photo: wisconsinhistory.org
Digging RI is two years old! It’s been an interesting journey, and while I still can’t figure out the ups and downs of our blog stats, I think I am getting to understand what readers are interested in.
I know you folks are not usually particularly enthralled by my bouts of introspection, but I think that one is called for on an anniversary such as this, so please bear with me.
I was working in my vegetable garden, weeding the pole beans, and as usual, my mind began to wander. (cue science fiction music and blurry images) I thought about pioneer women and how they had tended their gardens much the same way I was doing at that moment. I wondered whether their minds wandered like mine while they were engaged in these tasks or if they were so focused or worried about attacks by wild animals that they didn’t have that luxury.
Gardening - in long skirts! photo: wisconsinhistory.org
For the settlers, the vegetable garden was truly a life or death undertaking. They brought their treasured seeds with them over hundreds of miles, and they didn’t have time for experimentation or whimsies such as purple lettuce. They traded with Native Americans, who introduced them to corn, beans, squash, melons and certain fruit trees. They planted what they knew produced well for their families, and their children were taught how to help at a very early age. (Makes me wonder what they’d think of the “Disney Garden”!)
Of course there were no freezers back then, so every woman knew how to preserve, pickle or otherwise store her harvest. In years when the harvest was poor, the family usually went hungry. Can you imagine what it would be like if your bean or potato crop was that important?
Potatoes and turnips for year-long storage. photo:wisconsinhistory.org
I have to thank my frequent blogging pal, HerbDoc for her interesting and useful posts. Thanks also to Auntie Beak for her technical expertise and occasional contributions, and to Elderberry for her contributions as well.
Thanks most of all to you for reading these musings, for your comments (I LOVE reading the comments!) and for generally supporting the blog. You gardeners are the best!
Digging RI 
Congratulations on a job well done, y’all!
I love this blog. It’s the only gardening blog I’m subscribed to. I really enjoy the diversity, which has taught me all kinds of things. Thank you for that, and keep on keepin’ on. 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words, CJ. You are our most loyal reader, and we love your comments! How did you find us, anyway?
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If I remember correctly, I think it was because of a Blue Moon post. Would that make sense?
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It would. That is the single most popular post in out history – by a huge margin.
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Happy second blogaversary! I’m almost there. Introspection adds diversity to your posts – do you see your stats dip?? But then I introspect my blog stats ;~)
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Thanks for the congrats.
Yes, I have seen the stats dip in the last two weeks or so. I am attributing this to people being outside in their gardens rather than online. :Like you, I check just about daily to see how we are doing. I suppose that’s normal…isn’t it?
All the best to you on your upcoming anniversary, too. I still can’t believe how beautiful your photos are.
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I have my blogaversary post up. Would you like to join simplylinked there?
Hard to find any June blogaversary posts. I know I have read them … but we each word it differently!
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I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks!
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I have to applaud DN for coming up with the blog idea! As I told her, these two years have been an amazing ride, and I always enjoy reading the posts and comments as well as writing. A day isn’t complete unless I’ve checked in! I’ve learned a ton of information from all of you. Thanks!
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Thanks, HD. Couldn’t have done it without you.
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Your story reminds me of the stories my mother told me about my ancestors. farming in Cape Breton in the early 1800’s. The homestead is still standing proud on a meadow overlooking the east bay of Bras d’Or Lake,
The moral of the story was that hard work always prevails, as I’m sure the effort you’ve put into this blog has been rewarding.
Congradulations and wishing you many more.
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