Drought 2012
So it is time I inform you, my enthusiastic Little Sprouts follower, that we’re throwing in the towel … this year.
Simple reason: Too hot, and too dry.
We still have August and September …
Why me when others are still doing well?
There are similar larger and more established small-scale vegetable operations around us that are doing alright, despite these historical conditions. Why, you ask? They have irrigation, we don’t. Was it foolhardy to expect this to work without irrigation? Yes. This year, and the last two years, have had some pretty long dry spells. I should have put in drip irrigation before I planted my first seed — a garden hose just ain’t gonna cut it. Of course the plan was to do this all along; but since we’re on a hill-property without a pond or a well, this is a larger, more expensive task then it might have been on another property, and we, my friends, are running on empty cash reserves — just sayin’ it straight.
So aside from this obvious irrigation-shortage problem, which is #1, we have a few other things on the to-build list, in order of importance:
- a walk in cooler (I have started work on this)
- a washing area
- a hoophouse
- a greenhouse
- the list goes on
In addition to this, we’re still hoping to get a few pigs in the next week or two, and some chickens next year. Eventually, this will be an actual farm. Right now, I hate to say it, but it’s a large, dry, dying garden … but a dream that is still very alive dream that we are verrrrrry committed to. Considering our circumstances, I don’t feel so bad. In the meantime I will be running a new online business, saving money for our growing project list.
Do I hear an Amen?
We know you guys are strong and will get through this! You already are!!! We will continue to keep little sprouts growth in prayer for success!!!
So sorry to hear that! Years like this make me marvel at how folks did it back in the day when they HAD to grow food for survival. Next year has got to be better…hang in there!