The vegetable gardens above the grove at home, on a stifling hot afternoon in July. They’re doing well, regardless, gifting us the first summer vegetables including various sorts of salads and beets, courgettes, potatoes, and eggplants. The tomato plants are winding their way up the bamboo poles, and various other goodies on the way as well.

The thick layer of mulch and hay is protecting the earth from the heat, sealing in the moisture and the soil’s rich natural ecosystem of microbes and bacteria. We use only organic composts without any pesticides or fertilizers, and water only briefly in the morning and evening from our natural rainwater drip irrigation system.