Don’t Be Like Us

We’re touring the garden today, showing what’s growing and what’s really not, and going over our wins and losses for the year so far, and what we have done wrong for the garden this year.
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Intro: Let Me Love You by Loving Caliber
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[@tobycatVA]

Brett is secretly singing to his garden when you are not looking. Apples! That was fast! The baby crop was outstanding! 🤗❤😻

[@colleenallen3382]

The best crop you grew this year was in the “Hollar” baby garden.🥕🍏🥒🍅🥬🥦 Your Elizabeth Rose 🌹wins first prize🥇 at the county fair!😊

[@shannoncook9915]

Love it! Lol

[@donnamays24]

❤❤❤

[@camicri4263]

Amen to that! She is the most precious flower in the garden! You have a few more!

[@colleenallen3382]

@@shannoncook9915 , I just wanted to thank you for your post. 👍🏼

[@colleenallen3382]

@@camicri4263 , Thanks, 🌹🌺🌸🌼🌷😉

[@heartofmythril]

I was laying here thinking... Man I'm probably not going to see the hollar homestead for another week. And there you were! Yay!

[@sharoncochran8508]

The world would be a better place if more people were JUST like you!

[@shirleyhall1924]

You can water and it will survive but for some reason, natural rain water is always the best.

[@nettyhughes6680]

Rain water is better because it’s more oxygenated. That’s why you find that plants do better.

[@n3rdygrl]

Tap water tends to be chlorinated. I agree rain water is best

[@marking-time-gardens]

Thank you for the garden tour with Momma and cute little Elizabeth! Blessings on the Hollar Family Homestead!🌻🐛🌿💚🙏💕

[@chipprice1174]

Ben, a few tips from an old used to be farmer. 1. in your greenhouse, there are plants that get cooked by the sun, it's not the heat, they can handle the heat if there's enough water, but the sun bakes and blisters them, and a lot of them, that are really watery plants, it dries them up. A sun shade over parts(where these type plants are) would really help. again, watering is very key to most all of them. A lot of plants if they have a lot of water, will start to rot, like the melons, pumpkins and so on. Cardboard, newspaper, something under the fruit of the plant will help keep that from happening. I know you are near me, just not sure of your location, but green beans, I have always planted Blue Lake Bunch beans. The last year I planted was 2016, and I am still eating on them! My son and I went in together on the garden, and we had 6 rows about 80' long(the last 20' or so didn't produce at all, as 40 years ago that part of the property was leveled, leaving nothing but red clay) but out of the 55 or so feet, between my son and I, we canned 424 qts of green beans, and that isn't counting the friends and family we had come and pick as much as 5 gallon buckets for themselves. 9 weeks, we picked every Thursday, and then weeks after, we had others come pick. Now I admit, we planted, and used Nitrogen when we planted, but other than tilling, and water, nothing else was done, other than pick. Our tomatoes WOW, they really produced! Every few days, 1 1/2-3 five gallon bucket fulls! The secret, when we planted, each hold got a light shovel full of old chicken litter that also had broken down wood shavings in it.( I cleaned out my hen house 2 times a year and just piled it up. No flip or anything, just piled it up. We did our green peppers and warm to hot peppers the same way, with the litter. The only way I was able to get any squash was to water it, and stick tree branch cuts over it, to give it some shade. IMO your corn is way to close to each other. I planted in rows, wide enough to get a tiller through to keep the soil loose and allow us to hoe it, and mound it up. Crows were my only issue I had with corn, until...The wind would blow it down when it was 4-5 feet tall, and cut my harvest by abut 70%. All of a sudden, every year, the same thing. We'd have storms, and it would get blown down. I finally figured out why. About 200 yards from my garden, There was a clear cut, and a housing development put in. What happened in a nut shell, that took my wind break. So I changed where I planted my corn, and that quit happening. And the corn I planted was a sweet corn, Silver Queen to be exact. It, like my green beans, got AM at planting, and then a little more once it was a foot and a half tall, as well as some lime. Lime is your friend, I am not sure, but I don't think you can put too much lime. It makes everything a deep green, and allows it to be a lot stronger. Now, if you have places that isn't very good soil, like the red clay I spoke of, I never did, but my dad, who I learned all my farming and planting skills, would take a spot of nothing but red clay, and he would haul ruck loads of sand, and old saw dust from a lumber mill, and spread it out, and them disk harrow it in, in about 3 years, it was as good of soil as any we had. The sand, mixes in with the clay, and allows it to break up, and not clod up, the saw dust, give it some nutrients. He also go around and pick up leaves that people had bagged up, and till that in also. So, yeah, I've wrote a book here, but I'd love to see you have even more success than you have. Like I said, I know that we must me "kinda " close, as I am about 10ish miles as the crow flies from Jason. I also have a shop, with tools for most things, if you are a DIY type guy with your vehicles or equipment. Feel free to reach out any time!

