Summer reminds me more of my childhood than any other time of year and it's all about the food:  Sweet corn and sun-warmed ripe peaches eaten right off of the tree, my dad in his garden until dark every night coming in with baskets overflowing with huge tomatoes, cabbage, beans, cucumbers.

About halfway through his 7th grade school-year, my son figured out that if he took a shower in the morning before school, he 1) was more awake at school, 2) smelled and looked better, and 3) got to school on time.  All of these outcomes were great.  What wasn't great was our water bill.  Now,  I didn't want to squash his new love of cleanliness and timeliness, so, what to do?

I was raised by parents who were green before their time. They had to be. My father was born in 1914 on a small Morrow County farm.  He grew up with 5 siblings during the Great Depression.  My mother who was 11 years younger grew up in Columbus and later Worthington around the same time.  Both of their families had to be frugal.