Simple Living (Part 4)
When my husband and I visit Amish country, I’m always amazed when I see my Amish friend’s vegetable gardens. Besides the abundant crops that will help feed their family, their gardens are virtually weed-free.
This summer my husband and I decided to plant most of our garden in raised-beds, which has worked out quite nicely. So far we have harvested several cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, and a few tomatoes. We are still waiting for our onions, peppers, beets, carrots, and spaghetti squash to be ready for picking. In our larger garden area, which is entirely fenced in and covered with netting to keep the birds out, we’ve had a bumper crop of blueberries, most of which are in the freezer now. These, we will enjoy this winter.
One way to live more simply is to grow a garden. If you don’t have room in your yard, you might consider planting vegetables in pots. Nothing tastes so good as freshly picked homegrown produce.
Do you enjoy gardening? If you have a garden of your own, what have you harvested so far?
Enjoy your fresh vegetables! I love your books. They are the best.
Unfortunately the only plants I can keep alive are artificial! I do enjoy buying fresh produce from the Corner Market in our town. Our Corner Market also carries Amish baked goods, fresh milk in glass bottles and local cheeses, as well as organic beef and pork. They have the BEST melons! The Corner Market is the closest to gardening I can get!
I love reading your journal entries and I love your books ….I would love to make it to one of your book signings
I used to love gardening. But with having back surgery last year it’s hard to bend and twist. I crochet instead. I grew up gardening and live it. Canned things every year.
Unfortunately, this year we did not grow a garden. We want to do raised beds. Being busy with the kids and my oldest now working took away from that. By the time I thought about it, it was too late. Next year project! I love visiting our local Amish stands or Farmers Market to get our veggies.
My husband and I have tried several times to plant a garden. The birds, squirrels and other critters tend to get to the vegetables before we can. We also have had problems with bugs attacking the plants. I have also tried to plant in pots, but the birds and squirrels will get to these too. Now I just go to farmers markets or local orchard to get my vegetables.
My mom enjoys gardening and I do a little, as well. We have harvested some green beans and also some lettuce. We also have a patch of flowers in our garden.
I love your new book, The Protector. I am half way through it and have a hard time putting it down. Thank you for your time and effort in writing your many books.
We only grow tomatoes now. We plant them in containers. This summer we have had several. The heat has slowed them down some. We will have more ripe ones in a few days.
I am so
Looking forward to reading this book
Then sharing it with my daughter
Hello, I read variety of books.
When I read Amish fiction you are my favorite. Thanks to you and your support of other authors, I have found new authors to enjoy and expand my love of books. Thank You so much keep up the wonderful writing.
Thank You for always giving a chance to win a book May God Bless you and your family. –
Angela
I love to garden. Freezing fruits and veggies to use in the winter months is refreshing and I enjoy the taste they have. I love having fresh corn to use in recipes or alone. Fresh zucchini to us in breads and oatmeal. Amazing. I love the simply things in life. Reading your novels is one of my favorite thing to do. Thank God for your amazing talent. Love and blessings to you and your family.
I love fresh garden veggies! My favorite is string beans. I travel to my mom’s house and we spend time stringing beans. We then can them. Last year I canned 4 dozen quart jars of beans just for my house. The grandkids love.
I love gardening too! I live in Pennsylvania also and always love the fresh eggs and markets that are available to me here. We have only a few Amish nearby. Most of our markets are run by Old Order River Brethren or German Baptists which are similar but not as strict as the Amish. I live in Franklin County but grew up in Berks County. My father was born in Lancaster County and my parents are buried there. I enjoy reading your fiction and historical fiction. My garden is suffering from the heat but I still have managed to harvest cucumbers, beets, onions and zucchini so far. My tomatoes are slow in coming. Thank you for sharing!
Gardening is not something I enjoy. It seems like everything I plant never produces. I have beautiful strawberry plants but not one strawberry for 2 years. However, I do have a rose bush I love tending to. It has beautiful pink roses and smells so good when I am near it.