[@rajinevin7273]

I hope Buggy doesn't feel jealousy or "left out" now that baby Elizabeth is here.... but then again, she got the baby sister she so deeply desired and I'm sure they will become the very best of friends once Elizabeth gets a wee bit older. Then they will both be going off in the mornings with Dad to do the chores! So happy you now have 2 little girls! Enjoy the snuggling!

[@lyndaroe9642]

My heart leaps with JOY that your family would choose time with the baby and family this garden season over the garden. May God Bless your entire family for your commitment to your family!!

[@MrsPink64]

Sorry Ben, I missed a lot of what you said. I was sorta distracted by the cuteness which is Elizabeth. 💕🙏🏻

[@kristybishop3286]

That’s a silly statement! They need to feed the family! The garden should have been a priority! There are 5 men on that homestead, no reason their place should be in such a terrible state!

[@MrsPink64]

@@kristybishop3286 I find this reply a sad perspective. We see 15-20 minutes in their day. Yes there are others there, but what are they doing? We don’t know. Jobs? Continuing education? Babysitting, camera duties, animal care? Watering this large garden space, helping Mom in the kitchen, karate…the list is long. They may wish a restricted camera schedule. The heat is hard for us all.Teens feel it too. Especially if they have Ben’s inability to handle the heat. The garden is not the priority. The peace as a family unit is.

[@gorangers18bates2]

This summer's heat has been brutal and the humidity really hits you in the face when you step outside. Ben has mentioned in the past videos that he's not able to stay outside cause he had a heat stroke before so cut him some slack. Some people can't handle the unbearable heat.

[@ellieknol]

@@kristybishop3286 I'm sure they know what's best for themselves. Life is not only about work. They can fill out their priorities as they wish.

[@shirleymurphy1958]

Gardens are like the ebbs and tides of the ocean . Every season is diffrent from one moon too another. Just like our lives ever changeing and growing. ❤

[@deecooper1567]

Well said ⭐️💫👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@bettypearson5570]

Well, considering everything you have had going and you acknowledged you weren't going to have the normal amount of time available, anything you get is a blessing.

[@marcyhannah4812]

Amen

[@angelahutt4957]

When you weren’t planning to do a garden this year…. That means everything is a bonus!!!! You guys are doing great. And keepin it real 👌🏼

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love all The Hollar Homestead videos!

[@FrancesRyan-id6ny]

Hi guys. Welcome back. I really missed your videos. Ye were so right to take a break. Everyone needs time out. Keep well. 😊

[@karenminckler4198]

Meg has the best thing you grew this year. She is absolutely beautiful. I love watching you both with your children. And the oldest last video was adorable with baby Elizabeth. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Okay Meg and Ben, 1st off your garden looks amazing! For having a baby, and getting your garden going even though you weren't doing a garden. Your garden is amazing!!!! The heat, winds have really taken a toll on everyone's gardens. You'll have some harvests, and you have time to plant more seeds. I say since it's so hot, relax and enjoy Elizabeth, and some down time to spoil one another. Life is good❤

[@kalvinamendt4874]

House build update as well please.

