If you’re anything like the staff of The Organizing Blog, you grow and/or buy a lot of fresh seasonal produce during the summer and fall. But keeping things fresh can be a challenge! To avoid food waste and eat everything at peak, keep heavy items at the bottom of your shopping bag to avoid bruising delicate produce such as peaches and tomatoes, SF Marin Food Bank suggests. Know where to store items for longevity, whether it’s in the refrigerator, on the counter or in the pantry. And if you can’t use fresh produce before it goes bad, process it for later use and freeze or can it. Plan ahead, and you can eat healthy year-round. #FreshProduce
Tag: summer
Get Summer Produce While You Can
It’s the end of the growing season for many #summer ruits and vegetables, but you still have a few weeks to take advantage of nature’s bounty. Summer vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and peppers are still widely available, and many root vegetables such as carrots, beets and onions are still coming in. Harvest them, pick up some at the local farmers market or buy some from a CSA before it’s too late. Store-bought produce just doesn’t have the same flavor — and when something lacks flavor, Growing Spaces says, it usually comes up short in nutritional content, too. #FreshProduce
It’s Your Last Chance to Take a Summer Vacation
#Summer 2025 is passing quickly! The long days and warm weather will soon be a memory, and the time to take advantage of them with a summer #vacation is dwindling. Nonetheless, there’s still time to schedule a getaway.
Time off is crucial to preserving one’s physical and mental health, says AFC Urgent Care. Those who skip #vacations are at a higher risk for heart attack, anxiety and depression. And those who take vacations are often less stressed and more attentive to their own well-being.
You might be worried that the stress and expense won’t be worthwhile, but “a memorable summer vacation doesn’t require months of planning or thousands of dollars,” says Yahoo! “With a little creativity and flexibility, you can find affordable ways to explore new places.”
Depending on your tolerance for car travel, roadtripping can be one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a change of scenery. Pack the car, the family and a few snacks, and you can be somewhere new in a matter of hours. Check Google Maps for places within a preferred distance from your home base, or visit Roadtrippers.com to access complete planning tools. A simple search can help chart your route and highlight points of interest, restaurants, hotel accommodations and campsites, and more.
Another way to have a cheap #getaway is to share costs with friends. Split multiple ways, an Airbnb or VRBO rental can make even exclusive locations affordable. Start texting your travel companions; you never know who might be willing to take a few days off.
With schools starting earlier every year, crowds start to ease at the end of August, Frommer’s says, and you may be able to save on flights and hotels during the “shoulder” season. Or you might be able to land a cheap flight to a fully off-season location in Mexico or the Caribbean.
Don’t despair or wallow in the fear of missing out. There’s still time to set aside a day or three to see something new, take a hike, go to the beach and otherwise shake off the same-old, same-old routine. Your health will benefit!
Prepare Your Home for Extreme Heat
Judicious #home improvements can help cope with extreme heat, Kiplinger says. Protect your roof by installing attic ventilation and adding or replacing insulation, which can also reduce the burden on your HVAC system and reduce energy costs. Shade trees, awnings and window films can dramatically reduce indoor temperatures by blocking direct sunlight. And if you really want to guarantee comfort, prepare for the worst by investing in a standby generator or installing solar panels and a battery backup to power essential equipment during an emergency. #Heatproof #ExtremeHeat
Avoid Cooking When Temperatures Soar
Cooking produces a lot of #heat in the kitchen, says CNET, so when you may wish to limit those activities during an extreme heat event. Even if your home is air-conditioned, cooking can add stress to electrical demands and have a negative effect on indoor air quality. Try no-cook meals such as salads or ceviche, or take anything that needs flame to an outdoor grill. You can also turn to small appliances such as an air fryer or microwave oven, which consume less energy and produce significantly less heat to get foodstuffs hot. If you must use the stove and oven, wait until nightfall and open the windows. #Heatproof #ExtremeHeat