Almost Autumn

Late afternoon is still my favorite. Pulling up galinsoga and mats of purslane out of the fennel bed. Filling a quart container with raspberries before dinner. Calling "Heeere, cowscowscows," across the river. Cleaning carrots and beets as the sun settles behind the mountain. Never catching the moment when the light turns to gold.

We've turned a corner on weeding - the cool nights have slowed their growth enough to downsize the weeds from overwhelming to plentiful. Nature's way of cutting us a little slack when the big harvests begin.

We were down to three last week (it was Rachel and Patrick's turn for vacation), and the only non-harvest tasks we completed were weeding the storage carrots (with the help of nine volunteers) and trellising the cherry tomatoes.

The sunflowers are just beginning to go to seed, the cows are going into heat, and it's cool enough to plant spinach again.