The common question I’ve been getting at holiday parties is, “How are things at the farm?” and my common answer is, “Great! We’re hibernating.”
We haven’t spent much time outside this month. Other than animal care, composting and the mulching of a few garden beds, our time has been spent indoors with fires burning in fireplaces, homemade bread and crackers in ovens, books, movies and other human hibernation-worthy activities. None of which have included blog udpates apparently :)
When asking farmers we met this summer why they don’t sell produce year-round (something that is doable here on the west coast), their common answers involved needing and wanting time off. Farming, even on small market gardens like ours, is a lot, A LOT, of work. I didn’t really understand their answer to my question until mid-November rolled around, our plants shrivelled up and died, and the rains and cold temperatures came. Pretty quickly I understood the pleasure in being able to stay indoors, put feet up on coffee tables and read, bake, and watch things without feeling like I should be outside weeding, planting, harvesting, etc.
So, all that to say, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this month off (for the most part) gardening duties. It’s been relaxing, restful, and peaceful. And I’ve really enjoyed taking time to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen, make homemade Christmas gifts and catch up on some novel-reading.
On that note, myself and the rest of the crew here on the farm would like to wish everyone a very merry, joyful, peaceful, love-filled Christmas!
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” ~ Edith Sitwell
