Marvelous photos. All for a good cause. Too bad you're already married!

Good job!

Great job, Jon....a lot of outgo...4 and a half tons.

Where do you get your replacement material?

Hi Wayne,
As the last picture shows, God is simply blessing me ;-)

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What a great job! I've only given 1500 lbs. so far this year but there's still time for greens and cabbages this fall. I like growing food for other people as well as myself.

Wow Shebear, That is totally awesome....Great Job, I am positive you are a true blessing to all those you serve, keep up the good work ;-)

John,

Great harvest! All obtained from your raised beds? Around how many sq ft. of raised beds do you have?

wow. all I can say is wow.

I'll be watching for the how-to book, Jonhughes - bravo!

Very nice... Really like how you have everything put together...looks neat and clean and simplified. I really need to move to beds like that...

Thank You to all of you, very nice of you to say that ;-)

Hi nullzero, I have 1500 square feet of raised beds...

They are wonderful (I hate bending over for hours).

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Here is a link that might be useful: Jon's Wonderful Garden 2011 (Watch all four)

Hi John! (Waving over here in CA)
I was just checking in here today feeling a little 'ooogy' because it's cold and raining and about to get even darker even earlier! Then I saw this and you made my day with all of the beautiful pictures.

I love that you do this---it gives me such a smile. For those of us who never get a veggie or a bunch of gorgeous grapes from you it's like we still receive, you know? You are an insiration to me. I didn't even come close this year as far as amounts go but I did give lots away to neighbors and family. Oh, and I have ducks. Do eggs count??? LOL...

Angie in Hollister, CA

Hi Angie,
EGGS... YUMM
My Favorite food ;-)
As long as we all do our part (there really is no one who is insignificant), we will continue to bless others and by doing so, be blessed ourselves ;-)

"The man who is kind to the poor lends to God: he will repay him for what he has done." (Prov.19:17)

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proper amazing as always Jon, what I like and admire is you don't patronize people by giving them stuff you think they should have, but stuff that is lovely and possibly would cost them a fortune in a farmer market but quite rightly you understand that people in need, need respect, keep up the good work.

Oh I think I put that all wrong? but when I lived in the US I found lots of religious people but very few godly people, but many good people, but I found many godly people seemed to think those less fortunate should put up and shut up, as in they had been less christian as they should have been, therefore they deserved their fate.
as far as I can see you say there but for the grace of god go I.

I appreciate your kind words Heather, and I understood what you meant (both times) ;-)

But...Alas... I am no better than anyone else....

PS... I think people who don't extend Grace and Mercy to others... just don't realize... what goes around,comes around, and we all need as much grace as we can get.

It always helps when you are in a perfect climate for vegetables most of the year. :)

As always, I wish to be able to grow as much as you. I'll just have to work at it haha. Good work though!

hello Jon.........well, this is just incredible!!!!!!!!
been waiting to hear the total for the season.....
i can tell that you have already received fruits of your labor....by the happiness in your voice(so to speak).
Many thanks to you for the help you have given to those who are in need.......which could be anyone of us at any given time........
carol

Absolutely wonderful!

Indeed it does, :) it does, thanks.

the john and his almighty compose pile. Great job !

I just spent 10 good minutes looking at your last picture. The most interesting feature is your eyes. Seems to be a light in there. And energy.

Take care,
Travis

Great pics. By the way, I tried hard to find insect damage somewhere - what's the secret? I'm also a firm believer in composting and have an old machine - called Kemp - which has been a real work horse through the years. Unfortunately - this past year, I've done more "computer gardening" than hard work gardening (will be 90 soon) and my old Kemp isn't getting as much of a work out.

Keep up the good work "Good Samaritan" - hmmm did I spell that right? Anyway, coming back down to earth again "what do you do to ward off insects?)

Bejay

Hi Bejay,
I use a Dewalt cordless vacuum to easily suck up and dispatch cucumber beetles and Squash bugs and Aphids get water blasted treatment, and slugs get cut in half with scissors, and are left in place to be a deterrent to other slugs who happen by ;-)

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Thank you for your interesting postings. One more question, please - It looks as if you are using a black ABS (not PVC) hose for watering. How far apart do you space this tubing for overall saturation. Also - do you use easy off/on connectors to the hose?

I'm thinking of making a few automatic watering set-ups in a few of my planter boxes (have 9 in all) which are more or less all the same size (approx 3-4 ft wide x 8 ft. long). Not all of the boxes would be "endowed" but would like to have a removable set-up for placement wherever I plant tomatoes, as they seem to be more affected by overhead watering.

Great job your doing with those veggies.

Bejay

Hi Bejay,
I use 1/2" poly pipe around the perimeter and continue it to make a complete circle (square)so I don't lose any pressure anywhere on the grid and then run 6" o/c laser cut drip lines at 12" o/c in the field. Works great ;-)

Laser soaker line can only be run in lengths up to 15 feet,
If intensive bed gardening is employed, the drip system should be set-up on a grid (as described above). If the bed is 4 feet wide, it will give complete coverage. A system set-up like this one does not need to be changed when planting changes.Laser soaker line, and porous pipe will give a continuous band of surface moisture, It should be remembered that, if you are planting seeds in your garden,this system alone will not adequately germinate the seeds unless supplemented with over-head watering. Once seedlings are established, overhead watering will not be necessary.

OK - I understand the 1/2 inch poly pipe around the perimeter - but not familiar with how to attach drip lines to the pipe. Are there special connectors for this?

Or am I still not seeing this. Not familiar with laser cut drip lines - and/or water hose connections. Are these available at Home Depot, etc.

Hi Bejay,
Yes, Home Depot (and most other stores that have plumbing or landscape sections), carry these products, there are numerous manufacturers and lots to choose from ;-)

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Amazing job again this year. You continue to be an inspiration and a blessing to all who's lives you touch. I am so glad that I've gotten to watch you grow and learn. Someday I hope to be able to give back a tenth of what you have given.

Barbie

Ye shall know them by their fruits, Matthew 7:16 .

At the end of the day the adult ants tell little ants stories about a man named Jon who worked all summer to put up food for the winter.