The Rhythm

Of the Season

It’s September, and false fall is here in all its glory! The cooler temps have been a balm after the heat and damp of July and August. For this fairweather farmer, who mostly goes out in the garden when inspired or needed, the shift is both a relief and a gentle nudge to get back into the garden. I spend most of my days supporting our farm and family in other arenas, and it can be tempting to stick with solitary tasks like food preservation and other “farm wife” duties instead of venturing out into the fields.

Of course, Ben and crew have been moving in the fields all summer long. We’re getting radishes, carrots, kale, collards, chard, strawberries (we’ll baby those plants until they start fruiting come April), and more into the ground. The garden is flush with seedlings and cover crop, while a few late-summer pepper plants, eggplant, and basil are thriving, holding the last flavors of summer. We pulled our tomatoes and mowed down the okra. The tomatoes were on their way out, though we’ve tucked green ones into our “warm” cooler to extend the season. The okra, still producing, requires constant harvest, and we really needed to get the ball rolling on fall and winter prep. There’s a bittersweet rhythm to these transitions—saying goodbye to some crops while welcoming the next wave.

A long-awaited project is also underway: the seedling tunnel! You might remember Ben planned to build it two years ago—until a tree fell on the barn and sent us scrambling. It’s finally happening, and we’re excited for the protection and growth it will offer our seedlings in the coming months.

We’ve also welcomed a new crew member to the farm: Kate! She comes to us from Asheville, jumped right in full-time from her very first week, and already feels like part of the team. We’re so glad she chose to grow with us for the year ahead.

Fall farming is always a mix of letting go and beginning again. As we move into this seasonal shift, we’re grateful for the cooler air, the soft light, the smell of turned soil, and the promise of hearty greens, roots, and storage crops ahead. There’s a quiet magic in this time of year—the slow unfolding of the season, the hum of insects in their last hurrah, and the steady rhythm of planting, tending, and watching life grow.

CSA Notes: Fall CSA starts the week of September 21st! If you’re in our CSA, expect some emails in the next couple of weeks. The first orders of the season open at noon on Saturday, September 20th.