We’ve officially passed the fall equinox, which means the garden looks like crap. Death is part of the garden’s life cycle and it is something we must come to terms with. The good news is that fall also welcomes new beginnings — cool season crops! Here are some photos to celebrate the garden’s death and welcome new life for fall.
Summer crops are piled up waiting to be shredded for a new compost pile. We’ll use the results in the spring garden. Pumpkins are drying down and will be ready to pick when the stems are brown and dry.We opened up the coop today to what looked like a pillow fight. Feathers everywhere can only mean one thing: molting. Fall means seed starting for brassicas. This is one of three seed trays we started yesterday. Kale, broccoli, Romanesco, bok choy, celeriac, cabbages, and kohlrabi will be ready to plant out in 6 to 8 weeks. For the first time, we had home-grown cilantro at the same time as tomatoes. Secret: plant new seeds in July, and August in a spot with some shade. Keep it watered and cross your fingers!Volunteer potatoes are flowering in our watermelon patch. We’ll take that!Our first Fuji apple came off the tree a little early. It wasn’t very sweet yet, but it wasn’t tart. Taste testing is the best way to know when apples are ready to pick. Baking is back once the weather cools down. This Tartine potato focaccia was made with home-grown potatoes sliced translucent-thin, and a lot less dough that was called for in the recipe. It came out like a potato chip pizza but we’re not complaining. Our navel oranges are starting to turn color. Citrus is one of the best fall/winter fruits.
Get out there and work in your fall garden. I promise you’ll feel better than you did before you started. While we mourn the loss of heroes, heroines, loved ones, and summer crops, the change of seasons helps us stay strong and garden on.
This captures how I feel looking at my dying summer garden so well. This year I was surprised at the depth of grief, but I decided to go with it and just spent some time grieving as I tore things up and composted. As with loved ones lost, I thought about the good memories: the joy of tomatoes and basil in July, sharing our abundance with friends, and the joy of just watching things grow! It was a tough few weeks, but now things are looking ready for the next adventure. Thank you for the encouragement to keep going! It’s wonderful to read someone who gets it!!!
You’re very welcome, Susan. And thank you for posting your comment. Sometimes it feels like I’m just sending stuff out into the ether and I wonder how it lands. I think we are all more tied to the seasonal changes than we realize. I’m happy I was able to put your feelings into words and pictures. Happy fall gardening!
This captures how I feel looking at my dying summer garden so well. This year I was surprised at the depth of grief, but I decided to go with it and just spent some time grieving as I tore things up and composted. As with loved ones lost, I thought about the good memories: the joy of tomatoes and basil in July, sharing our abundance with friends, and the joy of just watching things grow! It was a tough few weeks, but now things are looking ready for the next adventure. Thank you for the encouragement to keep going! It’s wonderful to read someone who gets it!!!
You’re very welcome, Susan. And thank you for posting your comment. Sometimes it feels like I’m just sending stuff out into the ether and I wonder how it lands. I think we are all more tied to the seasonal changes than we realize. I’m happy I was able to put your feelings into words and pictures. Happy fall gardening!