Embracing Summer’s Bounty

#Summertime offers an embarrassment of riches — warm weather, #holidays to celebrate and cookouts galore. If you don’t like the heat, there are air-conditioned #summer blockbusters, pool parties and water sports to help keep cool.

Summer delivers bounty in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, too. Whether you grow your own favorites in a backyard #garden or visit the local farmer’s market, there’s no match for fresh, flavorful produce harvested in season.

Here at The Organizing Blog, we enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, chard and herbs — and with the recent heat wave, are looking forward to a bumper crop. In less than a month, we’ll be running out of ways to use it all!

We’ll grill sweet corn and summer squash. We’ll bake zucchini bread and tomato-and-chard tarts. We’ll blend up potato-leek soup, basil pesto and fresh salsa. And we’ll make a host of other dishes that celebrate summer.

There are ways to keep enjoying that bounty year-round, say the chefs at The Chopping Block. Some vegetables can be blanched and frozen, and even more can be pickled and canned. And to enjoy a summery entrée later in the year, cook an extra and freeze it for a wintry day.

Even as you discover creative new ways to eat your way through the season, consider for a second whether your material bounty — your stockpile of owned, nonperishable things — is getting out of hand.

Summer is a great time to cull through those possessions and #organize. Cold weather won’t get in the way of #decluttering, and you can always stage a #garage sale to make a little money off the things you no longer want or need.

You can also #donate lightly used #clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org year-round with a #free #donation #pickup. Resale of those goods helps fund valuable #veterans programs.

However you choose to embrace summer’s bounty, remember that it won’t be around for long. Now’s your chance to enjoy everything that summer has to offer! #SummerBounty

Prune Trees and Source Plants Early in Spring

#Gardening tasks to pursue early in the season include pruning trees and shrubs, The Spruce says, because you can visualize their shape better before they bud and grow leaves. Also consider sourcing any must-haves for your #garden well ahead of planting time, including hard-to-find or popular flower and vegetable varieties and gardening tools. Clean and sharpen your existing tools and containers in preparation for spring, or look for new-to-you tools and supplies at the #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. #GardenPlanning

Planting Your First Flower Garden

Are you a first-timer when it comes to #flower #gardening? Planning can be tricky, but the rewards will be a bright and colorful space that you can enjoy throughout the spring, summer and fall. First, consider the location of potential #garden plots, says Three Acre Farm. Many colorful flowers require lots of sun to succeed, and most need regular watering and rich soil. Map out your new garden location on paper and start small — doing more than you’re ready for can lead to disappointment. Fortunately, #flowers such as cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers and calendula are very forgiving and available in a rainbow of colors. #GardenPlanning

Plan Your Garden for an Ongoing Harvest

So you’ve decided to create a #vegetable #garden. It’s easy to grow a couple of tomato plants, says Almanac, but bigger plans will require consideration of where plants will go and when each should be planted. Cool-weather crops such as lettuce, radishes and peas flourish in early spring, while warm-weather vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers can’t go into the ground until the soil warms up. Know time to maturity, too — tomatoes typically take 90 days or more to harvest, while you’ll be picking lettuce in just a few weeks. With forethought, you’ll enjoy variety of fresh vegetables for months! #GardenPlanning

Gardeners: Start Your Seeds Now

Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on #summer #gardening. Not only can you plant the varieties you want, you can and #save #money over buying greenhouse starter plants. Check the last frost date in your area, says Homesteading Family, and count backwards based on your crops of choice. For example, if your area’s final frost date is May 1, you’d want to start tomato seeds — average time to plant-ready: eight weeks — as soon as possible. Vegetables such as greens and root vegetables can often be sown directly into soil once the fear of frost is over for the year. #GardenPlanning