Man, did we mess up. Big time. We knew this would happen. We just didn’t know where or when or what crop it would be. This year, it was the onions. Our beautiful first big harvest of onions on the tiny, backyard homestead. We wasted the food we grew. We didn’t cure it fully, and didn’t store it properly. Wasting food on the homestead feels so shameful. It feels so counter productive to grow food just to turn around and throw it in the compost or give it to the chickens.
The silver lining is that about 7 or 8 of the onions sprouted green tops. That looked very promising to the failure in my heart. Gratefully, I turned to the internet.
We take such simple conveniences for granted in these easy times. Myself included. I want to write, I just whip out my phone. I’m lucky to even know how to write.
I digress. The whole purpose of us beginning this journey is to find that fruitful harmony with the land. Understanding our earth and how to become more in tune with her. Being good stewards of the land for God, ourselves, and generations to come.
so when you throw 19 onions into the compost pile, your, my, heart sinks a little bit. When it comes to wasting food, that’s a huge pet peeve of mine on our homestead. I grew up not trying not to waste anything, especially food.
From wasting food to sprouting onions
Back to the sprouts I mentioned early. They were the saving grace of this first big fail on the homestead. There no doubt will be more, but for now, a handful are of onions are down and that’s okay, because the new sprouts will become more onions! And each sprouted onion had at least two separate bulbs! Some had up to four which made my heart sing again!
Nonetheless, I was glad to not have everything go to waste. The little guys are now in containers growing some new roots before I plant them indoors for the winter. We may even have a crop before we plant the next batch of bulbs!
This is to remind myself, and maybe you too, to not give up. To make mistakes and embrace the failure because now we can get back up and try again, better this time. Resilience is so important when beginning a homestead. Especially when you have no clue what you are doing, like me. I’m slowly learning that with every little thing we do here on our quarter acre. It’s not much, but it’s home and I love every square inch of it, even if we are wasting food our the homestead.
Winter gardening with gratitude,
Tayler
