled in an area. It was the first thing to be planted and thrived in most soil.

The thought came to mind that we all need to be like those wonderful rubies of the garden and bloom and grow where we're planted. We are doing our best in our new little town. The dear friends we have made will hold a very special place in our hearts for years to come.

The garden we have this year is on a piece of property owned by an older couple who have been so generous. We have shared in the planting, weeding and now in the harvesting. It has been a wonderful experience so far. We will have more veggies than I can put in a jar or freeze very soon. Which means we can share with other families who are struggling in our area. So many are finding it hard to make ends meet. Do plant a garden this year, I know you'll be surprised just how much you can grow, even if it's in a flower pot on the back porch overlooking the highway.

A friend of mine had no yard and placed her "rubies" in hanging flower pots in the tree overhanging her balcony! I had never heard of such a thing, but it worked! She turns the pots each week to get the best sunlight. Wow, am I ever amazed!

Our family has taken stock of the skills we have to keep us afloat in these uncertain economic times. Growing our own food and processing it all is one of those skills. Baking foods from scratch has stretched our dollar so we can pay for the extremely high gas prices. It has been a blessing.

So, in the days ahead I'll be including a gardening tip I've learned by trial and error. I'll also include a recipe or two that will help you keep costs down. This week I'm trying to find the perfect recipe for yogurt. I love the stuff!

I pray you all can help your neighbor or extended family during these tough times. Pray for each other, reach out to those in need. Comfort those who's burdens seem too hard to overcome. If you listen to that still small voice, you'll know who needs you the most.