God's Economic Plan During a Recession

I had not intended to write this article as I had other topics buzzing in my head, but with the urgency of the Holy Spirit nudging me, "Melanie, many of my children NEED to hear this message." Who am I to argue with God?

Let me begin with a little backstory. I grew up visiting my grandparents in rural Kentucky frequently. In fact, I spent two entire summers with them at the age of 9 and 10. These visits are forever seared into my memory. I look back on them with not only fondness, but also with nuggets of wisdom imparted to me by a Grandfather who only was able to go through the 8th grade and a Grandmother who was a simple farm woman, tenacious in love with Jesus and her family. These are the seeds which God has used to build deep roots of himself to carry me through this journey we call life.

My grandparents were from large families who farmed and lived off the land. My grandmother was the 4th of 6 children. Five girls and a son. During the great influenza pandemic of 1918 her brother and only son perished. Her family later adopted a boy who was brought down from the mountains of Kentucky with a group of orphans who needed a home. By the way, this orphan later became a Preacher. God took what at the time was devastating to a family and redeemed it for his good.

My grandfather was the oldest of four sons and he also came from a farming family. He had what I would call the Midas touch for farming. He was prosperous in raising livestock, crops and managing money. He never borrowed money, owed anyone, or used credit. He had to wait for crops to come in or livestock to be sold to receive paychecks. Now think about that. Most people are paid, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. He was paid a couple times a year and had to make it last.

One of the biggest take a ways I remember was when I asked my grandmother about the Great Depression and how they made it through. As a reminder, the great depression was 1929-1941. At that time she would have been around 19 and my grandfather would have been 28. They dated, married and had their first child during this time. If you ever had to read the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck in school, you will understand what this era in our history was like. At any rate, I asked her and she told me, they were not always able to get flour and sugar, but they grew their own food and she made my their clothes from the material from feed sacks they bought to feed the animals. Let me stop there and tell you, when she told me about the feed sacks, I imagined burlap material and how scratchy that must have been to wear. It was NOT until many years later I learned it was actually beautiful fabric. Many people make gorgeous quilts out of this material.

My point in telling you this is to say, the strong faith and resources provided to them got them through what many did not survive during a Great Depression. In fact, we are promised this in God's word.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

What to Do During a Recession?

The most important practice we can do is pray and seek God's wisdom for ourselves. Each of us is an individual and He will guide us in all truth. This IS the ONE certainty we DO have. All else can fall away. If we are holding onto God, this can NEVER be taken from us or shaken from us. He promises to walk us through any and all situations we face if we go to Him. Remember, He holds onto us, even if we let go of Him. He is faithful even if we are not faithful. He is truthful and He is consistent.

A Strategy He Gave Me To Share with You

Being on that farm with my grandparents and perhaps having a farming gene in my blood causes me to want to get my hands digging in the dirt every spring. This spring, I knew it was imperative, given our current economic condition and all the shortages we have been and are continuing to face to be even more mindful and methodic about planting food for us to eat. And let me say, "we are in a subdivision without a lot of space in our yard, so this does require a bit of creativity". If you are reading this and want to automatically throw it out the window because you are not on a farm, let me encourage you to wait until you read the entirety of this article.

There are ways to work within the space you have. God blesses what we have been given. My daughter did ALL container gardening a few years ago. She lived in an apartment and grew vegetables and herbs. Her biggest issue was the squirrels who decided to invite themselves for a meal. They especially love strawberries!

Where to Start

1 . Decide what you want to grow. This will determine the space you need.

I typically grow many of the same vegetables every year and then try some new ones just to see if they will produce. It is a crap shoot, but I will tell you, one year when my daughter was in early elementary school, she came home with a packet of seeds. We threw them in a flower bed beside our deck and forgot about them. This vine started growing on to our deck. It grew the biggest pumpkin I have ever grown in my life! Don't underestimate what God will do. Our job is to plant, His job is to bring in the harvest.

2. Plan what space you need for the plants you want to grow.

If you don't know how much room they will take up, ask someone who has experience. Local nursery's would be a good resource, friends, internet searches, etc. (I will include pictures of what I did as well). Remember, sometimes it is trial and error. We tried container gardening a few years ago and found it worked really well for peppers. This year we are expanding and trying small onions, lettuce, spinach, beets, squash and okra. If it does not work out in all of them, we will know and we tried it.

A few years back I tried rhubarb in a container and got two years out of it, then last year it died. We will learn by experience. Do not allow set backs to keep you from trying.

3. What you NEED setting up the space.

Containers if you choose container gardening.

If you have old flower pots that are medium to large, they will work. You need to make sure there is a hole in the bottom for drainage so the plants do not become water logged. If they do they will mold and rot.

Some examples of container gardening: Pepper Plants, Chives, lettuce and spinach and onions and herbs in the pots next to the rails; Basil, mint, cilantro and oregano.

Raised bed-make sure to use treated lumber or the wood will rot very quickly.

