...and plant and weed and dig and mow and stack hay and feed babies and and and....the upshot is, have had to neglect writing words on page.

June, so short, is the only perfect month in this climate, and I always feel panic-y to get things done. The vegetable garden doesn't plant or weed itself, the first cut hay comes in just when the new chicks arrive, the horse fence must be shifted since our Daisy has chowed all her pasture already...

...and the rainy days do nothing but encourage the damn grass to grow. How I long to live without a lawn...

One year we went on grass-cutting strike, and just did not mow at all. The neighbors still drop nasty comments about it. Fortunately, those neighbors hated allot of things, including each other. So they divorced and sold up. The neighborhood is much quieter now. OK, OK, there are only 10 houses in a mile of our dirt road, but still, the number of times that woman drove past our farm and into town in a day approached the unreasonable. Much better to not have to dodge out of her way each time. There was a point at which she was so distracted that she inadvertently (at least I like to think it was inadvertent) swerved at me as I walked the road. Amazing how a disagreement can turn ugly so easily...anyway, they are gone and a new young family moved in. I hope they are homebodies and don't drive much...

So the strawberries are done and we wait now for the rasps- and blacks-- the blues will be later in August. July gives a little rest, since the crush of prepping for summer is done, and the rush of harvest awaits. We hope for hot days and cool nights so the tomatoes will ripen, not rot.  But...if anyone truly questions the fact that climate zones are shifting, talk to a gardener. Our new pattern in this part of New England is warmer, wetter winter (read ice storms instead of  blizzards), cool, wet summer (read no vine-ripened tomatoes) and longer, hotter autumns (read early apple season and even peaches!).

A positive consequence of climate shift is the extension of our growing season. It might, maybe, possibly, potentially, Maybe! possible! for New England to feed itself...there's a thought. Locally grown fresh vegetables available in the winter? Wow! and growing our own wheat? Imagine! New England is a net importer of food, and to be so dependent on others is not a yankee way of being. Complete self-sufficiency is nearly impossible in this "global" society, but going local is healthier, safer, more economical and overall a more positive way of existence.

What do you think about that?