"The sunlit hours of late summer days always seemed to shrink faster than they grew in spring. With the shifting of the season, so too changed the aromas in the home. Instead of being greeted by peaches and honey as I entered, my senses were teased by the perfume of apples and a whiff of fresh baked bread."

Our life is very seasonal here on the homestead. Because we grow and preserve so much of our food, timing is critical (and can be a tricky when the weather doesn't cooperate). There's also the home itself, which acts like a giant sundial due to the passive solar setup. Winter also brings cozy fires in the masonry stove, and more baking. It's very grounding.

I was discussing the Cult of Convenience and the dopamine grooming of modern life in an online group this week. I think this part of why the homesteading movement is seeing a resurgence.

Not everyone wants 40 acres and a cow, but people are longing for real, meaningful tasks that ground them. The animals don't care if you don't want to go out in the cold or rain or heat - they need care every day. And sometimes they end up inside the house, and make sure that it can't be too pristine. (Case in point, I have a cardboard box with baby duckies in it sitting next to me in my home office. They are utterly messy, and utterly adorable. Momma duck rejected them, so here we are.)

The garden does best with regular care, which means getting your tail outside instead of sitting in front of a screen. You can't go foraging for wild edibles and medicinals without going out.

Home food preservation isn't just about replacing groceries, it's about preserving memories. It's so nice to make up a meal in the middle of winter using home preserved items, and think back to the warmer months, discussing the season and making plans for the next. It all creates continuity in a disconnected world.

What activities help you create connections? What gets you motivated and moving? Reply to this email to share your thoughts.

Helping you create resilience and abundance,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This week's featured articles...

Our apples are starting to ripen, so it'll be time to bring out the press soon. There's nothing quite like the tang of fresh pressed cider - but it is fun to turn some of it into hard cider. My favorite way to make it is using the natural apple yeast, which creates a low alcohol content and a a bit of fizz. Learn how to ferment it here.​

Don't forget to save those apple peels and cores to make apple scrap vinegar. It's good for cooking, livestock, or making garden amendments.

This easy apple cake recipe is also sure to please!

As we head into less daylight and holiday gathering season, it's never a bad idea to get a little extra immune boosting in. This herbal gelatin is a fun way to consume some extra immune boosting herbs.

Our spiced crabapple recipe has been popular this week. You can also use these recipes with slices of full sized apples.

Rooted in Faith

My friend, Amber Bradshaw, has just released a new book, "Rooted in Faith: A 365 Daily Devotional for Women Who Love to Garden".

From Amber: "Rooted in Faith is a yearlong journey of short, daily devotions written specifically for Christian women who find God’s presence in the garden. Each day includes a Scripture from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, a heartfelt reflection, and a takeaway thought that will inspire and ground you—no matter what season of life you're in."

I know she's worked very hard putting this together, as we've chatted about it quite a bit. It would also make a lovely gift for Christian friends.

​