My husband built me two raised beds in our back yard. One has strawberries in it and the other is for vegetable plants. You need to get good soil for raised bed. Not all soil is as it is listed. I know, my husband bought me what was advertised as good grade garden soil a few years ago and everything died or did poorly. Local County Extension agents will test your soil and you can find out what you have if you want to know more. I did and it was very bad! If you have a friend who has a farm, they most likely have access to aged cow manure.(do not get fresh manure). This is good mixed in with regular soil. You do not want to use all cow manure as it will "burn" up your plants. Over fertilizing can do this. Yes, I have done this. I have gotten over zealous thinking more fertilizer would be good. Not so! Don't make this mistake friend.

Raised bed 1, has squash, onions, broccoli, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts and winter squash, acorn and spaghetti squash.

Raised bed 2, has strawberries. I started with just a few plants which spread quickly into many plants.

You will see some fruit vines as well planted. Grapes, blueberries and blackberries.

In the middle picture you see smaller garden containers. They are designed for vegetable gardening in containers. One was given to me by a friend who was moving, the other I bought at Lowes for $19.99.

The large one was gifted to me and contains beet plants. The second picture the container I bought at Lowes and contains winter squash and okra.

Plowed areas-We have a tiller, but you can hand hoe an area. Depending on soil type. Our soil is very hard clay. If you have dark rich soil consider yourself blessed. I have a fairly large patch beside my house on one side, a thin strip on the other side and a small patch on the other side of our gate outside the back yard. If you have a neighbor who has one, maybe they would be willing to help out.

Green beans, cucumber and cauliflower. Tomato Plants in both of the next two pictures.

Compost- we compost our vegetable and fruit waste. Things like peelings, raw vegetables, seeds, anything other than meat scraps. Even coffee grounds and pasta type products. If it will decompose we compost it. My husband gathers leaves in the fall and places them in the compost bin. I am not claiming to be an expert, but it is working and I do try to read and learn along the way. But it does provide a boost of natural fertilizer to the plants. After it decomposes we mix it in with the soil of the pots or garden to cut down on having to buy fertilizer.

My husband built me a bin with three compartments, but you can do the same thing with a trash can with a lid. You just need something to contain the food waste and decompose in. My grandmother just "threw" her waste out directly onto her garden space and tilled it into the soil in the spring. Do what is easiest and works best for you. It does help you feel like you are not wasting but putting those left over products and scrapes to productive use. When you see the plants producing knowing they have been fed by organic matter made right in your home, gives you a feeling of satisfaction knowing you are being a good steward of the resources you have been given.

Compost Bin and inside bin. The worms love it!

Plants or seeds? This is where most of the cost in addition to buying fertilizer can come in. Now you see why I compost. I use seeds as much as possible but I also buy plants. Last year I decided to grow broccoli and Brussel sprouts from seeds. My husband bought me a table top hot house. Boy was I excited! I grew lots of my own tomato plants and gave many away to others to bless them. BUT, my Brussel sprout and broccoli plants where beautiful with NO fruit. I have asked some seasoned people and they thought it was the seeds I used. So this year, I bought plants for these. I was sick much of this past winter so I was unable to use my hot house. I did however find a great product on amazon and grow a few plants in seed starters. It is called Jiffy Seed starter window seal green house.

If you want to start seeds inside and then plant this worked well.

I have basically learned over time what I usually have success with on plants vs. seeds. It is not a rule but a guide. This year for some reason my yellow squash did not come up well, so since I was running out of time with the season, I bought a couple of plants, which my backyard ducks decided they wanted to snack on. Another challenge we will discuss in a bit.

I always plant green bean seeds, usually plant squash and cucumber seeds. I would encourage you to be flexible and look at your current budget. This year as with many of you, our budget is tighter. I had been saving money for seeds and plants. I had received some gift cards earmarking them for gardening as a priority.

Staggered Harvest

Keep in mind when planting "when your produce will come in for harvest." This year I am attempting to have three harvests. Vegetables which will come in late Spring to early Summer, Mid to late Summer and Early to late Fall.

With a continuous harvest, I will have a long continuous growing season.

I will stagger my green beans. Due to unusually warm weather here in Kentucky this spring, I was able to plant green beans early and I will plant more now which is the normal time of planting putting the two crops a month apart. My supply of green beans will be longer in production by doing this.

My last harvest will be sweet potatoes in late October or early November. There are crops which will grow in cool weather like snow peas and lettuce you can plant in March in our zone.

Checking your climate and zone will help determine the best time to plant. Some with more Mediterranean climates may have extended growing seasons.

Spring Harvest

As of the writing of this article May 24, 2022, I have already cut one head of broccoli, which IS quite early. We are already looking better on this crop than last year. It is an adventure and a journey. It IS exciting to go out and see what is happening. It seems like miracles of growth happen overnight. In spite of failed crops or seed sprouting, there is always something produced. I still have tomatoes frozen from last year's tomato crop. Growing your own vegetables can be more than just work, it can be fun and exciting. My husband loves to go out to our patio and pull a ripe pepper off the plant and prepare it for dinner. Food right at our finger tips. We especially enjoy the flavor of our own fresh herbs to season dishes.

Supplies Needed

Garden Gloves

Small hand shovel

Hoe

Cart to sit or kneel on (for those of us who don't get up and down like we use to)

Something to hold up tomato plants if you are plating tomatoes. Tobacco sticks are cheap. Now I have invested in tomato cages.

