It sure does seem like nature has a way of keeping us in shape. This winter it was the long walks through deep snow up to the car and back. This summer it is the daily watering ritual.

It has been weeks since we have had any rain that is even measurable, and the temperatures have been hot even for summer. In the midst of it all, we have managed to keep our garden mostly flourishing through regular watering. Our rain barrels are long since emptied of actual rain, but Joe has ingeniously rigged up a system that allows us to refill the front rain barrels with water from our spring (which thankfully is still running strong). Back in Virginia Beach, Joe's family runs Wareing's Gym, where they have all of the finest equipment to help you get the best workout possible. Here in Floyd Co., we have combined form and function into a daily workout that revolves around water.

Joe usually spends 30-45 minutes a day down at the spring pumping water with the Simple Pump (the only hi-tech equipment involved in our workout) up to our rain barrels, at a rate of about 1.5 gal/min. From there it is dipped into buckets and distributed by hand throughout the garden, one bed at a time. We have been focusing on deep, thorough waterings, so we generally put the whole results of one round of pumping on one or two beds. It takes about a week to get the whole garden watered, at which point it is time to start over.

So, the next time you feel the need for some exercise, be sure to stop by the Floyd Co. branch of Wareing's Gym for a fun, friendly workout - no membership fees and we'll even send you home with a handful of fresh sungold tomatoes!