We grew beets in our front yard this year. They grew vigorously, provided great meals and were delicious. We had two large harvests, leaving the rest in the ground for later meals.
That's when the rabbits found them. One day I was out watering and found all of the tops nibbled to the ground. The beets were still there so I piled up a little mulch around them and hoped for a resurgence.
And lo and behold! little green leaves poked up above the hay...a veritable miracle.
So, I'm gonna take this as inspiration. When projects go dead, my head gets nibbled away with doubt and worry. I will press on.