Today, we have an exploration topic: Navigating tough communications and interpersonal relationships. What does that have to do with homesteading or independence? Well it turns out it has a lot to do with both those things. What Mother Nature is providing Squash bugs and vine borers have won yet again - the early heat wave. Tomatoes, green beans, okra, corn Elderberry, sumac berries, lemon balm Mimosa flowers are still going strong Still haven’t seen blueberries Confession on garlic: You can’t dig when you have pneumonia What we are preserving this week Buch update Drying sage, lemonbalm and peppermint Canning corn and beans Tales from the Prepper Pantry From last week: It’s about time to re-organize all the canned goods and take an assessment Operation prepper pantry fury as Brian would say Defrosting the chest freezer will happen soon - as soon as I am well Listener Feedback Phone consultation question Listening twice Operation Independence Refined focus has helped despite losing weeks to illness. Increased the debt payoff allocation (emergency fund is back in place, had a good month with our Airbnb, paper sold the most ads ever this edition) Taxes are getting closer Topic: Navigating Tough Communication Song: Cilly Song