Hi all, well the dog days of summer are upon us with the gardens and farm stands showing it. The Elberta farmer's market has closed down until later this fall and if you did not get some of the local sweet corn, it is gone now also. In the heat okra is about the only thing still bearing a crop. Pictured is some that I am preparing for freezing. It is time to start planning for the fall garden if you haven't already. If you planted indeterminate tomato varieties this spring and can keep the vines alive through the summer heat and bug, they will set a new crop when the weather cools again.Visit my vegetable gardening site, Growitveg.com to get all kinds of information on having a fall garden of your own.

There looks to be a fairly nice pecan crop on the trees this year but first we have to make through the hurricane season without any big blows. You can find figs and fresh pears at the local produce stands right now. Down on county road 20, just east of hwy 59, the Little's farm still has produce to sell.

There are even more fresh vegetables and fruits to be found at the local farmer's markets and stands. Here are some that I have seen available now, green peppers, okra, figs, peaches, melons, blueberries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, egg plants, strawberries, and green beans. The hot weather means shoppers should get out early to get the freshest produce and to get it home while it is still cool. It is important to either can or freeze vegetables and fruits quickly for the best flavor and crispness in the end products. Enzymes start to break down the sugars and nutrients in the produce right after they are picked. The blanching or freezing processes will stop the action of enzymes and act to preserve the vegetables or fruits. You can also make wonderful homemade jellies, jams, and preserves with the current crop of fruits or vegetables. I just put up some 12 pints of grape jelly and will be making fig preserves tomorrow. My loving mother put up just over 16 pints of blackberry jam and 10 pints of grape jam before her passing a few weeks ago.