Embrace the change in seasons
“The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long. Seems like we’re running out of time.” – Triumph, “Fight the Good Fight”.
The growing season is over. I’ve harvested as much as possible of the remaining rocket arugula in all it’s sharp flavor. The trees have dropped their leaves and gone dormant. Yet I am more excited about next year than usual at this time of year. Often that feeling doesn’t set in until the week after Christmas when the seed catalogs arrive in their blaze of colorful Hope in the darkest week of the year.
It was 17 degrees in the morning last week on Nov-1. After highs of 30’s and 40’s last week, today it is in the 70’s. My peppers that are overwintering in the greenhouse don’t know whether to wake back up again.
Two of my chestnut trees bore their first nuts – three small burrs, with three small chestnuts. I also got a few handfuls of small hazelnuts from four hazelnut bushes that I have in the back pasture that I was about to give up on after 6+ years. I will plant all of these and see how they do next year.
The local organic chestnut farm and my favorite local apple nursery were hit by a late frost this past Spring. Very few apples and chestnuts. The chestnut farm was so badly affected that the owner warned stores that they may not be able to fill orders. But my favorite chestnut trees in a small town near me were protected by a north windbreak and had a good crop. I had less competition foraging them this year.
I ate some, sold and traded some, and kept the bulk of them for sprouting out to replenish my stock of chestnut seedlings next year.
I sold over 50 trees through GrowNutTrees.com this year. It was a very good year. I am already saving chestnuts in buckets of sand for next year.
How I forage, sprout, and transplant chestnuts.
I saved persimmon seeds for the first time. You can read about it right here on Thriver News:
My View of the Weekend
This time of year (November), this is my view on a weekend morning. Sitting in a tree stand and waiting for deer. I’ve seen deer (including a 10 point buck) but no clear shot. So many missed opportunities this season.
It may be fleetingly warm today, but I can feel the change in my bones. Daylight Savings Time has passed. The garden is put away for the winter. The firewood is stacked.
On these increasingly cold days, I want to burrow down in the covers and eat something rich and strong, like a stew with carrots and a delicious broth.
Our bodies know that there is a change. We lament this, and some even groan when they see and feel it coming. But it is Normal. There, I said it. It is Normal.
It is time to pause, to rest, to wait, to plan.
Winter – the Long Dark of Moria
“We now have but one choice – we must face the long dark of Moria.” – Gandalf.
Winter can be over (and sometimes) underwhelming. At times steeped in isolation, other times with cabin fever.
Don’t fall in the trap of loneliness like the guy above. Keep in close contact with your community:
- Put on workshops. Share skills.
- Have a barter blanket and trade your stuff.
- Get together and lift a glass in toast to each other’s health.
- Celebrate the holidays with gusto.
- Plan your garden and next year’s projects together.
- Gather your seeds as prep for a spring seed swap.
We were made for Firelight and Candles
Our bodies are made to gaze into the fireplace and the low light of candles in the evening.
The blue artificial light disrupts that pattern and your circadian rhythm.
Don’t forget your health:
- Keep exercising. Keep to the routine.
- Go outside and brave the cold.
- Get up and go to bed at the same times each day.
- Keep your blue light to a minimum in the evening. Wear blue filtering glasses.
- Relax with a fire in the fireplace, outside in the fire pit, or candles.
Personally, I am looking forward to this:
While resting I will dream. While dreaming I will plan.
I am planning the garden and orchard for next year. There will be cuttings and scions to gather, grafting, and, well, just living.
Remember:
Each day is new.
You can’t change the past, but you can change today.
You can make a difference.
I also remember – this is Kansas. It was 37 degrees for a high last week. But this week it will be almost 70. Then 40…then 50…all in one week.
Gracefully face the long dark of Moria.
