Our cherry tree was loaded with cherries, but the aphids came and left their sticky sap all over the leaves and berries... before we knew it most of the cherries were moldy!

But we are not discouraged: this is our very first large crop of cherries from this tree since we planted it! Usually the tree drops all the cherries (whatever cherries there were) and we get pretty much nothing.

This year (at least) we are able to "cherry pick" the good ones.

Many of the branches looked like this:

But every so often, I'd find a really good one!

In the end, we salvaged a couple pounds of cherries, while about 2/3 of a 5 gallon bucket was filled with yucky ones.

Even the good ones had to be cut up, but still we actually got cherries this year! This is a HUGE improvement from last year.

Next year, we are going to get a FULL bucket of good cherries as we learn how to protect them from aphids and bugs.

A full gallon bag full of cherries from our tree: this will make some very nice cherry jam in the next couple of weeks from now.

Rather than being sad about the 95% loss, we rejoice over the 5% gain and look towards next year to improve the numbers. We already have a strategy on how to fight the bugs next year, major pruning this year and tactics to help production even more.

What we learned is that this is a fruit bearing tree! If we solve this riddle, we will have a LOT of cherries every summer!!!

Though the cherries rot on the branches and fall to the ground, though the bucket is filled with moldy fruit, I will REJOICE in the God of my SALVATION!

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3

Bless the Most High for His abundance and His kindness!

Bless the Most High!

Teach Your Children Liberty from Sin

We encourage parents to teach their children principles of Godliness, beginning with the Word and an understanding who God is and what His Son has done to form a relationship with us.

No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

Teach Your children Liberty from Tyranny

Second to this is the principle of self-determination and freedom, lest we loose the ability to teach our children the first principle in future generations.

Our children read the Tuttle Twin books, specifically to learn libertarian principles, which most people learn later in life. These books are useful for our family, and yours, to teach children concepts that seem complicated, but are made simple in these books. I am an affiliate for Libertas Publishing, your purchase will help our family grow financially.

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"Politicians like problems because they can claim to have solutions... but their solutions often create even more problems."