I would encourage you to invest in a sturdy hoe if you have a garden in your yard. If you are doing container gardening you can buy a hand shovel and gloves at any dollar store. Believe me when I say I am all about watching cost. I add to what I have each year in respect to resources. My first hoe was given to me by a relative and it finally wore out.

Dealing with Pests

Bugs-I do not use any pesticide unless I have to. I am not an organic zealot by any means, but I am health conscious. If my green beans or any other vegetable starts getting bugs, I lightly use Seven dust. My grandmother used it and lived to be 95 years old. AS I stated, only if needed and lightly.

Predators-I honestly have not had a tremendous issue with bugs for the most part, my biggest issue has been my backyard ducks and wild rabbits. For wild rabbits, the best deterrent I have found that actually works is to put bar soap around young plants until they can get large enough so the rabbits wont bother them. I had two crops of broccoli eaten one year by rabbits. I planted broccoli, sprayed with some rabbit repellent, they ate them all, planted again and they ate all those, too. My husband claims the rabbits thought it was salad dressing. I have tried blood meal as has been recommended too. I even put out a rubber snake and it didn't scare them, but it startled me every time I went out there.

The soap is the only thing I have found to actually work. I save any sample bars of soap we get in hotels as we travel to use for my garden and it saves me from having to buy soap. It does not hurt the rabbits, but it smells like humans and they don't like it.

Back yard ducks- We have had back yard ducks for 3 years and love getting fresh eggs. They are a delight, but they also love to eat everything in the garden. The first year they did not notice it that much, the second year they ate everything before we knew what happened. But let me back up and say, they did eat all my hostas the first year.

Last year, my husband put up a short white picket fence which has helped, but they are determined and very smart. I am finding you have to stay one step ahead of them. This year they have managed to eat the leaves off one of my squash plants and started on another.

Last year, was the first year for us to produce grapes and as it was time for them to almost be ready to be picked, all the grapes disappeared. I am still not sure if it was the ducks, birds or squirrels.

I have ordered a product called scare tape. I am going to try it to see how effective it is. It is suppose to scare birds and ducks. But it is not harmful. I am also looking into netting, but some kinds can cause death to birds, which I do not want. We have bird feeders and enjoy our birds.

This morning as I write this, I checked out the garden and saw where my husband had tried to reinforce the fenced area with a wire fence, but they have penetrated that to munch on more squash plants. So, I took big sheets of poster board I had on hand and taped it to the fence as a barrier for a temporary solution. I felt like this called for immediate action before they completely devour my last two plants. I am sure he will chuckle when he sees what I have done when he gets home. WE will need a more permanent solution but it will work until it rains which is forecast for tomorrow.

Did I mention, I grow tomatoes for this renegade group of ducks? Yes, they are quite spoiled. They love tomatoes and I grow extra for them to eat. I hand feed them. They are really quite beautiful.

These are the culprits for the pulverizing of our garden. They look innocent don't they? We love them and they challenge us to find ways to build barricades to our plants which they believe is their food supply. By the way, they have a new chicken wire barrier, preventing them from eating my squash plants.

Resources-Southern states has a booklet they will give you for free.

The Southern States FREE booklet will give you seed information, planting guides and growing suggestions. It will also give you free seed information on varieties. I like to ask the folks who work there questions. Most of the time they are a source of wisdom when it comes to farming and gardening.

The farmers almanac is on line or you can buy a copy in most farm stores or nursery's. It is another good resource.

I can't tell you how to plant or even when to plant because that all depends on where you live, your climate, season and the individual variety of vegetable or fruit you want to grow and your soil type. But I can encourage you to pick something and try it. Something you enjoy and would like to try. Even if you live in a city, putting a plant on a window sill and watching it grow is very encouraging. There is nothing like picking the fruit of your labor and tasting it's goodness. The knowledge of what a miracle it is to see it grow right before your eyes and witness your small part in it reveals so much more than just supply and demand and shows you we have a Good Good father who loves us and it watching over us in all things right down to the sprouting and growth of tiny seeds in pots to feed us.

This picture was taken last week. We cut it over the weekend and enjoyed the fruit of our labor.

Thank you God for your provision!

Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

John 16:13

God has all the answers. He knows how to meet our every need and He is ready and waiting to answer our requests. I learned about strong faith as a young child and my relationship with My Father in heaven has only been solidified and strengthened over the years. He doesn't promise us everything will be easy, in fact He tells us there will be difficulties but He will be with us and lead us through.

If you are reading this and struggling and need guidance I would encourage you to seek God. I would also direct you if you need someone to pray for you, my husband is director of our local Prayer Center and he and his team would be honored to pray for you. Follow this link to submit a prayer request.

Growing a garden is just one way God is directing me right now. For the purposes of this article it is one direction to combat and counter the issues facing us in a recession. It is my desire to offer hope to any of you who may be discouraged, feeling fear or loosing hope. Sometimes we need to take baby steps in the direction of God's still small voice leading in the direction He is taking us.

Be Blessed and Encouraged,

Melanie