Seasonal Shifts
Thankfully Winter-ish
Everyone loves a warm fall day when short sleeves are more suitable than a jacket. The smell and colors make the perfect fall day truly ideal. But is there such a thing as too much perfection? The overly warm and dry fall has me somewhat concerned about the approaching season. I wonder if the trees have stored enough spring rain and will fare well. Thankfully, the weather appears more seasonally appropriate now. The rain has arrived and will hopefully transition to snow soon. While I'd prefer being outside in a t-shirt, I realize that I wouldn't value it as much if I didn't have to layer up during the fall. The warm fall has resulted in an abundant supply of broccoli, chard, and brussels. Brussel sprouts continue to grow until a severe freeze, but I have never seen such a prolific yield of broccoli and chard. I'm one of those unique individuals who could eat broccoli daily, so I have happily consumed and stored a significant amount for when the garden finally rests.
Honorable Harvest
I've noticed an increase in overwintering birds in the garden this year. The doves seem to be secret broccoli enthusiasts as well. I don't mind when the wildlife partakes in what we grow. It seems only right to share. In season we cover our blueberries, but we remove the cover before we've picked every last berry, leaving some for the robins and catbirds. The porcupine has a penchant for peaches, I just wish he wouldn't prune the peach tree to get them. Leaving something behind is something the author Robin Wall Kimmerer calls Honorable Harvest. It is routed in the Indigenous practice of taking only what you need, sharing abundance, and giving thanks. All good things to remember and practice this holiday season. Watching all the wildlife that we share the farm with is one of my greatest joys.
A dark-eyed junco enjoys the garden this fall
Artificial Intelligence
As I write this, a Mailchimp AI assistant stands ready to improve my words. I can "edit with AI" with options to make this paragraph be friendly, witty or heartfelt, to name a few. There is even an option for me to have a machine make my words authentic. There is some irony there, at least I think that is irony. Tampering with my original words, the AI bot sometimes helps the message, but more often, I choose my own original words. I have friends that use AI for everything – planning a vacation, stock tips, and writing newsletters. As a regular practice, using AI rarely occurs to me. I cannot decide if I am missing out on something or not. As a small (I like to say boutique) maple farm, we are not particularly automated. And yet, the maple industry is succumbing to automation in the sugarhouse and in production. With all the automation and AI, where is the line when it is no longer your words or your product? I am not sure I want to find out. My words are a reflection of who I am and the experiences that shaped me. You are reading this because you want to know about me and the farm. How can a machine do that or do it authentically?
Seasonal Shifts
As the seasons shift, so do our daily activities. We are in the woods getting ready for the upcoming season. Our last farmers market was a cold one and we are grateful to be outside moving rather than outside standing. Thank you all for your support this year. I anticipate writing more frequent newsletters to let you know how we are doing this year. After all, if I can’t do it, there is always AI.
May you and your loved ones be safe, happy and warm this holiday season.
We will be at the Berkshire Grown Winter Market in Housatonic this winter. Thanks to Berkshire Grown for organizing another indoor market.