Summer’s End

Above: Boston Charlie’s heritage apples against backdrop of Elwha River.

With evenings getting cooler, maple leaves dropping, and apples ripening on well-laden branches, we recognize the days of summer are ending soon. College, high school and middle school are about to begin for our kids — all online. While still in the midst of abundant harvests, we are planting the last of our fall crops these days, sad to imagine saying goodbye to tomatoes and beans, especially when they have hardly gotten going yet. But I do look foward to the slower pace of fall.

What a summer it has been, this summer of 2020! I have appreciated the opportunities for processing together as a family, during our weedings and plantings. It was an unfolding of multiple junctures — personal, national and global. So much to keep up with, and to hold all at the same time. I felt my heart ache much of the summer, maybe mostly from stretching. We have so much to learn as a people on this shared American soil and as part of a vulnerable planet.

As we walk the path together, I am grateful for the familiarity that changing seasons bring.

Our animals are looking forward to the cooler weather of fall.

Eight sows have produced litters of piglets over the summer, and all are enjoying the free range of pastures.

We purchased barley straw from Adolphsen’s, and have been stacking it in the barn, sometimes with help from friends.

And the sweet corn is as tall as the greenhouse. It should be just another week or so to harvest.

I think summer will feel complete with that first juicy bite of fresh corn-on-the-cob.