[CSA Update] Welcome to week 12

Growing food on a small scale is a challenge, no matter which way you tackle it. Weather is out of your control, but you can water. Weeds seem to grow overnight, but you can battle them. The wind whips in and tosses everything around, and you can work a knife around the battered bits and make a casserole. We all use different tools, but one of the best ones is a positive attitude. Just keep growing.

July snuck upon us as we kept our focus on the pandemic, the drought, and nationwide unrest. As a kid, summertime represents this golden state of happiness - even if you stayed at home, tackled house chores, and sang "I'm bored" every time you saw your parents. It was summer. How do we gain that perspective back as adults? We just make the decision to enjoy it. We make the decision to build in activities to enjoy summer.

Hammonasset beach was at full capacity the other day. I got my boys amped up, bikes loaded in the pickup, and made a special stop to get drinks as we fueled up. We drove all the way out there - and saw the blockade and "beach full" signs. Without missing a beat, we drove down the road and found a park my son had played on for a soccer tournament. We unloaded - to more than a few groans and "it's not the beach, Dad". No room for that, I laughed and headed out with them in tow. Within minutes they were off exploring dozens of trails they had never been on. We watched critters in the salt marshes. We found a bench to sit in the shade while the boys raced the trails. We could have headed home, disappointed. We could have waited for the chance to get to the beach in a long line of cars rotating into the beach. Instead, we made the best of it. On the ride home, my youngest who had been the critic said he had a great time without being prompted. Ever hear the saying - life is what you make it, make the best of it?