I have visited Amish counties several times, on bus trips. In PA and Ohio
Always I’m amazed at their garden, so clean; Flowers too. So touched by their work ethnics!! Very neat and well kept.
The families are a joy to watch.
And the food is amazing, in private homes and restaurants.
I never get tired of visiting that area.
Interesting to hear and learn about the religious practices and heritage.
I have grown a garden with my children for the last 10 years. We have a 30×30 garden with a variety of veggies and fruit. Growing a garden has taught my children and I many wonderful lessons and has really challenged our thinking of what is truly important in life. I have also been able to teach my children how to preserve food as well as how to keep bugs and pest away without using many harmful chemicals.
I’m not currently a gardener, but would love to learn more about it. I always enjoyed helping my grandparents when I was a child. I have already read your new book and can’t wait for the new one to come next year!
I grow herbs and flowers here in Oklahoma.
Nancy Anderson
Oklahomanaomi@yahoo.com
Have been to Lancaster County many times and have enjoyed every trip and been to Bellville enjoy the trips to Amish country and reading your books.
We garden every year, but I cannot keep up with the weeds. They just grow and grow. This year no rain and 3 does took care of most of what I grew, but deer don’t eat zucchini.
We’re moving to a new home soon with a large yard where I hope to start a garden! Thanks for the inspiration.
We will be in western Pennsylvania this month where there are Amish in Somerset county and Indiana county. My husband’s uncle used to be a driver for the Amish and they purchased his farm when he retired. I enjoy Smicksburg but haven’t been able to visit for quite a while.
I’ve always loved gardening but after being diagnosed with lupus I had to give it up.I have a small rose 🌹 garden that I love and keep up as best I can.I also have my bird feeders and hummingbird feeders.lots of them right now.
Wanda, thank you so much for all the wonderful and inspiring books, I inherited my beloved mom’s collection of your books. After reading just one, I then became a fan as well. My mother and I met you and your husband in the Sugarcreek flee market In September of 2012 and you signed her book. She was so thrilled, It was a really great day for her and I was thankful we were able to get there that day she smiled so much it really meant a lot for her.
My journal entry: My husband and I live in a rural area and lucky enough to have room enough to raise a garden. We have harvested yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumbers. We are retired and have some health problems so our garden is not as large as it use to be. I enjoyed reading all Amish books. I admire the Amish for their beliefs and faith in the Lord.
Gardening is definitely hard work. Fresh produce that you’ve grown yourself tastes so much better.
Growing up we raised a huge garden. I helped my dad tend the garden.
I don’t have a garden but am aware that many people enjoy gardening.
We love our garden and it produces so much for the two of us. We are now eating corn on the cob, cucumbers, fried green tomatoes and green beans, everyday😊(we will probably freeze some corn for the winter). We also have potatoes, peppers, watermelon, onions and mustard greens. And a sunflower, that just grew on its own🌻We love traveling to shipshawana and looking at the Amish gardens. Just Beautiful! Enjoy your fresh vegetables and many blessings to you and your family. 🤗
I would love to have a garden. Dad & my Uncle George both planted gardens that I helped with into my early adult years. Sorry to say they are both in heaven now. My space is limited where I’m at & my hands have arthritis with lots of pain even planting my flower beds are getting harder. I may give in & just do it with all these recalls & poisons that are being used.
I love your posts & books. Was hoping may be able to travel to Lancaster to see you but with a sick pet & my husbands work I can’t.
Please keep my friend Laureen in your prayers, she went through conditioning therapy for her mds cancer & still her antibodies would kill her daughters bone marrow donation so she needs a whole new donor, which is not easy to find.
My husband and I used to love our gardens. Mine were flowers his veggies. 3yrs ago we moved Florida and live in an apartment. So no more gardens for us. I do miss some things like our gardens but I do NOT mind ss the cold and snow!!
