I realize that we are technically in the middle of autumn, really I do. But Halloween, for me, marks the end of a season. A season full of gardening and harvesting, sowing and reaping. I can't help but to close my eyes and imagine what it might have been like for people a few hundred years ago - possibly even a thousand years ago. And not just here, but in countries abroad. My ancestors came from Scotland and Ireland mainly, though sadly, I have to admit I don't know much about them. All I have is this information passed to me by my parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Yet I feel haunted by the past. I past that wasn't mine, than belonged to those ancestors I never knew. In a new age where we take most things for granted, it's hard to fathom that there was a time when there were no grocery or other convenience stores existed. People were thankful for the bountiful harvest, as it meant that they and their families would be fed during the colder months.
So, every year during this time between Halloween and Thanksgiving my thoughts wander to the ancients. Yes, Thanksgiving is a relatively 'new' holiday to this country. But I've read that the Native Americans before us celebrated their own form of 'thanksgiving' to mark the end of harvest, and with the arrival of the Europeans, these traditions sort of intermingled. Regardless, history is full of stories of celebrations that mark the end of the harvest. A time to be thankful for just simply the abundance that will allow them to survive another long winter.
November 1st comes as a reminder that old man winter is just around the corner and could reach out his icy fingers any moment now. Heck, we had our first snow this past weekend! Not a lot, mind you, but it was snow that covered the landscape, even if for just a few brief moments. And while I feel that we could have accomplished more to store for winter, I do have two bushels of butternut squash and a few baking pumpkins in my basement to cook up throughout those cold winter months. I had hoped to have some canned tomatoes, at least, lining my shelves, but that just didn't happen. Our tomatoes seemed to rot before they were ripe for the picking. Every year is another learning experience. Last year we had jars of pickles and sweet potatoes. This year it is squash and pumpkins. Maybe next year I will have all of those plus the tomatoes! The goal is to one day be able to grow and harvest enough to provide at least 75% (or more) of our food for the winter.
So stop for a moment and think. What final preparations you will be making for winter between now and Thanksgiving? For some of you, it might be just as simple as making sure the snow tires are on and the car is tuned up. For others it may mean stocking food not just for yourselves but for all of your livestock. Admittedly, we are somewhere in between.
