My neighbour will no longer be growing sweet potatoes as Loblaws squeezed their profits and physical labour is becoming more difficult to find. Fertilizer and fuel were also contributing factors but to a lesser degree.
Avian flu took a couple of my chickens last year and again this year. Nocturnal predation took half a half dozen laying hens - raccoons are very crafty at bypassing security.
The garden is a place of peace/tranquility, where miracles happen - from seed to food/medicine - what's more miraculous than that!
Here is my smallest garden with lots of sunflowers for the bluejays and two long rows of peanuts. Quite a bit of kale, spinach and peppers too. Radishes, carrots, kohlrabi, beets, lettuces, garlic, rhubarb, and mustard are in the mix. Oregano, parsley, thyme, chives, basil for spices and peppermint are great fresh or dried. Mexican marigolds are on the predominant windward side to waft pyrethrins, to keep the undesirable insects at bay.
View attachment 5278524
The other gardens contain butternut squash, watermelon, muskmelon, and several varieties of tomatoes.
Local markets are numerous here. The seeded sourdough bread is a recent find that is exceptional, toasted with crunchy peanut butter and buckwheat honey.