I give up on SS living! I'm going to the store...

[Augustmomx2]

Okay not really, I had to vent/rant though...Why do I always have some great idea, but yet it never works out as intended?

This is my 7th maybe 8th year of gardening. I worked soooo hard in doing what the books told me this year, felt as though I did everything right and then BAM, my tomatoes have blight, my cukes are almost all gone, as are my zucchinis

Then this is my 1st year of having chickens. I work really hard at keeping everyone healthy and their area clean. I currently have: 1 almost dead chicken, 1 chicken pooing pure blood & another who is beginning to appear lethargic. Of couse they would start getting sick now, since they finally started laying Mind you I live in a metro-city and the nearest feed store that carries any poultry meds, is 40 minutes away.

Then I had another crazy idea about a worm-bin...ugh the worms don't even like me, they aren't doing what they're supposed to...I keep thinking I'm not doing something right, but I don't have time to research since I'm spending all of my time trying to diagnose my sick chickens.

That's it...Walmart here I come! Thanks for letting me vent

 

[Dace]

Sorry about the garden, but even the most seasoned gardener had bad years!

Can't help you on the chickens...I am new to it also, but saying a prayer that your flock is ok and that you can find the cause (check out BYC)!

Worms are easy...toss in something sweet, melon, banana etc to buy yourself some time....they'll survive till you sort out your chicken mess.
Stay ways from too much acid like coffee grounds.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

I KNOW the feeling!!! 1 tomato thus far, ants & deer ate all my okra (I got 6 PODS off 6 plants...), chickens are taking their sweet time to lay me some eggs, weeds are rampant, DH refuses to do anything unless I am there to "supervise" him.

You'll be back.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yeah, I feel like that some days too. I think it helps to only start one new project per year. More if you are energetic or have lots of time on your hands. Hang in there! Some years are just one after another.

Focus on the chickens first. If you get them recovered, then worry about the garden. The worms will probably be just fine as long as they have enough moisture. I keep my worms in the compost pile. I don't have to worry about them that way.

 

[Wifezilla]

My well planned, labor-intensive garden beds I slaved over all got raided by bugs. I hardly got anything out of them. The pond system plants I slapped together grew like mad. Figures...LOL

 

[hoosier]

Sorry everything seems to be giving you trouble all at the same time.

It has not been a good year for tomatoes in Indiana.

 

[TTs Chicks]

I know exactly how you feel - I got some tomatoes, but that was it - bugs, heat and weeds took over. Nobody around here went near the garden unless I was here to tell them to come help.

I have lots of great ideas, but I'm trying to tell myself one new thing at a time cause I tend to get too excited and go overboard

Don't let it get you down - Hopefully next year will be better for all of us

 

[Augustmomx2]

Thanks for all the words of encouragment and sharing your stories, I hope things get better for you all as well. You're right...I'm back I went out to my garden to find half of my tomato plants down again. I was that I decided to rip the almost dead one out of the ground...yeah, I have anger issues, but it did make me feel better!

Also, going back out to my garden gathering my veggies & eggs from my girls made me realize why I love it so much. Its just so relaxing and it helps me feel as though I'm a little bit more in control (did I mention I can be a control freak?)

Hoosier, you are so right about the tomato plants. I went to the IN State Fair last Friday and there were "Red Gold" flower containers, with tomato plants scattered around the fair. I couldn't help but notice that even their tomato plants were showing blight Just one of those years with all of the rain and cooler temps...

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

My Turkey's were the only tomato blight we had this year They ate all our tomatoes before they had the chance to ripen.

 

[Beekissed]

August, I feel your pain. Don't feel so bad, I've been gardening nearly all my life and my garden is the worst I've ever grown! And I mean BAD! I have only gleaned a few edible things and I have a mighty big garden with lots and lots of varieties planted.

I also have an apple orchard that is blighted and wormy.

This year is just a bad one, is all. I've talked to folks all over the country and they are having the same problem.

The result? Our food prices are going to soar this year.

This is why we don't want to give up. I feel like giving up this year too but its just too vital an endeavor in these uncertain times.

With time and experience you will become so handy at raising food that you will look back on your first year and laugh. You really will!