The first ripe tomato!

On Wednesday, August 3, 2011, I found the first ripe tomato - totally hidden at the bottom of a plant in the most prolific bed of tomatoes. I was sitting on the ground waiting for time to turn off the t-tape watering for the morning. It was only from that vantage point that I could see it!

We have three or four good-sized watermelons and some smaller ones on the way. I have to learn about when we can harvest those.

The potatoes are still flowering somewhat, but the vines are beginning to soften and collapse. We still haven't explored the soil to see what might be forming under there.

The winter squash crop is abundant; it does not seem like the plants are forming any new ones. We may be able to cut back on some watering there. We are close to exhausting all the stored water and then everything will be well-watered.

I had some opportunity in the past week to think about water. Our well pump was performing weirdly. That always raises the concerns of whether the pump is going and needs to be replaced or whether the well itself has gone dry. Fortunately, it seemed to be an issue with debris in the pressure tank and we seem to still have a good supply of water. It reminded me of how dependent this whole growing food project is on water. We live in an arid climate for many months of the year. Irrigation of our gardens is what makes them possible. No water, no gardens. There are so many things we take for granted, any one of which could change our entire lives. Humbling or scary, depending on which part of me is looking!

For now I'm just grateful for the water, the gardens, and for all the other beings who are responsible for producing the food that we eat in abundance.