The End of Another Season
As the days grow shorter and the frost starts to settle over northern New York, we approach the finale of another farming season. The landscape that was buzzing with life a few short weeks ago is now quiet and still. Many of our animals have moved back into the barn, where they’ll weather the cold months ahead. As we pick up the stray tools and move equipment into storage, we are reminded of the summer’s work; at the time, it felt like it would never end, and yet the end is now quite near.
This year brought its share of challenges and triumphs. The summer drought tested both patience and irrigation systems, forcing us to think creatively about how to utilize our farm’s resources. Yet it was also a season of firsts, most notably, our first year running a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Each week’s harvest reflected the rhythm of the farm: crisp greens and spring radishes giving way to sweet corn and summer tomatoes, and finally the roots and squashes of fall. Seeing our CSA members enjoy the bounty made the long days worthwhile and reminded us why we do this work in the first place.
Now, as the season winds down, we turn to the essential tasks that close out the year and prepare our farm for what comes next. The first order of business is usually clearing the garden beds. Spent plants and tired trellises are pulled to make way for cover crops: plants that hold the soil in place through winter, add organic matter, and build fertility for the next growing season. There’s something deeply satisfying about sowing those last seeds of the year, knowing they’ll work quietly under the snow while we rest.
One of our favorite traditions is planting garlic in late fall. Each clove goes into the ground just before it freezes, tucked under a blanket of rich compost. Garlic is the bridge between seasons, a promise that life continues even when the landscape turns still and gray. When the first green shoots emerge next spring, it feels like the garden is waking up again.
The change of seasons is reflected in our livestock as well. At this point in the year, we have finished processing all of our chickens, and we’re about halfway through with our turkey harvest. The feeder pigs and goats will be headed to the slaughterhouse in a couple of weeks. These are some of the hardest days on the farm, but they’re also among the most meaningful. Each animal represents months of care and attention, and we take pride in knowing that they were raised humanely and treated with respect through to the end. We always enter winter with freezers full of meat and hearts full of gratitude for the food that our animals provide.
Finally, everything must be winterized before we can rest. Hoses need to be drained, fuel needs to be stabilized, temporary fencing needs to be rolled up and stored. It’s all part of closing the loop so that when spring comes again, we can start fresh. Even as we settle into the quieter months, our minds are already full of thoughts about next year: Which crops should we grow again? How can we expand our CSA offerings? Should we trial a different breed of turkey, or stick with the tried and true? Farming is a constant cycle of reflection and renewal, and winter gives us space to dream a little. By the time the snow melts, we’ll be ready to dig in again. For now, we’re thankful: for our land, our animals, our customers, and the simple satisfaction of a year’s work well done.
