Fun fact about me: I hate vegetables! (loathe entirely!) I know, right? Difficult to wrap your brain around. So, not surprising to learn that the last thing I ate that was grown in my garden was a carrot in 2016. Which was the last year we had a proper large vegetable garden.

But I LOVE to grow vegetables and make spicy, fun jams and jellies. And so, since 2016, I’ve grown hot peppers exclusively, the key ingredients in most of my top-secret recipes.

This year’s crop, which consisted of jalapenos, habaneros, scotch bonnets and purple ghost peppers, started lovely. But I was left scrambling (the second day in) when a rabbit ate my crop and sent me on a wild goose chase for new one plants! (Man, I should have written him an eviction notice, haha). Learning the hard way quickly taught us to fence in my tiny garden. Once the replacement plants settled in, the garden was lovely again.

Planting in June, as advised by my local garden center, when the weather was warmer, set me on the right track. Also, the overall growing conditions were good this year; my crop excelled! We had such an abundance of peppers I was a canning machine! What I didn’t can were frozen or dried for later use, leaving little waste.

We’re planning on growing a large garden again next year. But I think I’ll keep my little pepper garden the same; it’s a special space! Years of turning in compost and peat moss have left the soil full of nutrients and ready for another year. Located by the chicken run, I can tend the garden and spend time with the gals! Win, win!

Although I don’t see myself eating the bounty we grow, I do see myself weeding, blanching and canning it for others to enjoy! And I look forward to finding new plant varieties and recipes to try out on my favourite people.