So What's The Big Deal About Autumn Anyway?

Welcome to October! One cannot scroll through social media these days or turn on the TV without seeing all sorts of photos and quotes about autumn finally arriving. The stores have been geared up for weeks ahead of time, their shelves filled with fall decorations and, of course, scary Halloween decorations as well. It's almost as if we are being hit over the head with it wherever we turn. So, what's the big deal about autumn anyway?

I can only speak from my own personal perspective. First of all, you can't beat the colors. Sure, spring is filled with promise and hope after a long, dark winter, but autumn celebrates all of that hope and promise fulfilled  in its bountiful harvests, blazing colors, and crisp scents in the cooler air. It's as if Mother Earth is making sure she goes out with a bang before all is asleep once again under that snowy blanket. 

The older I get, the more autumn takes on an almost spiritual meaning for me. I appreciate the beauty of the land so much more. The colors and variety of the harvest makes me want to take to my kitchen and cook up a storm, feeding my soul as well as my body. Most of all, autumn inspires me. While I try not to dwell on the idea of my passing some day, when I do go, I want to go out just like Mother Nature does every year. I want to go out in a blaze of glory, full of the life I've lived, the people I've loved, and the gifts I've been able to share. Until then, I want to live full out, full of color, glory, and the crisp wind in my hair that says "Here I am, world. Let's play in the leaves!"

And so it is. 

Thank You, Johnny Appleseed!

I know I talk about apples a lot but, honestly, have you ever come across a more useful and prolific fruit in your life? I mean, there is no end to what you can do with them, not to mention how healthy they are for you. They are rich in fiber and antioxidants. They have been linked to a lower risk of many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Apples may also promote weight loss as well as improve gut and brain health. How's that for a a bunch of reasons to enjoy them!

You may have heard the story about Johnny Appleseed when you were a kid in school. As the story goes, Johnny, whose real name was John Chapman, was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, in 1774. His dream was to produce so many apples that no one would ever go hungry. While the story told to children is of a man wearing a pot on his head, traveling across the country planting apple trees, what he actually did was to buy up tracts of land to plant thousands of acres of apple trees. He headed west in 1792 when he was 18 years old with his half-brother, Nathaniel. Eventually Nathaniel would stay behind to help their father with the farm and Johnny continued westward. Folklore also says that he was thought to be funny looking because of the way he dressed. It was said that he traded apple trees to the settlers for their cast-off clothing. After 50 years of walking the throughout the country, he died in March of 1845 at the age of 71 from pneumonia. It is said that it was the only time he was ever sick in his whole life.

I have nothing but thanks and gratitude for old Johnny and what he gave to this country. I honor the beautiful produce that he gifted us every year by paying a visit to our local apple-claim-to-fame, The Cider Mill, here in beautiful Endicott, New York. There you can see first-hand how apple cider is made, as well as their famous (and delicious, I might add) donuts - the maple ones are my favorites. Along with learning about how cider and donuts are made, you can choose from an unending variety of things made from apples: pies, applesauce, cookies, muffins, jams, jellies, butters, and even slushies. In addition, cheese, jams and jellies from other local producers are also sold there. My favorite part of my visit, however, is outside the building where every kind of apple you can think of are for sale: Cortland (only an hour's drive from here), Gala, McIntosh, Granny Smith, Delicious, etc., are all for sale in huge bins. Along side them are veggies and fruits of the season, freshly harvested: the first of the squashes, gourds, blueberries, and, of course, the first pumpkins, although there will be many more of those come October. I am in my glory every time I go there. Even though it is smack dab in the neighborhood, once you'e there, you swear you're out in the country enjoying the gifts nature has to offer. It is truly one of the highlights of the coming season for me.

So, thank you, Johnny Appleseed, for my apple pies, apple cider, apply smoothies, apple jelly, apple butter, and, oh, gosh, for that big, red, juicy apple itself! May it never fade away.

And so it is. 

September's Song

"Oh, it's a long, long while from  May to December,

But the days grow short when you reach September."

The mornings have been lovely this last week. Waking up now just as the sun is rising brings the first hints of Autumn in the air. It is crisp, and clean, and cool (thankfully), and these now cooler nights are hitting the tips of some of the trees as color starts to appear. September, how I've longed for you to be here, and here you are. Welcome!

The farmers' markets and roadside stands are now bursting with the first fruits and veggies of the harvest, with plenty to come in the weeks ahead. Already I'm pulling out recipes for squash, pumpkin, and, of course, apples ... lots and lots of apples. Here in upstate New York we are blessed with the perfect climate for apples of every variety. There are farms and orchards here who open their gates to folks and invite them to come pick their own. We haven't had the opportunity to do so these last few years, but this year we may see it coming back. How awesome it would be to be able to grab a basket and get at it again.

