I think the community garden plot is coming along well this season. The tomatoes are starting to ripen and we should have a decent harvest by mid-August. I would suggest we meet Saturday morning to do the weeding and check the irrigation system. The raised beds are holding up nicely and the new compost bin seems to be working well. We planted marigolds around the perimeter this year which has helped with pest control. Have you thought about what you want to do with the extra space where the sunflowers were. I think planting some late-season greens there would work well. Let me know if Saturday works for you or if another day would be better. I can bring some starter plants if you want to try something different this time around. The soil has been holding moisture well with the mulch layer we added. I noticed a few aphids on the broccoli but the ladybugs have been helping keep them in check. We should plan for the fall crop soon as well.

I tried that new pasta dish last night and it turned out better than I expected. The key was roasting the vegetables first before adding them to the sauce. I used zucchini and bell peppers with some garlic and herbs. The sauce came together nicely with a bit of cream and parmesan. Next time I might add some mushrooms for extra texture. I served it with a simple side salad and some crusty bread. My family really enjoyed it and asked me to make it again. The recipe called for fresh basil but I used dried since that is what I had on hand and it still worked fine. I would recommend giving it a try if you are looking for something new to make for dinner. Let me know if you want the full recipe and I can send it over. I also adjusted the seasoning a bit using smoked paprika which added a nice depth to the dish.