Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
This is a beautiful time of year, and Nature’s artistry is everywhere. Look for it wherever you are – it can be found in places you may not expect. Be sure to look not just at the majestic, but also at the diminutive…because sometimes the most stunning beauty can be found in the tiny. Wishing you a fall full of wonder.
Not just fun, finding awe is good for your wellbeing, too.
Finding beauty in the ordinary isn’t difficult when Nature surrounds us with it. Walking across the front yard, the vibrant leaf litter jumped out at me – and this leaf, in particular. In the sunshine, it really was this incredible color (no filters applied). This – like all of the seasons – is an eye-popping time of year. Take time to appreciate it.
Leaves crunching underfoot, the filtered quality of light, the goldenrod blooming…all herald Autumn’s arrival. The Canada geese, in particular, have historically been a seasonal bellwether for me, with their cries and formations a clear sign of the end of summer. As a big fan of fall, I welcome it, in all its pumpkin-spiced glory!
Like it or not, the sheer beauty of the season inspires me to continue writing verse – and the chill in the air is positively invigorating. Rest assured, I’ll continue to post about cooking, fermenting, and the other content you’re used to seeing here, but there will be poetry, too. Just be aware: I also enjoy limericks!
As someone who believes in the value of clear communication, I appreciate the tidy succinctness of haiku; as “mood” poetry, it’s particularly well-suited to capturing moments in nature. Consider this classic haiku by Matsuo Basho (from the Academy of American Poets website):
An old pond!
A frog jumps in—
the sound of water.
Doesn’t it create a very vivid image in your mind? And sound, along with that image? I “see” a still garden pond, with lily pads floating on it, and a small frog leaping from the bank into the water with a splash that belies the frog’s small size. Then – if you run with it – the concentric circles, ripples flowing out from the center of the splash. Yes, the last part is clearly an extrapolation, but poetry encourages you to let your imagination run wild!
May the wonders of the season awaken your muse, too.
While it seems to have taken longer than usual, it’s like a switch has been flipped and the foliage is turning color. We’ve had a couple of beautiful fall days, with frost riming the grass in the morning and the kind of azure skies that only seem to appear at this time of year. Autumn’s beauty is spellbinding – and worthy of appreciation.
Continue reading “Around The Farm: Burning Bushes, A Steadfast Sunflower, And Something Surprising”