[@hardenmama1800]

You guys! Look at all you have accomplished in just a few years! The drone footage in your intro shows so many changes. You took land that had been robbed of nutrients and used as a dump and turned it into an amazing resource that provides so much for your family. I haven’t heard anyone talk about gardening success this year. The heat has just been too intense. And at the same time you made all those improvements to your homestead, you created two new human beings! Pat yourselves on the back, prop your feet up and enjoy those baby snuggles.

[@collinshomestead7688]

Thanks for the update! Most importantly, enjoy that baby! Buggy has grown so quickly!

[@hereigns7221]

Honestly, this video made me feel sooo much better for how weedy and lacking in care our garden is compared to other years. We have a 7 month old and are doing the best we can. I’m always amazed at what can thrive even with weed pressure. Plants have such a will to grow! Thank you for being so real.

[@donnamays24]

Loved seeing you guys again so soon!…Baby Ell is absolutely gorgeous…I can’t wait to see her and Buggy growing up together..❤❤

[@trinapellegrino621]

🙋🏼‍♀️🕊. Always wait for your visit, Elizabeth is darling 🥀missing her big sister Liliana. Surprise she’s not around.. hope your garden goes better the rest of the season . Blessings 💞🕊💞🕊💞🕊

[@annmatthews3579]

Good evening beautiful family great to see you

[@southloupriverhomestead4696]

Thanks for the video! Can't win them all but you know what's important.

[@fionaworrell4535]

Dont beat yourselves up..most gardens have struggled with extreme weather this year, theres always another season to try again.

[@reginagibson1908]

Baby Elizabeth is growing quick. If you weren’t able to grow it in the garden, God will supply.

[@joanoflondon]

Always family first. Being empty nesters happens faster than you think…. Just enjoy the family. 🥰🇨🇦

[@alicegilbert4186]

Thanks for letting us visit

[@vivianking8143]

As we have gardened/farmed/homestead for 35+ years and now in mid 70's, not so much, but The Shirelles had a song in 1961, "Mama Said There'd be Days like This" and though the lyrics are not at all about gardening, but the title can speak to it, came to our minds the years we were challenged in our gardens. Gives a bit of a lift to a not so productive year...... Keep pressing on. In Joy

[@abbyhillman769]

This year I planted winter squash everywhere and it has really kept the weeds down. My late summer/fall green beans do pretty well. (I'm in East Tennessee)

[@marywaters7068]

Thanks for sharing Elizabeth with us.

[@heartfelt247]

I know you are busy, please don,t think this is a criticism. My grandfather taught me...i,m 76..when the bugs take over pull their food and burn. Leaving in place gives the bugs a place to over winter and like us, it tells them where the grocery store is.

[@trinapellegrino621]

🙋🏼‍♀️🕊. Sounds logical. Good advice 💞🕊💞🕊

[@donnamays24]

My grandparents taught me the same..good advice!

[@AbundantlyBlessedMama]

My grandpa always said this!

[@Betsy-sp7jr]

Agree on it being very hot for this time of year. So that the leaves are falling from the trees already. We do need a couple days worth of rain. Elizabeth is very cute. ❤

[@tammyrommel712]

Such a Beautiful lil Baby Girl you have. Many blessing to you all

[@ketoqueenyo2431]

That little lump of baby deliciousness is absolutely adorable!!❤️🎈💥

[@rajinevin7273]

So fun to get to see little Elizabeth walking with Mom and Dad for the garden tour. You did your best and there is absolutely no need to beat yourselves up over not having the best garden. You were focused on beautiful Elizabeth and that is the priority so no worries. About Brett's garden - I happen to think Brett is a special child and that he is sensitive and loves nature and loves being outside (like his Daddy). He probably talks to his plants and loves them and they love him too! Good for him! I hope his harvest is HUGE!

[@carolynkooser2939]

Love seeing that sweet baby girl and Meg you look great for just having a baby especially # 6

[@janhyslop2915]

Thanks for doing your garden update. We are in the same grow zone designation but that’s about all. This is desert in Idaho. Nothing grows without irrigation…except weeds! 😂 As you review your garden, I’m mentally reviewing mine. It’s time to get preserving. Super hot here, too. Glad to see your devotion to family. In a couple years, you all won’t remember or care about what grew well and what didn’t. But the sweet memories of your new baby will be with you always. ❤ your videos.