The other day when I opened the window and got a whiff of the clean, cooler air, just for a second I could catch a particular aroma that I always described to my kids as: "It smells like it's time for school." Of course I was the only one who could smell it, or feel it. I wasn't just teasing the kids growing up. If my Mom were alive she would tell you that even as a child I would share that moment with her when I opened the door and declared to her that it "smelled like school." I had that feeling the other day. Needless to say it spurned my yearly commitment to stocking up on blank notebooks, pencils, and pens, and to start searching for some topic to study which I undertake on my own every year, just like picking a course of study in college.  I firmly believe that learning is a life-long event and that we never stop, nor should we. How boring life would be if we didn't find new and interesting things to learn and to try. This year I am choosing to go deeper into vegan cooking, looking for more diversity and creativity in the kitchen. What better time to take that up than when it is harvest season and the best that our local farmers have to offer is all around!

So this September, I am singing a song of hope for apple picking, cooler days, beautiful leaves, and the excitement of discovery between the pages of vegan cookbooks and online. Just thinking about it makes me want to sing out loud!

And so it is. 

Back to the Land of Horse and Buggy

This weekend my youngest daughter and I took a road trip ... my first in three years due to surgeries and Covid ... to see her older sister who lives in Narvon, a town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The weather was warm but breezy, and the scenery was just beautiful. I had not had the opportunity to see my daughter's new home since she moved there and I was totally enchanted with being back out in the Pennsylvania countryside and, in particular, in Lancaster County. Lancaster, in case you didn't know, is home to a large Amish and Mennonite community. It was not only a family road trip, it was also a trip back in time.

I lived in Pennsylvania for 21 years before moving to upstate New York. Although we didn't live in Lancaster County, we did see our fair share of how the Amish people lived. Visiting this weekend I was reminded of the commitment to tradition and to a simpler, kinder way of life, a life that so many of us have all but forgotten. I got to see the traditional horse and buggies on the road, the simple, prim attire of the women and children, the hard work and dedication to their farms, their stores, and all of their hand work that set them apart from the how most of society lives. The fields were high with corn waiting to be harvested, the farm stands were filled with ripe, luscious produce, and everyone from the oldest to the youngest were lending a hand, working side-by-side to do what needed to be done. Down to the smallest among those that we came in contact with, everyone was pleasant, polite, and ready to help or serve. It got me to thinking about almost every kid I know these days who think even an hour away from their video games is some kind of punishment.

Watching the Amish people this weekend and seeing their simple, but functional, homes and farms, made me step back and think about how much simplification and downsizing I've already done, and what more I could do to live a more authentic, sustainable, and satisfying life. If these hard-working, God-fearing, dedicated people can live that way, and still be quite obviously happy, it's certainly something to think about.

And so it is.

My People, My Planet

Last Saturday I was thrilled to be able to return to my very favorite farmers' market, the Ithaca Market in Ithaca, New York. Between Covid and surgeries, it had been a while since I was able to go. Trust me when I say it was a like taking a five year old to a candy store. Stall after stall boasted the very best of organic produce, homemade cheese, breads, wines, beautiful sustainably grown flowers, and lovely hand made crafts and artwork. It wasn't just the things for sale that made it such a wonderful experience, it was just as much the people who live their lives day after day in a responsible, sustainable way.

Walking around the market, I was also taken with the people who choose to spend their Saturday shopping, socializing, and enjoying this gem which sits on the shores of a branch of the Cayuga River. You can grab a cup of coffee made from homegrown beans, or some iced tea, sit outside watching the boats go by, and listen to whatever musician happens to be playing just for the joy of sharing their music. Whenever I go there, I always get the feeling that I am surrounded by "my people," the men and women who believe that we can live a sustainable, healthy life while at the same time protecting our dear Mother Earth by using healthy farming practices. Their stands filled with beautiful, luscious bounty shows what people can do if they want to save the planet and still produce healthy food to eat. 

I was also struck by the broad range of people who were there: students, young adult farmers, old hippies who never gave up the fight, and, most of all, lots and lots of children who are being taught where good, wholesome food comes from and how they can pass on that knowledge for the future. There's no big secret to growing food without pesticides or GMO's and protecting the earth, our home, for future generations. All you have to do is walk down those aisles, talk to the folks who are doing it, and be willing to put health and responsibility above money, taking personal responsibility for the welfare of the planet. Sure, it's a pretty big commitment, but the alternative is not something we can ignore much longer.

As for me, I came home with the biggest organic tomato I've ever seen (which made a great tomato sandwich, I might add), curly lettuce, homemade bread, and a sense of peace and contentment which only comes from being in the presence of like-minded people - my people, the ones who live every day of their lives in reverence for our Mother Earth and the future of food in this country. May that reverence carry on to the next generation and beyond.

And so it is. 

 

Sunrise, Sunset

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die ..."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

If there is one thing I've learned from nature, it is that everything has a time and a season, sunrise and sunset, winter to spring, life to death. Nothing remains the same. You'd think after 73 years on this planet, I'd get used to it, accept it and move on. Sometimes that works, like with winter to spring, and sunrise to sunset. When it comes to life and death, though, it's still a struggle.

