🥕🌱 Row Gossip (Overheard in the Field) in July

 

🥕🌱 Row Gossip (Overheard in the Field)
                  and ‘happenings’ 🌿📜
 

The corn is officially in. The raccoons have started racing us to the corn—literally. One ran off with an ear in broad daylight and basically announced the season had started. Yup, that was our 'sign'

If you’re wondering whether it’s sweet, well, so are the birds, the raccoons, coyotes, and every other winged and four-legged customer trying to sneak a taste. It’s a race now. So yes, the corn is ready… now we’re just in a (more or less) polite tug-of-war with every critter that agrees.
 

• There’s a rumor—not a confident announcement, just a soft buzz among the leaves—that the first cantaloupe or two might be ready. No one's saying it outright, but the vines are looking smug. It won’t be long before the rest of them start showing off.
   

• The eggplant have started holding court. I’m not saying they’re vain, but let’s just say they know what “glossy” means, and they are swelling with pride. We’ll still bring in the smaller ones when possible.

• How hot is it? Hot enough to pop a tractor tire.
  (Yes, it was an old one, but still—the heat ballooned it, and that was that.)
  The pickle patch saw the whole thing and hasn't stopped whispering since.
  
   

• The beets have been minding their own business lately. After a few weeks of trying to muscle into their neighbors’ real estate, they’ve decided to stay put and just grow bigger. And they are starting to plump up with that unmistakable beet confidence. Similar could be said about the carrots.

• The cucumbers are trying very hard to win the “most juiceable” award. Sleek, eager, and practically lining up at the press—they’re ready for their moment in the glass. They are also great for salad, but our pickles are so delicious, they have often taken over that spot

• A zucchini tried to mix with the pickling cucumbers by pretending to be “just a little bloated.” Nice try, friend.

• The basil is booming, acting like summer will never end. Now’s the time for pesto stockpiles. Freeze it in cubes, and later you can casually toss one into soup or onto toast like you’ve been planning dinner, even if it was an afterthought.

                Did you know, it makes lovely tea too? There are even recipes which use it in jelly.
 

• Lemon balm is stretching out in the sun, quiet and kind as ever. It dries easily and keeps its gentle calm all year, waiting to be called into service when you're under the weather—or under too much everything. Wonderful as tea as well as in a salad dressing, even baking. Some love it in a drink - all kinds of drinks, or cold infusion with --something.

• Parsley would like to clarify something: it is not a garnish. It is a leafy workforce herb, ready for full-time kitchen employment with health benefits. 😉

Meanwhile, the fall crops are making an early land grab. The vines are on the move, curling into every open inch like it belongs to them — and honestly, they’re not wrong.
Judging by their ambition, we’re in for a good harvest. Just don’t tell the melons — they're already a little touchy about space.

                                                     

This concludes today's Row Gossip. Until next time. Susanne