I always plant extra cucumber plants because my garden is prone to powdery mildew type of diseases. This year, with the drought, I’ve had my first ever bumper crop of cukes aka crunchy water as my kid calls them. Ha! I’ve made a couple gallons of fermented spicy dills, canned spicy dills, and at least two dozen jars of canned not-so-sweet bread + butter pickles. Pickles for solstice gifts?

Varieties are Sashimi, Adam Gherkin and  Suyo Long, all from Johnny Seeds. More garden notes + favorites below………

The calendula is fabulous this year and I’ve already got a gallon of it dried and waiting for facial serum and salve making.

The golden hued zucchini are Golden Glory from Johnny Seeds. Could be the drought keeping disease at bay, but they are the best performing summer squash I’ve ever grown. Also really delicious too!

Harvested my first indigo – I tied it in bundles to dry. Looking forward to playing with some dried dye plants this winter. Grand Prismatic Seeds is my favorite source for dye plant seeds.

I’ve been so reluctant to put row cover over brassicas – don’t ask. I finally did this year and I don’t know why I waited so long! This is the most beautiful cabbage and broccoli I have ever grown. Lost a few to slugs still, grrr, but I’m still really happy overall.

Raspberries are meh with the dry weather, most small harvests have gone into the freezer. Finally decided to pair them with ripe peaches for a peach + raspberry jam. That gorgeous hue reminds me of red salmon.

So many baskets full of yard food as I like to call it. Feeling grateful.

-s