A Small Garlic Harvest with Big Gratitude

Today I harvested garlic—not from this year’s planting, which was very small and VERY late, but from a few stubborn bulbs that stayed behind last season when their stems snapped at harvest time.

Last year’s garlic harvest went just fine overall, but a few stalks snapped as I pulled them, leaving their bulbs hidden below. I knew they were still in the ground and decided to leave them, hoping they’d bloom and set seed this year. But this morning, as I walked by that corner of the garden, I took a closer look. The leaves had begun to yellow, and the soil had started to crack ever so slightly around their bases. They were ready.

And honestly? So was I. I needed garlic. So I dug in.

There’s something incredibly grounding about putting your hands into the earth and feeling around for something you grew. That little bit of resistance as your fingers wrap around a bulb, the pop as it breaks free from the soil, the smell of fresh garlic and damp dirt rising together—it’s a kind of joy that’s hard to explain but easy to love.

This harvest was small—just three bulbs—but it reminded me of the quiet beauty in growing your own food. Even when it’s unplanned. Even when it’s just a handful. These bulbs were left behind, half-forgotten, yet they grew anyway. Strong. Ready. Exactly when I needed them.

Come October, I’ll be planting garlic again—this time intentionally, and in greater number. But for today, I’m grateful for these three unexpected gifts. A little harvest, a lot of heart.

If you’re thinking about growing your own garlic, here’s a great guide to help you get started!