[@christineengland3168]

Yep, no rain here in Idaho. Heavy mulch and drip line has been a blessing.

[@tinatippin5705]

Awesome video. Elizabeth is growing like a little weed. It seems that this year is a year of garden struggles. Our garden as well. It helps me appreciate the need to preserve the bounty harvests. Grateful for what we get.

[@leannekenyoung]

A friend of mine reminded me the other day how a few years ago I wanted to participate in a program at our local hospital and it was to basically snuggle babies. These would be babies who hadn’t been able to go home when their mothers where set to leave so they had a program where heavily screened and vetted volunteers would go in and snuggle the babies. Due to circumstances I wasn’t able to do it but yesterday my friend reminded me of it as I was snuggling with my second granddaughter and there is nothing more precious then holding your own grandbaby and rocking them to sleep I pray all mothers get the opportunity to become grandmothers because there is nothing more life giving then holding a grandchild. God bless and spend all the time you need to snuggle your bundle of joy!! 🥰❤️🍁🇨🇦🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@archaprice3372]

I’m sorry most of your garden isn’t producing well. You are still amazing and I enjoy watching your channel and keeping up with you.

[@packy57]

You need more greenhouses! They do so well for you.

[@deannewilliams3321]

If you don’t love yellow squash, you’re not cooking it right lol. I love it battered & fried, or in a casserole. Mini Chicky is just happy as can be strolling around the garden. 🫶🏻

[@deniseharris9363]

Well I guess since you originally thought NOT to plant a garden, you scored by getting any harvest. But I know you still put efforts into it, so it sucks to get poor yields. But you did say you learned some things about your soil etc, so that’s a plus too. I’m an optimist so I always try to speak more about the positives 😊 I’m glad you are getting to enjoy your sweet baby snuggles!!! Have to say I missed your videos, but I’d rather you take care of family first then your extended family😋 (all of US). Be blessed

[@SirtriReyes]

More people should be just like y'all. Priority gardening.That baby is just blooming!

[@connieellis925]

So happy to see you Ben and Mag outside together. I know your definitely busy with a little one. They grow way to fast, spend all the time you can 😊with your family

[@tammysarrazin-ux9tv]

baby looks happy to be outside she is a cutie, weather has been crazy even here in Canada hugssssss

[@ellis7796]

Love the realness of these videos! I had surgery in June and wasn't able to upkeep my garden for a while. Everything was eaten by deers and/or absolutely scorched from the drought. Trying to get the garden back on track now that im recovered enough from surgery to do physical labor. Your videos are a great reminder that life happens, and sometimes we have higher priorities than getting the biggest garden yield. And there's nothing wrong with a low garden yield if it means you get to snuggle your baby more or i get to take care of my health 😊

[@marycountry]

Thanks for the update. Our gardens are not as good as in the past, but whatever we get naturally is a blessing 👍🏻😊

[@ssfoste]

You should have time to plant more squash, green beans, cucumbers etc. Elizabeth Rose is looking really nice and growing.

[@robinsilvers362]

We have had every squirrel in 40 acres come and wipe out our orchard.....peaches, pears, apples, plums......we are looking into netting for next year.

[@abbyhillman769]

Squirrels always eat our pears

[@kathywills3244]

Sorry to hear about your garden. Here in Va. gardens are hit pretty bad too. So sad so much work and sweat had gone into it. I’m going to have to out source my produce to preserve. Have a blessed day and stay cool. Love you guys!

[@tobycatVA]

Time to hit Polegreens. ❤

[@mandipaulson7967]

Love your family! The heat wave has destroyed our garden in SoCal. We are planning on replanting for the fall/winter. Not giving up!💪🏻👩🏻‍🌾

[@tammysarrazin-ux9tv]

tomatatoe juice, soup, sauce, pie, salsa all kinds of thing will help you through the winter hugssssss

[@gladysrichard6088]

In Louisiana we are having intense heat as well. I garden on a much smaller scale so I could afford 40% shade cloths for most. I was watering in early morning and again in late evening and loosing the battle so I got the cloths. We are doing better but sun burnt tomatoes and peppers were getting me down. That is better since covering them.

