Journey Circle Newsletter: November 2009: Vol 12

Life in retirement is especially busy. So many things I want to do in the final years. One thing I am doing more and more is committing to the "self-sustaining" lifestyle of growing and preserving my own food.

Our garden this year proved to be outstanding in it's field. I am still harvesting onions and broccoli.
We canned 324 jars of food and 95% was from our own garden. We also filled two large freezers with veggies and herbs. It is fun going to the grocery store when you spend only a few dollars a week.

I know, I know!! People say, what about the money you spend on the garden plants, and you can't forget the time out there digging in the dirt. That all has to be considered but here is the good part.

We save seeds from the food we plant, so our seed costs are minimal.

We use all our garbage and leaves in compost, so our fertilizer is free.

We use garlic spray for bugs, so that cost is way down there.

The plants we did buy this year were part of my birthday present.

Our grapevines that were planted several years ago, provide us with fruit enough for the whole neighborhood.

Apple trees, we have eight, pear trees we have two large and two babies, also feed the masses.

As you can see, we had a good year, and so did the neighborhood.

Another feature of planting, harvesting, and preserving is the fact that you do not need to have a gym membership for exercise. There is plenty of that in the yardwork. Garden food, if served in it's natural state has very few calories. Why I have been known to eat my way through the day while working in the garden, and not gain an ounce.

A small garden can be easy and cost effective. You just have to make it that way. The benefits are tremendous.

Just to let you know, I still am able to get the Christopher product line if any of you need products and cannot find them elsewhere.

Seed catalogs should begin arriving any day now. After all, it is November.

Till we meet again, Have an herbal life.

Bonnie