Summers Off The Grid
Am I the only one who feels like last summer was about a million years ago? The constant drizzle and gloom have totally fogged up my memory. Last weekend I finally dug out the beach flip-flops hoping that mother nature would get the hint and cooperate.
It wasn’t that long ago that my summers were quite different. We lived in a small town south of Santa Barbara called Ojai.
We called it home for about 5 years before moving on to new adventures.
Our summers in Ojai were filled with daily chores, mainly tending our vast garden. Situated on just over an acre in the Arbolada area of town, we were graced with 30 old-growth oak trees; The vegetable garden was planned to supply everything we needed to live basically and without many trips to the market. We quite literally lived for a few summers, off the grid. Not a lot of television and very little time on the phone.
The kitchen was renovated about a year after we moved in. It is still a favorite of mine: fun details, soapstone countertops, simple shelving, and ample space to enjoy creating a great meal.
Growing your own food is something everyone can and should try to do at some point.
The magic of snacking on a warm, ripe tomato fresh off the vine at 2 pm on a Wednesday in July is nothing short of a little miracle.
Take time this summer to enjoy special moments.
A simple picnic or a trip to the farmers market can do the trick.