"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Full Moon: July’s Full Moon will occur on Friday, July 23rd. Native Americans called it Thunder Moon due to the high number of thunderstorms during the month (just like this year!), some quite severe in many areas. It has also been called Hay Moon and Ripe Corn Moon since hay tended to ripen at this time of the year and because of the appearance of young corn on the stalks.

Special Notes: Watch out! Those Dog Days of Summer will be upon us starting Saturday, July 3rd. Get ready for some hot, hazy, and humid weather (the dreaded 3 H’s) that will continue into mid-August.

Holidays: Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4th in 2021. After more than year of dealing with COVID-19, this year, we should see life returning to normal! Wide-spread vaccinations and the relaxation of mask and social distancing requirements will allow us to celebrate like before, but remember to do so safely. During all outdoor activities (whether extended or not), use the appropriate level of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and apply frequently, especially if swimming or perspiring. If a cookout is on the agenda, avoid any surprises by doing a quick inspection of the grill a few days before the big day. That will you some time to get to the hardware store for that part you need for a last-minute fix or repair. Enjoy!

The Garden: This is the last month to plant these veggies for a fall crop if you are in zone 5: snap beans, peas, cukes, carrots, kohlrabi, summer squash, early sweet corn and green onions, among others. Zone 6 gardeners get a couple more weeks of growing season. Continue to keep the garden adequately watered (that is, if July’s forecasted wet weather is not enough!). Expect plants to do well with all of the extra rain in July but as the summer continues, be sure to make up for what Mother Nature neglects to provide. Order bulbs now for fall planting, to get the best selection of varieties. Lots of spring-blooming bulbs are deer-resistant. Avoid tulips and crocus, and enjoy carefree alliums, winter aconite, snowdrops, snowflake, Siberian squill, glory-of-the-snow, Puschkinia, Fritillaria, and Anemone blanda.

The Farm: Best for planting root crops (4, 5, 31); weeding and stirring the soil (11, 12; planting above-ground crops (9, 10, 18, 19); harvesting all crops (20, 21, 24, 25); the best days for setting hens and incubators (1, 2, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2728, 29, 30, 31); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16); transplanting (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27); harvesting and storing grains (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).

J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living

"Do not regard liberty and freedom so lightly that you forget its value and take it for granted."