I expected it as early as late July but kept hoping it wouldn't happen but it did. A combination of factors mostly associated with the weather has brought our growing season to an early end this year. Normally, we have produce available until the end of September but that isn't the case this year.
Most of the crops have already finished their life cycle this year and the few that are still hanging in there are starting their shut down process. We should still have a few cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes for a week or two more, if we are lucky.
After talking to many others who have farming operations and smaller gardens, they appear to be experiencing the same situation. It may be of little consolation but at least we know we aren't alone out there in this situation.
These things happen when you run a farming operation and you become accustomed to them. You don't particularly like it but it's the way the Lord wants it and you accept it. The impact however is that when this happens, it reduces the amount of food we have available to assist those in need. I'm sure glad God knows what He is doing and I don't worry about these situations like I used to when I was much younger.
I don't know about the reader but there are times I do wish He would give us a little more of a "heads up" on these types of things but as the Word says, "His ways are not our ways". It's always a little presumptuous, completely foolish and often a bit dangerous to think we know what and how God thinks. Particularly when it comes to specific future events. Although the Word clearly explains God's overall plan, the details of how He is going to accomplish it aren't spelled out the way we often would like. It's our faith in His wisdom and love for us that keeps us going when the unexpected occurs.
This season may be at an end but our Lord is still in control and He will take care of everything. He will make sure those in need have what they need. Our Lord simply asks us to do our part as He explains in Matt. 25.
I'm no weather man and I certainly can't predict the future but it is looking like we are in for an early and hard winter this year. If this comes to pass as it looks like it will, more folks are going to be in need of assistance this winter than we usually see. We here at Squash Patch Farms Ministry want to encourage all our readers to pitch in and help as the Lord leads them in the up coming months.
