Summertime

Some more quick tips for the summer....

We live in the desert and it's 100+ degrees; perfect for drying your clothes outside. Grab an old-fashioned clothes line and some laundry pins and take advantage of the sunshine. PLUS, save on energy costs by not running the dryer and avoiding heating the house up while doing so, (especially when it's 100 degrees at 8 at night). Just make sure to bring it in when you see the black monsoon clouds rolling in - your neighbor doesn't want your undies stuck in their trees or cacti.

Adjust your watering. You may have to bump up watering for your organic garden during the summer, but make sure you're doing it when it's most beneficial. Don't water in the middle of the day - it will evaporate before it gets a chance to get to the roots. Stick to early am or evening.

Photo: © Jonathan Wood / Getty Images

While we're talking about our organic gardens or plants... spread some organic mulch around to help retain that water, (especially if your yard is as hard as ours).

I know I've mentioned it before, but fans make a HUGE (and cheap!) difference in cooling rooms. They can allow you to bump up the air a couple of degrees, while still feeling cool.

Take advantage of the monsoons! Free watering! :) But make sure to turn off watering systems so you don't flood your backyard. Hope everyone is staying cool!

Kudos!

I'm so excited to see the local grocers coming out with their own lines of organic canned goods. I've been especially impressed with Fry's and Safeway with their 'store brands' of organic canned goods. It's supply and demand - if you're local grocer doesn't offer a wide selection, let them know! Hopefully, other stores will follow their lead and realize that families want to be healthier but want a more wallet-friendly way to do so. We have to think long term - the health choices we make now will effect our wallets and lifestyles in the future (i.e., the cost of reactive medicine after your already sick vs. proactive health measures).
I know I've said it before, but I've received a lot of questions from friends and family memebers... you don't have to eat all organic - just do what you can. The small changes will add up to a big difference.

Millions of Peaches, Peaches for Me...

Sorry to be such a slacker lately --- just put the house up for sale and things have been crazy (as usual). I completely forgot to blog about the awesomeness that is Schnepf Farm's organic peaches! I did make it out to their U-Pick though. Although they're not officially labeled 'organic', they are local, (a 4th generation family farm...still in existence in AZ!) AND they're grown with the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals. (I picked enough peaches to have peach pie, crepes, ice cream, cobbler, shakes, etc., for months.) You can even lease your own peach tree for a year! (Seriously thinking about it...)

I highly recommend checking it out next year --- and while you're at it, head down the street to the Queen Creek Olive Mill (organic olive goodness...). Schnepf also offers cool, four course dinners in their peach orchard, courtesy of some of the valley's finest chefs. Check out their site for the next date. Can't wait until next year! I promise I will be on the ball next time :) (And hopefully, I'll have a bunch of new peach recipes!) Have a fabulous weekend!