Today is my birthday. Exactly one week ago my sweet, beloved four-legged, furry Golden Girl, Laura, crossed that rainbow bridge to be with her sister in heaven:

Laura was just coming up on her 18th birthday when a stroke took her. She went with my arms around her, singing to her, and watching her favorite Cat TV channel on YouTube with birds and squirrels. A cardinal was singing to her as she took her last breath. She knew right up to the very end that she was loved.

I have loved and lost 5 cats over the last 33 years. I have also been a gardener, of large and tiny gardens, for almost that long. Between both of these things, you'd think I'd have gotten the message that seasons come and go, and so do those we love. The flowers don't stay in bloom forever, the sun eventually sets, and the April showers will eventually be February's snow. If we know that, know it in our hearts as well as our minds, then why is death so hard to bear? I think the word we're looking for here is love. When we lose someone we love, it's like losing a part of us, a part we think we will never recover. We may know intellectually that the trees will bloom again in the spring, and the grass will grow back, but at that moment our hearts are telling us that there is a huge hole that will never be filled again. We have lost someone who loved us, unconditionally, and that is something you can't just replace by planting a new seed ... or is it? 

All things take time. A seed planted today won't bloom tomorrow, or the next day, or maybe even for a week or two. Eventually, if we give it water, light, warmth, and attention, it will sprout, and and a new flower will grow. It may not look exactly like the one we had, and it may even be something completely different, but when the sun shines on it, it will reach it's leaves to the sky in joy. So today, on my birthday, I will look for some seeds, perhaps some Forget Me Not's, plant them in new soil, water them with love, feed them with hope, and wait for that day when tiny green shoots of a new day poke through. 

And so it is.

Water, Water, Everywhere And Not A Drop To Drink

One of the things I love about walking very early in the morning is that the noises and distractions of the day haven't quite started yet and I can greet the day, and all my bird and animal friends, quietly and with gratitude. One day a few weeks ago was the exception, a very wet one as a matter of fact.

I was walking on a residential street lined on both sides with well established, older homes and beautiful big trees making a canopy for me from the rising sun. At that point of the morning it was low and just above the horizon. I always walk with sunglasses and a hat with a brim to protect my old eyes, but when it's that low, the glare slides right between glasses and hat. On that morning, when I came to a break in the trees in front of someone's house, I had to lower my head and divert my eyes towards the street to keep from being blinded for the few moments it took me to reach shade again. In those few moments, I wasn't focused on the houses or their front landscapes ...which is why I ended up with an unexpected morning shower!

The house that was sitting right between the two shade trees and open to the morning sun was, at that moment, getting soaked from a water sprinkler that reached way beyond their picture-perfect lawn all the way across the sidewalk to the curb. I walked right through it. To say I was surprised and put off my stride was an understatement. I had to dart out into the street to keep from getting soaked. If it had been 70 degrees, it would have felt good. Since it was only 56 degrees, it was a rude awakening to say the least. When I reached the safety of the sidewalk again (thankfully there were no cars at that hour to run into when I escaped to the street), I turned around to get a view of my attacker. The homeowners had positioned the sprinkler to wave back and forth over the lawn so it didn't hit the house, only the sidewalk. How thoughtful of them. It made me stop and get a good look at all the lawns up and down the street. As I continued on my walk, I took extra care to see who had used their frontage to grow something beautiful or useful, and who had just plopped a lawn down there because "that's what everybody does, right?" As it turns out, more than half the homes had front lawns just sitting there. Some were small, but some were massive and included the sides and backs of the homes. There they sat using up water and soil just to make an impression on the neighbors.

I'm not here to argue against the existence of lawns. They certainly have a use, especially if you have pets or kids who need a safe, soft place to play and exercise. However, after what we've been though for the last two years and the realization that we can, and should, be more self-sufficient and sustainable, it changes the need to impress the neighbors to a chance to help feed the neighbors and your family as well. Even a front lawn can be used to grow herbs and leafy greens that are decorative as well as edible. And let's not even get into the use of chemicals to keep the weeds and dandelions out of the lawn that poison the ground water, yours as well as your neighbors (by the way, did you know that dandelions are edible and can be used for salads as well as teas?). By now there is no excuse for anyone not to know about what Roundup can do to your health ... is a nice lawn worth it if your child gets too sick to use it?

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir here. All I know is that in this day and age, it's time to stop thinking about impressing the neighbors or keeping up appearances and start thinking about how we should be using the gift of our little piece of the earth. Do we want to feed it, and nurture it, or do we want it to look pretty as it slowly dies underneath? Do we want to feed our families or poison them? Do we want to start taking responsibility for where and how our food is grown, or continue to leave it up to the folks who are more interested in their wallets than your health? If I'm going to get an unexpected morning shower like that, I'd rather it be in the interest of good health and responsible homeowners than keeping up with the Jones!

And so it is.