As I'm writing this, it's the 31st of July. Tomorrow we are into August! August 1st marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox...are you noticing the shorter days? There is a shift in the garden. The pace is almost slowing -- we still have crops to seed and plant throughout August (lettuce, bok choi, rapini, radish, arugula, mixed greens, spinach, kohlrabi, turnip and more) -- but shorter days and cooler nights make it a bit easier.
Speaking of cooler nights, despite the scorching hot week last week, the tomatoes are feeling the cooler July and just not quite ready. They look great and have lots of fruit, so hopefully a bit more patience will be rewarded. Happily, this week we have summer squash and green beans joining the veg line up.
That's a very big toad in the picture. Toads are amphibians and breath through their skin. That makes them very sensitive to pesticides of all kinds. We don't use any sprays and we have numerous big toads -- around the house and yard and out in the veg field. Along with frogs, snakes and lots of birds. Yesterday evening, I went for a walk in the full moon light and saw a bat flying above our pond. Last week in the pond, I spotted a little painted turtle. It is so wonderful to see all these creatures and experience that we can grow lots of good food, while also sharing the land with all these creatures. Thank you for participating in our land stewardship by eating the food we grow.
