THE OPTIMISTIC FARMER-August 2026
- theoptimisticfarme
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
2026 August Edition
Tall and (Small) Tales from the Great Basin of Northeast Nevada
We have made it to August, and if you sowed, this is usually the time to start reaping! Tomatoes are popping, zucchinis are showing themselves, corn is growing, and the flowers are speechless! As fall begins to show its signs and daylight starts to wane, August is a great month to be happy! Enjoy those backyard BBQs and parties with friends and family! Soon the cooler, and even colder, weather will be showing itself, and the gardening season will be winding down, so now is the time to enjoy the produce of all your hard work.
News from the Garden
As mentioned, things are really happening in the garden this month, and harvest is right around the corner. If you have grapes, they are starting to show themselves; based on what seems to be growing, you can plan for your harvest and what to do with all your goods. If you are lucky enough to have a community garden, August is a good month to go check it out. Because of a late frost, peaches may not be on the menu this year, so be grateful for what you do get and plan accordingly.
Innovations and Ideas
Using water efficiently is important in life, and in gardening it is no exception. There are a ton of water-saving ideas out there, but today we discuss ollas! Olla? What the heck is that? Well, ollas are unglazed clay pots buried to the neck near plants that slowly release water. This ancient method has been known to reduce water usage by up to 70% compared to standard surface watering methods. You can also make ollas from terra cotta pots; check out the link below!
Inner Work
Reducing the amount of chaos in life can reap many benefits. Whether it is clutter, a lack of routines, or negative thought patterns, recognizing chaos and having the tools to mitigate it can be life-changing! Later in this edition, learn how chaos can sometimes be fun in a garden setting!
Plants in Science: Propagation
Did you know that many plants can produce a new plant from a stem cutting? Propagation is the term used for this process! August is a good month to try because many plants have semi-ripe stems, which are ideal for cuttings! Plants such as rosemary, lavender, elderberries, grapes, and sage are all good candidates for propagation, but the list is long, so don't be afraid to experiment.
The idea is to take a cutting from the parent plant and get it to grow new roots. For most plants, you can clip 3-4 inches from a stem or semi-woody branch, then keep it warm and moist until you see roots forming. A rooting hormone may be used to help the cause. Succulents are also good candidates for propagation.
Last, but Not Least: Chaos Garden
If you are a gardener, the chances of you having an abundance of seeds are high. A little of this and a little of that stashed here and there for later use… been there, done that! Well, if you want to go outside the box, try a chaos garden! A chaos garden is much like its name: there is no rhyme, no reason, just seeds and chaos!!
Okay, now that you are intrigued, what exactly is a chaos garden? Drum roll... a chaos garden involves mixing your seed stash together (even old ones) and just throwing all rules of gardening out the window. Pick a spot in your garden; chaos gardening can be done in raised beds or containers as well. Anyway, when you have your mix of seeds, with no plan, simply plant the seeds!!!! The fun comes in as things grow and the guessing games begin! So, if you have a stash of old seeds or harvest a bunch of random seeds this year, save them for next planting season and go a little crazy!
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