While I’m away, my herbs and vegetables will keep growing. The basil, cilantro and chives will beg for someone to snip them; my zucchini and beans will bear their first fruits and flowers. They will get thirsty in the relentless summer heat. I am not worried though. I have asked my cherished cooking friends and neighbors to use what grows in my garden. This will make my plants healthier and more fruitful. And it will make me happy. I have gently reminded my friends that my garden is theirs. In return for this bounty, my friends will switch on my soaking hose from time to time, clip what they need to flavor a dish, and leave me a few mature fruits for my return. I am comforted knowing that nothing will go to waste while I’m away.