A repost from 2018, because it’s one of my favorites! Along with a new photo of our recently completed seeding greenhouse, finished just in time for last weekend’s snow!
T'was the night before Christmas, all through the greenhouse,
Just one creature was stirring, it was a fat pesky mouse.
A mouse trap was set by the veggies with care,
In hopes that the pest wouldn't eat all that's there.
The farmers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of cabbages danced in their heads.
And Beetie in the root cellar in his night cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.
When by the greenhouse there arose such a clatter,
Beetie rushed outside to see what was the matter.
Through the deep snow he did leap and then dash,
When he got to the greenhouse he threw up the sash.
The moon through the plastic gave off a strange glow
To the carrots and salad that all lay below.
Beetie looked at the roof and what should appear
But a big heavy sleigh and eight grass-fed reindeer.
The little old driver was not very quick,
Soon the reindeer had poked holes in the rooftop plastic.
More rapid than rainstorms Beetie called him by name,
And down from the roof they quickly all came.
"Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Beetie, now Vixen!
These holes in the greenhouse, oh how can we fix 'em?"
"Get the poly-patch tape on the garden shed wall,
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
St. Nick looked for the tape by moonlight from the sky,
When at last it was found a half hour'd gone by.
The carrots were cold, now that much he knew,
These farmers should get organized, he realized too.
He gave the tape to Beetie, who jumped to the roof,
St. Nick watched from below, as if he needed some proof.
The legend of this beet had been told all around,
But seeing him there raised his faith by a bound.
A beet who was brave from his head to his foot,
Who protected Old Plank veggies from smog and from soot.
A bundle of compost he'd fling on his back,
And if a veggie cried out he'd open his pack.
His eyes, they were beady! His smile how merry!
He was healthier than carrots or even a cherry!
Beetie's fresh greens were all bunched in a bow,
Those greens are the healthiest part, don't you know.
Our hero held the poly patch tape in his teeth,
The holes were soon fixed while Santa watched from beneath.
When Beetie was done he slid down on his belly,
The elf caught him before he could splat into jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly young beet,
St. Nick laughed when he held him from head to his feet!
A wink of Beetie's eye and a twist of his head,
Let St. Nicholas know there's still a task before bed.
Inside the greenhouse, Beetie went straight to work,
Harvesting some carrots; then he turned with a jerk.
They're for the good little children St. Nicholas knows,
He loads his pack heavy then outside he goes!
He sprang to his sleigh, the deer stopped eating thistle.
And away they all flew when he let out a whistle.
But he heard Beetie exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and eat your veggies this night!"