We had another experience this week that has helped us to put the struggles we have in context of the bigger picture of what is happening around us.

This spring has been terrible for our tomato's. We were late getting them started, and then we didn't have all the beds ready when they were ready to go out. But finally over 600 plants were tucked in by Hannah and Ella, and given every chance of a nice productive life. And they grew.

But then they started dying. One by one. They would be fine one day, and wilted the next. Soon whole rows of them were wilting then dying. 

We were thinking fusarium wilt (a fungal soil-bourne pathogen) so followed normal procedure of removing the infected plants to try to arrest it's spread. But spread it did, till probably 70% of our tomatoes are dead.

Those that have survived, such as the Brandywine's, obviously have some inbuilt resistance, for they are thriving in spite of their close neighours turning up their toes...

So I decided it was time to find some more varieties of tomato that have been bred with fusarium resistance, and on Friday I called a vegetable seedling nurseryman, and told him my sad story. But he had a sadder story...

"That's happening everywhere mate!", he said. "Growers all over the state have been hit with it this year like never before! People are pulling out their whole crops..."

Oh.

We planted 600 plants. Some of these affected growers are planting many many thousands of plants. How many of them are up to their eyeballs in debt as they try to keep up with the supermarket wholesale treadmill that just keeps going faster and faster (or lower and lower) for them? For how many of them may this be the last straw? Being as small and as diversified as we are, and having the great and understanding friends/customers like we have in you, our wilty worries have hurt us, but will not send us to the wall! 

I don't know how I can help these growers, but I do know how I can help myself! The ancient edict, "In all things, give thanks..." gives me the secret to a serene life. When it comes to fusarium wilt for instance, I can be thankful that 30% of our tomatoes are still thriving, thankful that I'm not looking at a whole paddock of wilted tomatoes, thankful that none of us will go hungry because of all the other yummy stuff growing in the garden, and thankful that you are being very patient while you wait for us to put tomatoes on the veggie list!

What are you thankful for?