"The chill breeze swept across the open fields, an early and unwelcome harbinger of the winter days ahead. It was only late August, but already nighttime temperatures had dipped unseasonably low. There was a pause in the wind, and for a moment, the ghost of the warm sunlight that bathed the homestead just an hour before lingered. Then it began to blow again, and the heat vanished like a wisp of a memory."

Our weather took a sharp turn towards cold this week, with nighttime lows into the 40s, and daytime temps only in the 60s. Our averages are typically in the upper 50s at night, and mid 70s during the day.

I'm definitely a bit concerned, as we've barely started preserving tomatoes and the vines are filled with unripe fruit. September is normally our busiest preserving month, but pantry stocking may come up short if hard frost hits early. Even if temps are cold but not freezing, it takes the sweetness out of the tomatoes and slows ripening. Spring was late and cold, so I was really hoping for a late fall frost. If the forecast holds, it'll be warm again for several days, and then even colder late next week.

These cold temperatures are not so pleasant for the new ducklings, either. Their old glands have started working, so they're water repellent, and their voices are starting to change, but they're still sporting down instead of feathers. We're working on enlarging their "snuggle mop" so that they have more room to hide under cover to stay warm when they move out to the coop with the other ducks.

They've been staying in a box inside during the night and out in the poultry tractor during the day, but they've nearly outgrown the box, so it will be coop time soon. It's not safe for them to be with the adults yet, so we need to temporarily divide off a spot just for them until they are bigger.

It's been a challenging year in the garden, and I'm not quite sure why it's been as difficult as it has been. Was it the wildfire smoke filling the skies for weeks? Is there some new agricultural spray that's drifting? Are we in the part of the long term weather cycle or solar cycle that makes for difficult growing? I don't know.

What I do know is that we've had more plants abruptly die this year than I have ever seen in 20 years growing here, 8 years at our old home, and years spent growing up on the farm. One day I'll go out and they'll be fine, the next they're dead. It's not every plant (thankfully), but we lost a cherry tree, the pickling cucumbers, a zucchini, most of the yellow raspberry patch, and the currants are on life support. And right next to the dead plants, there are others that seem unscathed.

As I drive around the countryside, there are so many dead trees that it looks like some sort of post-apocalyptic movie. It's always blamed on the pest or disease of the moment, but it seems like we're dealing with pests and diseases in the woods at levels I have never seen before. Of course, my memory could be faulty, and I'm only 55, so there's a lot of history I haven't seen. Maybe it's all part of a typical cycle I simply don't know?

Whatever the cause, our approach to remedy it is the same - step up efforts to support the plants' natural immune systems and enrich the soil and microbiomes of our land as best as we are able. I can't control the weather or the sprays or the smoke, but I can keep working on soil and plant health. Using organic mulches, foliar feeds, microbial inoculants, cover crops and other natural methods can help boost soil life and plant defenses.

We also do some seed saving from plants that tolerate the conditions, to help breed landrace varieties that grow well here, and plant a wide variety of crops, so something manages to survive and produce. For instance, the blueberries and red raspberries struggled this year, but it looks like the apple harvest will be a generous one.

We still have some pantry items left from previous years, too, so even if we don't get the expected harvest, we won't be completely without. One way or another, we will make it work.

That's one of the main reasons we live the way we do - to have options when things don't go as expected.

Helping you create resilience and abundance,

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

This week's featured articles...

The green beans slowed down in the cooler temps, but we're close to hitting our storage goals for the season. This article shares how to can green beans in pressure canner, and this one's for dilly beans in a water bath canner.

It's pear picking time in our area, too. We're headed to the neighbors early next week to help with the harvest. This pear ginger jam combines the warmth of ginger with sweet, ripe pears.

If you're a jelly fan, this maple pear jelly is also tasty.

Side note - with the fruit coming in this time of year, we've set up the homemade fruit fly traps.

You may have seen these vines trailing around the countryside and wondered what they were. Wild cucumber is one of the plants that's having a good year in spite of conditions (or because of them). Learn more about how to identify and use this wild plant.​

Nutrimill Sales!

Nutrimill has some great sales running on their site right now, including BOGO on their new enameled cast iron bread pans and Dutch ovens.

Their sourdough mixer bundle is normally $724.75, but is on sale for only $549 (24% off).

It includes:

• White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549 value)
• Stainless Steel Dough Hook ($95 value)
• Sourdough Starter Kit ($49.95 value): 2 Banneton Baskets, 2 Bread Bags, Kneading Whisk, Dough Scraper, Lame with 5 Blades
• 2 Sourdough Slings ($15.30 value)
• - White Bosch Universal Plus Mixer ($549 value)- Stainless Steel Dough Hook ($95 value)- Sourdough Starter Kit ($49.95 value): 2 Banneton Baskets, 2 Bread Bags, Kneading Whisk, Dough Scraper, Lame with 5 Blades- 2 Sourdough Slings ($15.30 value)- Sourdough Starter ($14.95 value)

This is a great time to grab one for the holiday baking season or gifting. Sale ends September 1st.