Harvesting the Garden

Each morning and evening now, I have the pleasure of harvesting fresh vegetables from my garden. This morning, I picked (either from the vine or off the ground) a few hearty large red tomatoes and a few cherry ones, as well as a bunch of green beans. Yesterday, the harvest also included some cucumbers. Indeed, Monday evening, our barbequed chicken was accompanied by a plate full of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers freshly brought down from the garden. I have to admit that eating the fruits of my labor (even if those fruits may be vegetables) creates a certain satisfaction and adds to the delightful taste of each bite. Soon I will have to face the decision of what to do with the tomatoes that will ripen at a pace that exceeds our ability to eat them ourselves. Gaspacho (but then the tomatoes will lose their individuality), as part of various recipes (but then the tomatoes will be sliced and diced, and baked and will lose the thrill and benefits of their freshness) or as gifts (which will allow me to spread the wealth of homegrown tomatoes). There remain over 75 ripening large beauties and as many of the cherry variety, so I will have the decision to make. And then, what to do with the carrots if they ever reach maturity. What a wonderful problem to have.

Thought for the Day: It is said that you reap what you sow, but the reality is that you don't always know how much you will have the opportunity to reap. In some cases, you are lucky enough to have a large harvest. In other cases, even with plans and work, the harvest is not what you had hoped for. In each of these cases, the trick is to enjoy whatever may come and make the best of it. Another thought, when you are blessed with a wealth of product (whether fruits and vegetables, opportunities, money, material goods, knowledge or otherwise), there is an obligation to share that wealth. No new or deep thoughts here, just a clear truth. The challenge is in how that obligation is analyzed and put into practice.