I do like gardening. My garden is quite small now, but use to raise & can or freeze many fruits & vegetables. So far this summer I’ve h arrested onions, cucumbers , tomatoes & zucchini. I love the fresh vegetables & look forward to that first ripe tomato.
MY WIFE LOVE YOUR BOOKS VERY MUCH
MARTIN
I agree whole heartily with raised flower beds I too do my garden this way but due to the poor seedlings I did not do a garden this year but I do have my blackberry bush my fig tree as well my blueberry and raspberry in big garbage pails growing lots of manure and peat good soil as well good plant food.
I enjoy gardening very much. I did not plant during the Spring this year. I decided that I would plant this month sometime and try to grow some Fall and Winter vegetables. I was thinking maybe some spinach, lettuce varieties, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and carrots. I don’t know what I may try yet. I have raised beds too because where I live the soil is very sandy. I had another house previously for 12 years. In fact, I grew up there. The soil was so rich from my father and great grandfather planting gardens there over the years. I never had a problem growing anything. I miss that…
When my children were young we had a garden together. It was fun working in the garden and their expressions when they could see our vegetables grow. We had tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, corn and a few other vegetables. My sons are grown and out on their own. I have become disabled and can no longer tend to a garden. I miss the days when we had the garden. My order son as children but their mother has custody of them. His new wife likes to garden but they have a small garden just for them. My youngest son lives in an apartment but is looking for a house he told me when he has children he would like to have a garden with them. When he does it will be nice to sit and watch them tending their garden.
We love having fresh vegetables. We have a large flower plot which I’m slowly turning into a garden plot. Last year I planted tomatoes and squash. This year I planted radishes, corn, beets, carrots, cucumbers and squash. So far I’ve harvested radishes and some beet tops. Looking forward to fresh tomatoes which are starting to turn color, and making borscht soup with the beets. Corn and squash will be ready later in August along with the cucumbers.
I love reading your books and love reading about the Amish. They are so caring and wonderful people.
Fresh vegetables from the garden are the best!! My husband and I plan to grow vegetables in next warm season in raised garden boxes!! Thanks for your ideas for growing fresh vegetables.
I love gardening and we have harvested tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions! I also have blueberry bushes and have a freezer full! We have 31/2 acres and I love walking around!
No, I don’t have a garden , but have family members who do and share. I grew up with my parents having a huge garden yearly, so I’m very familiar with all the work that goes into having one. Who doesn’t love fresh vegetables!
Raised beds is the only way to garden as we age. I also plant herbs in whiskey barrel planters. There is nothing better than home grown veggies. You are also able to control what you put in your soil to get organically grown things. Love your books.
This is our 2nd year with a small garden. We share with my daughter and her family. Tomatoes, peppers, corn and cabbage this year. My grandchildren love seeing how things grow!
So sorry to hear about your fall. I was planning to go to book signing in Reedsville, PA and get new book. I did get book and am so excited to read it. Since it is a new series for Mifflin County and that’s where I live. Prayers for healing. Now time to check my garden and then start my book The Protector by you.
I enjoyed the article about the different color buggy tops, interesting!
We have not had a vegetable garden in several years as we are unable to keep up with it, due to age. But, I agree fresh produce from home or farmers market are the best!!
I very much enjoy gardening!! Digging toes and fingers in the dirt truly brings me closer to God. As of now I have harvested many tomatoes, a variety of peppers, eggplant, okra and different types of beans.My sunflowers always tower and provide shade and beauty. I truly enjoy every aspect of gardening- again digging in the dirt, harvesting, canning and preserving, but most of all sharing. Bringing fresh vegetables or a meal made from them is truly a win- win in my mind . It gives me such joy and the smiles as a result are fantastic!!
I enjoy your books im from Penna. hhave Pa dutch roots. Im no reading as much. I bought a book and you signed on NC you told my fried your sisters name.
