Girl Awakes: October 2012

This phrase became a running joke during the most brutal days of summer last year at the River Ranch. "Is it October yet?" During the time when most of our time--nearly every day--was spent harvesting endless rows of tomatoes, the weeks stretched on interminably, and it seemed there was no end in sight. "Is it October yet?" was code for, I need a friggin' break. October, we were told, was when things finally slow down. Days are shorter, so the workday starts later, the weather is pleasant, and the bulk of the harvesting is in the past.

That phrase definitely came up a few times this summer between Eric and I. The weeks before the Fall Equinox Fundraiser at the Hurley Farm, on September 22, were frenetic, with extra hands on the farm helping to mow, weed-wack, weed, and beautify the place for the big party. It felt great to see the place all spiffed up, and so gratifying to have so many people come that evening, and to join them in eating great food, drinking free microbrews and celebrating a great season.

Michele and Hurley, all dressed up for the Fall Equinox.

And then, it was October. After the fundraiser, I really started to feel like the season was ending. Most of our plants had been pulled, our tomatoes were slowing down, and we're due to finish now in less than two weeks! We've spent the past couple of weeks slowing down, treating our sore bodies to yoga classes again for the first time since spring, waking up a little later, and enjoying the lack of stress and the absence of that feeling of too-much-to-do.

I thought taking the tomatoes down last week would be bittersweet, but it turns out, it wasn't so hard to see them go. Eric and I were finally sick of tomatoes--even the giant, tangy heirlooms--and have rediscovered our love for winter squash, kale, and arugula. Eating seasonally is great in this way, because each seasonal change brings newness and excitement at the return of the vegetables six months ago you never wanted to eat again. It's kind of like the first day of school, except instead of homework, you get to cook delicious food :).

Some of the winter squash, pre-harvest.

Fall out here is nothing like fall in the Northeast. It was 87 degrees today. It still hasn't rained since May, and the only fall colors we have are the golds and rusts of dried out grasses and shrubs. Fall is more like spring in the way that, despite the lack of rain, new growth comes from cool nights and dew lingering longer in the morning. Spring crops come back--our rhubarb plant has exploded with the cooler weather, and the strawberries have picked up again (for real!). There are still apples and pears and pumpkins. I kind of like the Central Valley autumn, even without the leaf peeping and sweaters.

Tomatoes are down, and pigs are enjoying their "last meal."
(You can see their cute ears peeking from behind the white tent, on the right.)

In a couple of weeks, the field and garden at the Hurley Farm will be tucked in for the winter under a blanket of cover crop, Boda the pig will be "harvested" and in the freezer, and Eric and I will be closing the door on this little adventure in hand-scale farming. At some point this winter, we'll move back to the River Ranch, into "the duplex," over there, into one of the two staff apartments (the cozier side), and I'll be moving into a couple of new roles at Soil Born. I'm excited about winter at the Ranch. It's lambing time, and three little babies have been born this week. There will be two calves, in February and March, which means fresh raw milk again! The farm is beautiful and quiet in the winter, with everything green and damp, the animals fattening up on lush winter pasture. It will be such a gift to have the river and the parkway next door, and a bit more of a buffer from the concrete jungle of "parking lot-landia," that is outer Sacramento. I couldn't be happier that it's October, and that finally, the dog days are over.

Here are some of the ways I've taken advantage of "October":