Each year, I am amazed at the changes going on around me.  The transition from one season to another is  bittersweet it seems.  I am always overjoyed at the arrival of Spring.  New blooms, a bit of green (finally), and lots of wonderful food from the garden keep me smiling for months.  This time of year is no different.  Summer will be here soon.  The fact that I only have 11 days of school left makes me want to scream and shout with joy, but I also think about the fact that Spring is on it's way out.  I was again reminded of this fact this week with the last of the spring veggie boxes going out.  I said goodbye to the spring side of the garden.  It will be tilled under this weekend and vetch will be planted as a summer groundcover.  Now I'm keeping an eye on the new arrivals and am pulling out the old canning recipes.  I have tomatoes, squash, beans, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and herbs well established and looking healthy.  I may even be able to pick a squash or two this week!  I sent out an email to those folks who receive veggie boxes asking for input and feedback.  I'm thinking I'll try something new for their summer boxes and offer some canned goods, infused oils, and cheese in addition to the standard tomatoes and peppers.  Another great thing about having a summer break is that I will actually have time to spend in the kitchen during the heat of the day.  I'm looking forward to creating some tasty treats! 

Heading into Summer

I'll have to admit, things have been a bit crazy these last few weeks.  It's been hard to keep up with everything that goes on this time of year!  I'm still harvesting so many wonderful veggies from the spring crops.  I just put out the latest round of baskets.  They included:  lettuce, arugula, chard, radish, beets, potatoes, onions, and sugar snap peas.  The summer garden is up and running but I'm trying to stay ahead of the bugs!  My bean plants are already suffering and I'm hoping that my late evening picking efforts will keep them at bay?  We'll see!  When the bugs get to be too much I do use a few methods for combating them.  First, I try to hand pick as many as humanly possible.  If there are just too many I will use Neem Oil or a mixture of Bronner's soap and water.  This usually does the trick.

The bees seem happy these days.  I've had to add new boxes each week and the ladies seem thrilled to have so much in bloom.  They are a non-stop train of pollen and it's so fun to watch!  I'm still hoping for a mid to late June honey harvest.  I have seen a few wax moths but the ladies are going strong and should be able to defend themselves against the pesky (and messy) intruders.  Fingers crossed...

I'm counting down the days to summer (only 18 more days of school left!!).  I've set a goal for myself.  By the end of the summer I will have a full business plan written and be ready to lauch a kickstarter.com fundraising campaign.  I just have to practice a little self-discipline.  Don't be tempted to sleep in, don't spend too much time out on the boat, and focus!!