I have also felt of late, a little bit stuck in my gardening ways. I sometimes wonder what it is all about. I work and work (and sometimes eat some of my rewards) and what comes of it? Well, I get tired and know the weeds will be back the next week and the dead heading will need doing and the veg plan will need some input again very soon (even though I feel like this years rotation is only just coming to fruition). I hear news that my veg have been eaten by Voles and should have a solution to hand and asked again if I have dead headed the Sweet peas (yes I have I do it instinctively every time I pass the pots which is several times a day but they grow and die at an alarming rate so look like I haven't. Same with Cosmos).
I recently found a book on my shelf from back in 2014, when I was just starting my Horticultural adventure. How to Grow a Gardener features input from a group of us Horti's about our journeys in gardening. I sat down and read mine avidly. How far I have come! I hardly think I have moved on at all. Reading my entry, I realize all of the work has made me so much more confident and knowledgeable without even noticing. I worked on my own, without instruction in the veg garden this week in two gardens. I didn't need any advice. I didn't cut anything back that wanted to be left alone instead. I produced veg from my earlier sowings. I managed to succession sow to avoid a huge food gap. I primped, preened, cropped where needed, left behind to grow, tied in and answered a slew of questions that came at me from excitable visitors which ranged from History of the house, which airport is nearby, how do you grow a gourd from seed, what supports do you buy for the Brassicas and what boots do you wear and do you work here or are you 'just' a Volunteer? (I'll have you know there is never a 'just' with Volunteers, their work is hugely valued and appreciated. Who else would weed in the rain for free getting muddy but those amazing Volunteers?).
We sometimes need to stop and take stock. We are coming to the end of what seems like a very long season and I am very happy with where we are. Four years in as a professional Gardener and I feel happy with what I have achieved. Sure, some crops don't perform, some are awesome and some miss the boat to be perfect (a week too early to crop, miss it by a week and they are over).
That is NATURE and I love it. I think we all need to slow down a bit, lower our expectations of PERFECT and ENJOY Horticulture a bit more. Who wants a perfectly straight Cucumber or identikit Potatoes. There are plenty of well known Supermarkets for that.
I know which I prefer.