Barbara Kesselring. Im church of the brethren
342 Poinsettia Ave apt 107
Sebring Fl 33870
I grew up working in our family garden and loved eating the fresh produce out of it. Unfortunately, living in a small apartment does not allow me to have a garden. But I still get homegrown produce whenever possible. I love your books! I really like reading about the Amish. God Bless You 🙏❤️
I would like to have a garden again, unfortunately where I live now the yard is home to various wildlife such as deer, groundhogs, squirrels, foxes, etc. They would have a feast on any garden I would plant. Even now they sometimes eat my flowering plants.
We had a small garden last year and it sure gave us lots of tomatoes and peppers and potatoes. We live in the a city. But we still managed to grow a few things. Always keeping you and your family in my prayers. Blessings
Wanda, thanks for writing such beautiful novels about a beautiful people.
Hello Wanda, I absolutely love reading your books! To answer your question, I do like to garden, however, I live in an apartment, so I do most of my gardening when I am visiting my family in West Virginia because most of them live in the country and it’s easier to for me to help them garden. It’s a great hobby though! I can’t wait to read your new releases! Have a great day!
We have never had a garden. We own 38 acres, but it is all woods. We just cut enough trees to fit our house, and left as many trees as we could; therefore, we have lots of shade. This fall we will be getting our land logged, so we may have a garden next year since we will most likely have a lot of sun. We’re looking forward to more sun and perhaps growing our own food!
Sadly, we aren’t allowed to grow a garden in our subdivision. However, I’ve planted some veggies in pots and it has worked great! Our sweet peppers are yummy this year. I’m not gifted in this area but I’m trying to have more of an interest in a garden. One plus with growing in the pot is no weeds to pull. Many blessings over your garden.
Gardening is one of my favorite activities in the summer! This year we have harvested some tomatoes already. I love reading your journal entries as well as your books. Thank you, Wanda for all the work you put into your books and journal entries!
I love reading your books. I have read them throughout high school and just now reading books I haven’t read yet. We have a garden but we always get plants that die and my husband and I have let our gardens overgrow with weeds. I don’t think I’m a great Gardner I hope I can eventually get the hang of it.
Wanda, I Love reading your books and will be looking forward to this new series coming out. Praying Gods richest blessings to you and yours. Sincerely!
I had the honor of visiting Holmes County this year. I love to go visit my mom in Ohio because we almost always make a trip to Amish Country. Love their simple way of life as well as the homemade products I get to purchase. They are always so nice and helpful. Love to visit with them. You are so right their gardens are so beautiful and weed free. They work very hard in their gardens. Beautiful country to visit.
I didn’t put in a garden this year. I have however put some tomatoes, peppers, cantlope, cucumber, zucchini into grow bags. We’ve gotten some peppers but my tomatoes have all had blossom rot. Hoping to do better next year.
I don’t have a garden.
I don’t garden. I have a notorious black thumb. I have even been known to kill a cactus or two.
Oh, yes I do enjoy gardening! So far this year I have harvested dill seeds, onion greens, basil, one banana pepper, one bell pepper and four varieties of tomato from my caged container garden. The containers are necessary due to the juglone from black walnut trees surrounding my home, and a fenced in pen is due to frequent raccoon visits!
First of all, I thoroughly loved your 6 pack books in A Vow for Always. I don’t remember where I picked them up but they still had the wrapping around them so never read. I am not a fast reader but I could not put these down and finished them in about 3 days. Also, I do gardening but cannot get a handle on finding real dirt, good rich dirt and the worms and insects take over everything. I will continue the effort as I agree there is nothing like watching it produce and tasting your first fruits. Thank You for writing such inspiring reading.
(Simple Life)
My husband and I have always planted a garden. This year was the first year we tried the raised bed gardens, unfortunately it has not turned out good for us. I think it may have been the soil that my husband got. Previous years when the garden was planted on ground it was naturally fertilized by our ranging chickens.
Prayers for you Wanda !!
So glad you are doing better. Prayers continue for you as you heal.
I love fall as well. My favorite season.
God Bless You!!