Dog days of summer (a few)

Packing for CSA shares

The muggy wave continues, the sixth day or so of bright, swelteringly humid heat. Today was only 21°C (72°F), but the Humidex (or whatever exactly They call it) says it’s the equivalent to us humans of 40°C (110°F). It does feel that way. I can’t recall ever hearing a spread that big—quite weird, or maybe the Humidex got more accurate…

A smaller crew than usual this Monday morning as we harvested for CSA shares. Lynn and Mel (above) were out earlier, hitting the field at 7 am, partly to get a jump on the heat, partly because they both had to leave earlier as well. Michelle arrived around 8:30. Tara was tied up preparing for a short trip. Jordan, another Monday regular, is away for a couple of weeks, on various visits around the north-east.

People in the field. I still find it mildly unlikely and extremely cool each time one of our tiny field crews assembles for a day. Sometimes it’s a crew of two, other times, usually harvest Fridays and Mondays, the numbers swell (big for a tiny farm!).

We all head to the field for different reasons and different returns. The work is never endlessly tedious, we don’t go out and, say, pick beans for 8 hours, but we do get a lot done, and everyone does a bit of everything. You can find a little instant closure, where the start and end of a thing are all right at hand. You can learn to small-scale farm. You can chill out, take time to think—garden meditation while breathing some relatively fresh, country air and dabbling in the dirt. Chatting while veggie gardening can be great. It’s whatever you want it to be…

Today, it was hot. The shares were done by noon as planned. It’s all good! :)

9 thoughts on “Dog days of summer (a few)”

  1. Pingback: Garden blogs I Enjoy and Frequently Visit | gardening-by-cathy.net
  2. 97 degrees and 85% humidity yesterday here in Texas or so say the weather folks…although I think the humidity is that high in the morning when the temps are still in the 80’s then its lower in the afternoon, thankfully, when the furnace kicks in. Okra, Malabar Spinach, and sweet potatoes are thriving in it, peppers and cantaloupe are okay with it, eggplant and swiss chard are kind of surviving, tomatoes and green beans are toast. Just biding time before putting a quick fall garden of green beans and tomatoes, then in mid-september in go the winter greens…

    Quite a shock to be in this heat again—we were in Mexico for a month camping on a remote ocean point in Baja where the temps were 66 at night and 74 during the day…it was like being in a womb!

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  3. That was just the kind of experience we had while growing up in a farm. That farm has long been neglected. It has been completely overtaken by nature. I and my sister have just gone back to reclaim it.
    I will be adding your blog to my link. Expect me to visit more often.
     

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  4. Hi. It’s nice to be on your farming site! I just came to blog about how my farm is going so far, Bebird Barn. My animals: Chickens, Chicks (One was just born!), Cows, Sheep, Horse, Dog and Cat. I am getting my first duck soon. and my plants: Cucumbers, Strawberries, Pumpkins, Grass, Turnips, Corn and all spring and summer plants. It’s really nice to meet you. Thanks!

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  5. Yodeledeyodeledeyodeledeo! lol ^_^ Y’all kids must hate that it’s sunny all the time. Jokes:
    What do you call a swine’s sickness?
    SWINE FLU! (jk although it’s not funny)
    What do you call a hot bird?
    A chick! (lolz?)
    What do you call a famous dog?
    God!

    These are my only 3 jokes. Sorry, y’all!
    I LOVE YOUR FARM!

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