Harvest Time

Growing up on the farm in Minnesota many years ago, Autumn was my favorite season of the year.  It was the time when the heavy work of Summer was done; the hay is in the barn, the silage in the silo and grain in the bins.  The harvest was done and we felt contentment in knowing that we were prepared for the coming of winter - which in those days in Minnesota meant deep snow and cold weather, a time for hunkering down.  My family felt safe and secure in knowing that the cows would soon be having calves and we had sufficient food set aside for all the animals and for ourselves, as well.

Some of the vegetables and apples we harvested

At our community garden here in Sheridan we feel a sense of satisfaction as we complete a good growing season and have harvested all our crops.  Besides all the wonderful flowers and edible produce we have a bumper crop of apples this year in Sheridan.  Yesterday and today we held an enjoyable cider pressing community event - producing over a hundred gallons of cider for ourselves and many families in the community.

Cider Pressing party for the community at Jackson's Garden

Judy picking perfect apples

Over 30 local children rush into the patch to choose their prize pumpkin

Yet, it is not easy to let go of summer and we comment to each other that we hate to see it go.  A song I like to sing is called "Turning Toward the Morning"

When the deer is bedded down, and the bear is underground,

and the garden goose has wandered off to warmer bay and sound.

It's so easy in the cold to feel the darkness of the year, 

and the heart is growing lonely for the morning.

Indeed, the deer are plentiful in our valley and a number of bears have been roving around our community this fall.  In fact, one visited our garden to feast on apples several times in the last weeks.

After hundreds of hours of volunteer work to bring about a beautiful display of flowers all through the garden, in one night of frost they all turn dark..  Another verse of the song goes....

It's a pity we don't know what the little flowers know,
They can't face the cold November, they can't take the cold and snow.
They put their glories all behind them, bow their heads and let it go..
But we know they'll be there shining in the morning.

Just a few days ago this was a glorious display of colorful Cosmos flowers

BUT, We will see them again in the "morning" - next Spring