Snail Mail Summer, 2026

Hello friends! It’s beautiful here on the farm and we’ve been really enjoying our time in the garden. It has been rewarding to be able to focus on the soil and see dramatic - though incremental - progress.

We enjoyed our first harvest! Radishes are near the top of my (very crowded) list of Favorite Garden Foods. I started a small planting in our new Trash Tunnel and it was time to thin the seedlings. I don’t enjoy thinning as a practice, so I made sure we ate the radish micro greens as a reward.

It has been cool enough for soup this week, so Bill added the radish seedlings to the potato soup garnish we ate yesterday. Super yum. Oh man, I want to eat it again right now.

But first!! I am here to tell you about Snail Mail Summer. We’ve done it a few times before and it is time to roll out the 2026 version. The focus of Snail Mail Summer is to spend a bit of time creating, and then sharing your creations with others. Many participants enjoy making low-stakes, process-based art: that is, the point of making is to let your brain relax and spend some time just being and playing.

A few participants are trained artists. Most of us are absolutely not! And, NO ONE is judgmental about technique or results. If you are interested, but nervous about sharing your creations with others, then this is the swap for you. It’s just fun, no stress - who doesn’t love getting handmade mail? You can spend some time this summer creating things you enjoy and make someone’s day by giving them a bit of sunshine in their mailbox.

You can sign up for the first swap here: Snail Mail Summer 2026 Sign ups are open through May 15 with mail to be sent by June 10. Our initial swap will be cards (handmade or purchased) of any kind, but future swaps might focus on themes like bookmarks, upcycled junk mail, or Neurographic doodles. It will focus on accessible activities (easy and flexible supplies), and things that fit in a standard stamped envelope. Your input is encouraged as we shape the summer, and there is space on the form for all your ideas.

This year, we’re going to go month-to-month with the swap. So, if you can participate in May, but think you’ll be busy in July, that’s ok. You can just join us for May and then come back when you’re ready.

Please let me know if you have any questions! There is also space to discuss and shape Snail Mail Summer on our new Discord server. You can join us here.

Thank you! Be well.
~ JoAnna, and the locust flowers