A Year of Gratitude – September 17, 2024

I found my gratitude in the garden today. It’s the time of year when the garden is beginning to wind down, when it is time to start ungardening, if you will, before colder weather rolls in.

Putting the garden to bed isn’t nearly as much fun as starting the garden in the spring. When I plant seeds and transplants into the garden beds and containers in the spring, I can see the beginning of beautiful things and delicious meals to come. With each task, I am filled with hope that they will prosper during the growing season ahead.

This time of year, I am cutting back plants that have given us all they have to give. I am pulling out crops that are done for the season and can’t be overwintered. The places that were lush with growth and color will be empty when I am finished.

The beginning of the growing season is more beautiful than the ending. It’s exciting to add new plants and watch them grow and produce. Work in the spring garden has immediate rewards. With each day, you can see your work blossom and grow into something wonderful.

This time of year, you have to take pride in the work you are doing for the sake of doing it. I have to remind myself that this work will help to make next spring’s garden possible, that each task I complete during this season will allow the next one to be fruitful.

As with most things in life, endings can be difficult. I’m not ready to let this season go, although I have to. I need to take a deep breath and celebrate what a wonderful and beautiful growing season it has been. I’ll hold on to it just a bit longer while I cross my fall chores off my to do list. I’ll remind myself how thankful I am that we had another season to plant and harvest on this land, this place that I am so lucky to call home. 

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.