[@packy57]

Thanks! Keep up the great work.

[@eaccristo]

The only thing I know about squash beetles is soapy water. I do a lot with diatomaceous earth. Keeps my flea problems under control. Kisses to Elizabeth. Well done Brett.

[@garycloud5705]

Next year let Brett be "Garden Manager " in charge of all growing operations. His success appears to be weed free. I think that's his secret sauce.

[@sharronmiller451]

Elizabeth is really growing . Adorable! ❤️❤️❤️

[@mainemagic4968]

The heat has knocked my garden way down. We water late afternoon and the bugs are enjoying the plants. I use DE Food Grade for the pests as their dessert. So far it is working well and also use it for the ants showing up on the foundation. We have a large surplus of Big Blk Garden Spiders that death is the only solution. We have two wild turkey hens that show up in early morning to scratch up some black sunflower seeds. Cheers from Maine.

[@ashleylovepace1941]

Your dismal year is way beyond, like a 100 times, more productive than my best year. You guys rock. And you have a baby! And a toddler

[@cynthiabolick3892]

Tks for video. Great to see Meg and Liz out with garden tour. Where was Buggie? Ya stay cool from this heat. I'm like Liz can not stand the heat. lol ...See and hear you on podcast. Much love to all of you.

[@kitstah9741]

I had to cover my tomatoes and cucumbers with shade cloth to save them from this heatwave 🌡🔥

[@maryhysong]

A big issue here isn't just the air temperature; we have had really high UV index and on those days the plants look really bad, even tho they are well watered. Some even have bleached white dead spots on them where the UV really got them. 30% shade cloth is super helpful

[@deborahgarza7154]

Baby Elizabeth is precious !

[@mgtmoffat8411]

When Buggy was born you said of the garden you got out what time you put in. This time mother nature had a bad run too. So are the seasons of life. ❤❤🌻🌻

[@CTR6067]

Everything is looking good for going through a drought. My corn was abysmal so I ripped it out and planted a new crop last week. With your fall weather temps you should have no problem recovering. 👍

[@lorrainecostanzo9092]

It's so funny to hear you say drought and to still see green everywhere, here in Australia it' so brown there's only dirt left, keeping animals or anything else alive is a miracle, our last big drought lasted around 7 years. I'm in NE vic and there has been very little winter rain, the ground is still dry, I Love watching your family xo

[@erin2535]

Hello and happy gardening from Western Australia 🦘🌏🎉

[@clairecoutts7832]

Hello from Melbourne

[@NancyMorse]

Oh my gosh that baby is beautiful. Your garden may not be thriving but Elizabeth certainly is.

[@piperlynne1]

Our heat up in BC Canada has been so hot this July. It's been over 100F every day and no end in sight. Fortunately we can water our gardens and have been out there checking to make sure they are getting enough water. Will be adding in a shade cloth over some of them to keep the worst of the sun off them and see if that helps at all but even with all that most of the plants are struggling. And we have onion worms and from all the info I can find it looks like we won't be planting onions for awhile. It's been a pretty bad garden this year but I'm sure next year will be better.

[@joanoflondon]

I use pickeling salt in onion trenches while planting. Stopped the onion worms! Good luck.😊 living in north western Ontario

[@carolspronk8401]

A high tunnel would be a great addition to your homestead

[@joan3435]

I am so happy to see baby Elizabeth. She is growing so fast and absolutely gorgeous ❤. She looks like her big sister!

[@anwenroberts975]

So happy to have you back on. How about shade cloth for the veggie plants?

[@gorangers18bates2]

Baby Elizabeth is so adorable and precious just like her big sister Buggie. By this time next year she'll be helping out in the garden ❤🙏

[@patriciaherman6499]

Here in the Adirondacks we've had 90-105 temps with high humidity ugh and going to continue although we had only 1/4 in of rain yesterday other places in NYS either had flooding or worse tornadoes. We've had bad weather gardens before facts of life. Have a great weekend and blessings to you all. 😊🇺🇲

[@InTheGarden2070]

You're living the dream. I'd take it in a heart beet. ';D Prepare for when you are 70.

