Dear Friends and Readers,

Summer hit my little farm this week. Temps above 90; killer humidity. Ugh. Not the most fun, but so far no hurricanes so I am counting my lucky stars. Weather around the world is getting more extreme and more violent. The planet is tired of abuse—or at least that’s what I believe. Mother Earth is striking back. I can’t say I blame her.

I’m going to launch a challenge: How many weeks can you go without purchasing something you don’t actually need? We have to have food, p...