Being a gardener in Northern Minnesota is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes you really have to dig down deep within yourself to keep from being totally discouraged. This has certainly been the case recently.
Winter has arrived early here this year with several rounds of snow in the past couple weeks. It was a sudden transition and a bit unexpected for most of us. I have spoken to several fellow gardeners who still have crops in the ground. Often the first few snows are short lived and it doesn't hang around for long. Not so this time. We've gotten enough snow so that, despite mild temperatures, significant melting hasn't occurred. It's a double edged sword though. I still have several hundred bulbs to get in and I was hoping (and expecting) the snow to disappear so I could see where I planned on planting them. That hasn't happened. On the other hand, the snow cover has insulated those crops still in the ground thus making harvest still possible and a little more relaxed.
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| Potato 'Valisa' |
Unfortunately, my list of crops is quite long. I've been chipping away at it but still have celariac, leeks, carrots, parsnips, and one variety of potato left to harvest. The clock is ticking. Extremely cold temperatures always arrive here, it's just a question of when. It will get done. It always does. Somehow, someway.
Bulbs will also get planted. They have to be. My order arrived a little later than usual but the snow arrived earlier. Planting bulbs has been a challenge this season to say the least. We started with about 800 and we are a little better than half way through. It has not been an enjoyable task. Cold, wet, and sloppy are the conditions we are facing in order to have some spring beauty out by the road for the passersby next spring.
I don't know what compels us gardeners to put ourselves through all this. Perhaps we are eternal optimists with an eye to the future at all times or we just like being patient or operating under a tight deadline. Or maybe we're just a little bit crazy. I'm not sure what it is.
Whatever it is, it often results in an enjoyable environment that you actually want to spend time in or some incredible food further down the road. Some years it's a breeze. Most years, it is anything but. Adversity seems to be the only constant in gardening here. Be it weather, wildlife, or conflicts with work, it is always a challenge but one we gladly accept. There is something to be said for putting your heart and soul into something with hopes of a big payout later even though there are never any guarantees of it. Often, it is giant leap of faith. In a year like this, your faith is tested.
The clock certainly is ticking and this labor of love has turned into a labor of necessity this fall. You know you're addicted when you trudge through it even when it isn't that enjoyable. That really doesn't matter. What does matter is that we do it because we have to and we have to even when we don't want to.
