dark furrow
a quiet almanac of soil and sky
morning, the thirteenth of july
midsummer
the full weight of summer.
everything is ripe or ripening or done.
thunder in the westthe corn stands perfectly stillwaiting for the rain
sky
blazing. the garden wilts by ten. water it or lose it.
- new moon, 1% lit
- sunrise 6:09 am · sunset 8:32 pm
- 14h 23m of daylight (-1.1 minutes from yesterday)
- civil dusk 9:01 pm · sailor's dark 9:37 pm · true dark 10:17 pm
the moon is a thin crescent, almost gone. do not plant. rest, clean tools, plan the next cycle. the old almanacs left these days blank on purpose.
the summer triangle dominates: vega, deneb, altair, high and bright
the tropical remnant. what is left of a hurricane after it has come inland and lost its name. days of grey warm rain. everything floods slowly. the old farmers knew it by the way the wind circled.
garden
in the ground now
- let some herbs bolt and flower for the bees
- harvest in the morning before the heat sets in
- second planting of beans if you have the space
- save seeds from what did well, close the circle
this week
- water in the morning, before the sun is high. evening watering invites fungus.
- order garlic for fall planting now. the good varieties sell out early.
good neighbors
- a few sunflowers at the north end of the bed, where the shade falls on no one important
- basil started again from cuttings, the second crop of the year is the strongest for pesto
- a second planting of bush beans beside the cucumbers, both will run together to the frost
bad neighbors
- fennel anywhere near the new bean rows, the seedlings will sulk all the way to fall
- do not return tomatoes to last year's tomato ground, the soil is asking for three years of rest
- another round of squash where the first one suffered, the bug eggs are already waiting
kitchen
in season
- eat outside if there is a breeze
- cold soups, gazpacho, things from the fridge
- watermelon with salt, the oldest summer trick
- it is too hot to cook, so don't
tonight
- can or freeze what you cannot eat, winter will want it
putting up
- peaches in july. can in light syrup, peel and freeze, brandy a few jars for winter.
- corn off the cob, blanched four minutes, then frozen. corn cannot be water-bath canned safely. it must go in a pressure canner or stay in the freezer.
foraging
- wild plums, small and tart, good for jam and nothing else.
- blackberries, everywhere, ripening in waves through july and august.
- jewelweed, the orange-flowered plant near creeks. crush the stem for poison ivy relief.
- chanterelle mushrooms after summer rains, golden in the hardwood leaf litter.
midsummer foraging is abundance and sweat. bring a bucket and water. the blackberries alone will keep you busy for weeks.
folklore
the buck moon, the thunder moon. the dog days begin when sirius rises with the sun. the old farmers blamed the star for the heat. it is not the star. but the name stuck.
yarrow tea for fevers. it makes you sweat, which is the point. midsummer medicine is first aid. the garden and the woods are handing out scratches, bites, heat, and rashes. have your remedies ready.
cicadas, loud enough to drown out thought. they are harmless.