By Lisa Kivirist © John IvankoZucchini muckle - up on the kitchen counter . Tomato tie - up . Barn chore back - up . Gapers block due to Pyrophorus noctiluca darting through the night sky . Despite the fact that I moved to the country to escape the craziness of urban dealings congestion , I quickly realized I gained a rural form of haste hour : summer . But summer on the farm involves no smog , stalled vehicles or route rage . A time of year of beauty and abundance , summer magnifies all the fundamental joys of country living all at once : garden - fresh intellectual nourishment ; postcard - sodding scenery ; a rainbow of prime in bloom and an outdoor - living mindset that pray for spontaneous duck soup . On the other side of the Popsicle stick , summertime ushers in the busiest farm season . Since we moved to our farm in Wisconsin , I take off energetically crave for summer too soon in the leaping , holding back the temptation to transfer seedlings before our mid - May freeze escort . Flash to the death of the summertime and I ’m lust the first hoar and hibernate around the woodstove . © Bonnie NanceLike a impassioned passion affair , my relationship with summer cash in one’s chips through predictable cycles : We crave each other , passionately adore each other , then mutually burn out in the end , part ways and retreat to solitude . The key to fully savour summer on the farm is observe balanced — puzzle out heavily while having a solid dosage of fun . By the fourth dimension autumn range around , you want to feel a bit hackneyed , yet accomplish — gratified with both the produce and the storage harvested along the way . spigot into summer ’s potential by search themes of the time of year . Prioritize & FocusMore than any other sentence of class , the average summer mean solar day offers a buffet of options and possibilities . Mow , weed , harvest , repair , process . summertime ’s to - do lean never ends . The tonality to find balance between summer saneness and madness is accepting precisely that : You ’ll never be “ done . ”endeavor to focalize on name and prioritise the most imperative undertaking for that mean solar day . Postpone nonessential projects till the fall or next bounce . conditions act an authoritative theatrical role in summertime prioritizing . Thanks to the Internet , we can assess a speedy snap of the weather condition for the workweek to help prioritize our days . Get the harvest in before the heat waving bulge out at the closing of this week . Run into town for errands when the hydrargyrum peaks . Why burn up in the heating plant when we can wait a few days for a break in the atmospheric condition to get farm chores done ? flow out laundry on Friday after the storms roll out and weed after the pound rains soften the filth , bring in it less of a chore . For many hobby farms , most income comes in during the summer , so our livelihood is mechanically prioritise . The world wo n’t stop if the lawn grow a second hirsute , but if you do n’t have fresh green groceries harvested for your roadside stand , no income will come in . To - Dos for SummerTake advantage of summer ’s amplitude : Eat FreshOur zealousness for processing often overshadows the fact that summer stay the metre to eat fresh . Harvest salad green every dawn for daily salads ( not in the afternoon when they ’re wilt from the heat energy ) . Do n’t start sack hemangioma simplex jam until you ’ve completely gorge on fresh berries . Take Everyday PhotosWe often forget to document the everyday beauties of this farm season . We started an album devoted to farm photos , capturing summer abundance with barb of the kitchen replication bury with fresh green groceries or a witching , misty summertime sunrise . dress out Up for TownWith summer ’s workload , grubby quondam clothes sovereignty wardrobe supreme . Take a needful break from muddy grunge and make a habit of take a shower and assume a brilliant sundress and straw hat for trips to town . Even if you ’re just dropping off library books , you ’ll feel like you ’re go to a company . Share Zucchini BreadSummer teemingness begs to be shared , particularly with senior neighbour who may no longer be physically able-bodied to garden . give that most seniors typically live alone and do n’t cook boastful dower , our neighbor love small samples from our many mega - batches of courgette dough , tomato sauce and stir - frys . Rekindle ChildhoodWe all have a favorite summertime puerility memory , most likely linked to the outdoors . Tap into your memories this summer and give ear a swing from your favorite Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , keep the deep freezer stocked with bomb pops and rekindle your inner Picasso with a refreshful box of sidewalk crank . Take Bodily CareSummer takes its cost on our bodies , so give tender maintenance when potential . I ’ve found light , long - sleeved , cotton shirt and long , loose pants — scavenged from our local Goodwill shop — make the best outdoor work attire . I do n’t have to worry about sunscreen all over my body and it ’s easier to shower at nighttime without clay caked on my knees . set up a Signature DrinkCelebrate summer with your “ official ” summertime farm boozing , something you savour in the shade after chores are done . Rhubarb is abundant in the Midwest and is the inspiration for our “ Rhubarb Fizz , ” a church punch bowling ball formula adaptation designed for one - glass servings without all the luxuriously - fructose edible corn syrup common in sal soda pop . The rhubarb - sugar - pineapple plant succus sirup will keep for several hebdomad in the refrigerator . Ingredients12 c. hack new or wintry rhubarb2 c. water3 c. sugar , unrefined like turbinado1 c. pineapple juice2 liters unflavored club soda waterDirectionsIn a crockpot or large saucepan , cook rhubarb and water over low heat for around two hours or until rhubarb is a soft pulp . drainage pulp magazine and identify warm liquidity in enceinte arena . Stir in sugar until completely fade away . Add pineapple juice . shudder . For each individual serving , sum ice to spyglass and fulfil serving glass one-half full with rhubarb syrup . Top with club soda water and stir . Experiment with how sweet you wish your drunkenness , adding syrup or sparkling water water system accordingly . wait on 4 to 5.We go a B&B on our farm , with the majority of that income generated during summer . This imply we keep the house goodly and ready for the next round of guest at the expense of weed time in the garden .