[@cassityart7001]

My garden...same. I even declared in a firm voice, GROW. Asparagus and greens were lovely. Then life and extreme heat here in S E Tennessee made other plans for us. So tomato’s and peppers are jamin’ now. Even set a misting setting on the hose for the hens to cool off in. 💦🐓🙂

[@josephpedone2004]

Stewed tomatoes with yellow squash and seasoned to taste… extra garlic for me. Side dish or over pasta 😎👍

[@pjchapman9419]

Does the baby need sunglasses and a bonnet! She appears to be squinting her beautiful eyes.

[@jacquethirlkel3001]

Thanks for another wonderful video and sharing your family. Take care of yourselves. Enjoy your new baby. If the garden does not do so good this year, oh well. It happens. Next year it will thrive and you will be overrun with stuff to dry and can and freeze. This year stay cool inside in the AC with the kids. And video when you can. God bless!

[@michaelboisvert760]

You are a win win in my book!

[@Tia-vj9ox]

Thank you for sharing!❤

[@tonicook3023]

Welcome back, Hollar Family! We missed you. Your garden will thrive again! Climate change is affecting the entire planet. Weather forecasts and historic data no longer serves us gardeners. Ben, you are smart to install irrigation to your garden. ☀☀☀

[@craigcarlson627]

Guys a part of your homeschooling should be a garden patch for the older children. And when you are making a meal you acknowledge who's bed it comes out of . Get them into what Meg does with all your canning, dehydrating. The knowledge will be with them for a live time. I'm in my 60's and have a garden every where I gone . Will be putting in one this winter at my new home .

[@camicri4263]

Blessings!

[@LastChanceTinyHouse]

Event though your garden isn't what you'd like it to be, to me, I could only wish I had the growth you have. Count your blessings brother.

[@ChristinaMoore79]

OMG! I did it -- I finally did it! After the last two or three months of off and on bingeing from just before you got the land, I have at long last caught up to where you are now!

[@margaretfiggs2606]

Oh so happy to see you. Love the update videos. Baby is so cute.😊

[@keelaeldridge8487]

Baby is your biggest harvest! She is beautiful! But gardening is a hit or Miss anytime but especially during heat and drought, my pears were a bust, peaches were a bust but Mississippi pink eye purple hull has been huge harvest! Tomatoes have loads but not ripening much! My Cherokee tans had to be planted 4 times due to raccoons eating the seeds! But I started some in screened in porch and transplanted them so far they are good! Continue to have happy healthy days!

[@scwils8285]

I have lost so many tomatoes this year. I'm happy to see yours have thrived.

[@Claire-h2e]

Love baby Elizabeth ❤ Meg …. You are looking fabulous ❤ love you all.

[@sanlen1944]

The baby looks sooooo cute . I know yall are not spoiling her lol

[@cathydoucet6918]

Lizzy ...buggy's real life cabbage patch kid. Too cute 🥰🥰🥰.

[@terryhenderson424]

Mulch and minimal spacing help keep the soil moist enough to feed the plants. Veggies contain a lot of moisture and it gets that water from the soil. Coming from California, remember back to how shading the plants themselves either with cloth or other - or each otherm- was important.

[@davec9244]

Spaghetti Squash western garden, the good the bad and the ugly. Sometimes the worm's win and the bugs bite, but you fight the good fight thank you ALL stay safe

[@leekent3325]

Hi there you are definitely getting some great produce from your garden. Keep up the great work 😊

[@huzchris]

Looks pretty good. Mine is crispy fried but hanging on by a thread here in the desert. Love seeing you guys doing videos again 😁

[@jangrinh2224]

Drip lines and soaker hoses mulch and plant your squash later in the season when the squash bug is out of their regular growth cycle. New twin babies here and that is a challenge and work. Your hands are surely full. We relate.

[@joeramon2742]

Love you guys. 😊

[@queenirmamay]

Wow, you even heard not like us😂😂 when you have teenagers going to be adult when thank him upstairs when you're to tried to even look after anybody 😂😂 never old.