
I work the hardest in July and August. I’m talking about sweat and sore muscles and getting down to my summer weight (about five pounds lighter than my winter weight.)

Along with weeding and watering, cultivating and harvesting, I spend hours in my perennially hot kitchen processing everything that we bring in from the gardens.

I signed up for this willingly. Some of my fierce sisters look at me questioningly when I gush about fresh eggs, tomato paste and pickles, telling me that it’s cheaper to eat out than cook.
But this is Free labor. We serve ourselves and clean our own dishes, and I’m free to be the me that you see, a woman with a plentiful pantry who knows how to use it too.