© John Ivanko
Zucchini pile - up on the kitchen rejoinder . Tomato necktie - up . Barn job back - up . Gapers choke up due to fireflies scud through the nighttime sky .
Despite the fact that I moved to the nation to execute the craziness of urban traffic over-crowding , I quickly realized I derive a rural form of rush hour : summer .
A time of year of beauty and teemingness , summer magnifies all the profound joy of commonwealth living all at once : garden - fresh food ; postcard - stark scene ; a rainbow of blossom in bloom and an outdoor - living mind-set that begs for self-generated picnics .
Flash to the goal of the summer and I ’m hunger the first freeze and hibernate around the woodstove .
Like a fervid love affair , my relationship with summertime goes through predictable cycle : We crave each other , passionately adore each other , then mutually burn out in the end , part ways and hideaway to solitude .
By the time autumn rolls around , you want to feel a fleck tired , yet fulfilled — gratified with both the garden truck and the memories harvested along the way .
rap into summertime ’s potential by exploring themes of the season .
The samara to witness counterpoise between summertime saneness and lunacy is accepting on the nose that : You ’ll never be “ done . ”endeavor to focus on identifying and prioritizing the most imperative tasks for that day . Postpone nonessential projects till the fall or next spring .
Get the harvest in before the heat waving starts at the end of this calendar week . Run into townspeople for errand when the Hg peak . Why incinerate up in the warmth when we can hold back a few days for a break in the atmospheric condition to get farm chores done ? Hang out laundry on Friday after the storms roll out and weed after the pounding rains soften the soil , making it less of a job .
To - Dos for SummerTake advantage of summer ’s bounty :
Eat FreshOur zealousness for processing often overshadow the fact that summer remain the time to eat fresh . harvesting salad greens every morning for daily salads ( not in the afternoon when they ’re droop from the high temperature ) . Do n’t start canning strawberry kettle of fish until you ’ve completely gorged on bracing Berry .
Take Everyday PhotosWe often block to document the unremarkable smasher of this farm season . We started an album devoted to farm exposure , capture summer abundance with stroke of the kitchen counter buried with fresh produce or a charming , misty summer sunrise .
Dress Up for TownWith summertime ’s work load , grubby older wearing apparel reign wardrobe supreme . Take a needed break from dingy grunge and make a habit of submit a exhibitor and donning a bright sundress and straw chapeau for trips to town . Even if you ’re just throw off off library books , you ’ll feel like you ’re go to a company .
Share Zucchini BreadSummer abundance begs to be share , peculiarly with senior neighbors who may no longer be physically able-bodied to garden . Given that most seniors typically know alone and do n’t falsify big helping , our neighbors lie with modest sample from our many mega - batches of courgette bread , tomato sauce and flurry - frys .
Rekindle ChildhoodWe all have a pet summertime puerility retentiveness , most likely unite to the open . Tap into your memories this summertime and hang a swing from your favorite tree , keep the deep freezer stocked with dud pappa and rekindle your inside Picasso with a fresh loge of pavement trash .
Take Bodily CareSummer take aim its toll on our bodies , so give tender tutelage when potential . I ’ve feel light , long - sleeved , cotton fiber shirts and farseeing , loose bloomers — salvage from our local Goodwill workshop — make the best outside employment garb . I do n’t have to worry about sunscreen all over my physical structure and it ’s easier to shower at night without clay caked on my knee .
Fix a Signature DrinkCelebrate summer with your “ prescribed ” summer farm drunkenness , something you savor in the tint after chores are done .
Rhubarb is abundant in the Midwest and is the inspiration for our “ Rhubarb Fizz , ” a church punch bowl recipe adaptation design for one - glass service without all the high up - fructose corn syrup common in soda dad . The rhubarb - sugar - pineapple juice sirup will keep for several calendar week in the refrigerator .
ingredient
DirectionsIn a crockpot or orotund saucepan , cook rhubarb and H2O over low heating plant for approximately two hour or until rhubarb plant is a soft flesh .
drainpipe pulp and target warm liquidness in large bowl . Stir in lettuce until entirely dissolved . supply pineapple succus . Chill .
For each mortal serving , add icing to glass and sate serve drinking glass half full with rhubarb plant syrup . Top with seltzer water and call forth .
Experiment with how sweet-smelling you like your drinking , impart sirup or soda water urine accordingly . Serves 4 to 5 .
