Fall on the Farm

Fall brings brilliant colors and cool temps. Like, frost on the grass and frozen animal water, type temps. The cold snap was winter just saying, “Hey get your beanies out, ready or not I am coming” For the record we are not ready.

For us, this fall was so much more then falling leaves and cold breezes. It ends our first season on our farm. The end creates a harvest where you can reflect on where you started, (an undeveloped piece of raw land a.k.a mud bog ) how far you have come ( animal areas + garden boxes + produce ) and where you are going, (time to break out the napkins drawings again).

In early spring we started seedlings inside our home, watched them sprout and grow. Once planted them in the soil we battled weeds, bugs all while we tried to protect our produce while sharing reasonably with our feathered friends. My biggest realization was how much our little farm can work in harmony. The lavender and sunflowers attracted the bees (bees are welcome hornets are not ) The extra melons we grew could be tossed over the fence and enjoyed by the animals. The scraps (currently in a pile) will someday enrich the soil. Everyone benefits.

Some triumphs: The cucumbers grew faster then could be picked and landed in jars and we turned them into pickles. Tomatoes were sun ripened, plump and juicy as they bursted with flavor. Kale thrived landing in our salads as well as the chicken coop. The Cauliflower varieties (purple , green, yellow, and white) took over 3 garden boxes filling our fridge with fresh florets. I can’t wait to plant it again!

Some troubles ; The broccoli was sampled by the local garden inhabitants before we could get even harvest it for ourselves . Our berry bushes didn’t like the soil so after discovering the acid levels needed to be higher for them to thrive, we have a plan to nourish them for next year ( Ryan’s coffee grounds will be key ) . Carrots never made it but the tops were enjoyed by our farm animals.

The two most rewarding things we grew in our first season were sunflowers and pumpkins.

Sunflowers lined the front and back of the garden. This was a true marvel to watch them sprout and catch their stride. Almost over night they towered over the gate, then our heads and only to slow, as they seemed to touch the clouds. Their petals delicate and bright, imitate the sun’s rays, their long stem would bend and sway in the breeze as if they were dancing in the sky. You coudln’t help but smile when you looked at them.

We grew a patch of pumpkins and for the kids especially this was very rewarding! Their progress was very visual you could see their growth daily as they soaked up sunlight and water and grew in size and weight until they glowed brilliant orange. WE had so many we could share them with friends and have them line our porch!

We had a season of hard work but each time a juicy strawberry was found, the joy was simple and contagious. Watering , trimming and collecting became more then chores, it was a time to restore and dream. More often then not I would work with out gloves, moving earth with your hands is very therapeutic. It was worth the extra long hand wash and nail scrubbing. All stages of our inaugural garden season was enjoyed by our family. Even the grumbles for weed picking would fade once we were all out there together.

If you have ever thought about growing something, anything … what are you waiting for …. just plant the seed!