“Peas and carrots,” Farmer Lee Jones mused just a few days ago, “go together like a sock and a shoe.” That’s hard to debate and we quickly realized that his mind was on the best of the summer crops. So, we asked him to share what fresh vegetables he’d put on his 2018 summer crops list. The first? Petite carrots! The second? Mixed snow peas. Here’s more.

Try to picture farmers from, say, 100 years ago visiting modern-day farms. They’d almost certainly be surprised at the number of urban farms – and at the notion of hydroponic farming where crops are grown without soil. They would already know about greenhouses but would likely be startled by how often they are used today.

Up before the sun and blurry from watching the clock and mentally re-checking his list of supplies every hour, Dad rose a bit grumpy but still looking forward to his trip to Decorah, Iowa. This time the trip was not for tractor parts, but to learn more about eggplants of all things!

Squash has a special place in our hearts, because it was a squash blossom that led us to grow for chefs. Squash has a thin and crisp skin that contains a tender, juicy flesh with a mild sweet and nutty flavor.