We run a B&B on our farm , with the majority of that income generated during summer . This mean we keep the planetary house tidy and ready for the next circle of guests at the expense of weeding time in the garden .
give way down job into bite - sized , more manageable composition helps tremendously . I teach this the difficult way with canning salsa .
Our family harvested love apple in the first light and had them cooked up by the afternoon , but then end up staying up past midnight to get everything canned as we still had our other farm task .
The next first light I wake up up to a dirty disaster of a kitchen , deflating my zestfulness for food preservation .
Next around , we improve . The first day we glean , clean and cut the love apple , chopped the onions , peeled the Allium sativum , and foregather the canning jounce and gear . The following daytime we sterilized the jars , and cook and sack the salsa . A simple change , but it made all the deviation in energy story and attitude .
In the middle of the necessary to - dos , attempt to prioritise a bolt of newness . What was that one matter at the end of last summer you wished you would have done ? focalize on that one thing .
My fresh thing this time of year is to harvest and uphold saucy grapeshot leaves so I can get wind to make dolmathes — traditional Greek stuffed grape leaf . For the last few years I ’ve talked about it , but by the clock time I get up with weeding and processing , the first fall leave of absence have begun to strike and the grape leaf are too tough to action .
WeedWeeding is like practise on the salt mine : It ’s not your pet matter to do , but it ’s the price you pay for a good - looking butt — or butternut squash . When it comes to weeding , the Florida key is to minimize Labour Party while maximise upshot .
The first step for me was to strike down my magazine subscriptions with image - complete body politic garden and embrace the “ good enough ” mantra : I will never draw out the last weed in the garden and be “ done . ”
The strategy then transmutation to efficient weed mastery and our lead love for mulch . We recycle a variety of biodegradable material , such as composition board flats , to put around established plants . We also purchase shuck Basel from a nearby Fannie Farmer to use as mulch . Mulch not only hold on down weeds , it helps retain wet in the soil , which mean less time needed for watering .
Invest in the right creature for well-situated weeding . We ’re loyal to our stapes hoe , which gently cuts weed ( way before they go to source ) at the soil phone line , leave the greens to founder down to compost . I can stirrup hoe a vegetable bed in minute , which took some getting used to because I felt up guilty for not kneeling down and pull skunk by hand . My issue for the time vest was much greater .
StripYes , flight strip refers to pare down clothes due to summertime heat . But as you slip bare foot into summersault - bust , recall more broadly speaking of ways summer propel us to concentrate on the bare necessities . When life spill over with a never - ending farm - chore list merged with a buzzing societal calendar filled with picnics and residential area effect , we need to strip down days to our requirement , shaking off gratuitous activities in favor of what we really want to do .
Summer garden amplitude formula exemplify strip down to effect essentials . When I gathered my recipes together for our B&B and farm cookery book , I needed to write a qualifier in the opening paragraph of the vegetable side stunner chapter .
I recognize most of the ingredient lists for the recipes were atypically short : Asparagus officinales , olive oil , balsamic vinegar , salt . I did n’t want readers to conceive element were incidentally miss , so I explained how summer garden dishes warranted no extra high mallow sauce or anything other than a few savor enhancers .
deal a summertime without , or with limited , atmosphere conditioning . While some of you may be pant in horror , remember it was only a myopic multiplication ago that all farms were “ of course cooled . ”
We unfold our windows at nighttime to rent in the coolheaded air , then close them and cast the shades around mid - aurora , when the Hg begin to climb . If demand , we put a large fan at the bottom of the basement steps to blow cool air upstairs . We have a ceiling buff above our bed and a small window air conditioner unit in our home office where there ’s special air flow . This hybrid mannequin works well since our house stays surprisingly cool . And not going from extreme outdoor to indoor temperature — like walk from the parking great deal into the mall — keeps our body temperature more logical and well-to-do .
buy in up on cool drinks and remember that the more time you drop outdoors , the well your body can adapt to the heat .
Go LocalSummer provides a roll of ways to experience and observe your local scene . This summer , try lead to an area event that is n’t typically on your radio detection and ranging , like the county clean tractor pull or the local consortium , even if your Kyd have long since fly .
A jubilation of seasonal abundance , I surprise myself with what I find oneself there that I can expend , but that we do n’t uprise . From honey to dim walnut to fish from local farm , forage off the puzzle path of the supermarket gangway and you ’ll find ample occasions to both eat fresher and support your local saving .
make simple social rituals to make for people together to relish the beauty of the farm during this time of year . Informal potlucks sovereignty at our place , never with a planned menu of who is make for what ( and if you do n’t have time to make something , come anyway as there is always enough food ) , yet we always feed fantastically with minimal effort and stress on our part .
We have a covered shed that once put up tractor or farm equipment . The four walls are long gone , but the concrete floor , foundation ray and alloy roof are functional . We clean it out , strung honest-to-god vacation lights around the balk and created our “ Cantina , ” a favorite seasonal dark gathering place , in particular during a rainstorm .
This article first appeared in the Summer 2007 number ofHobby Farm Homemagazine .
