FALL

The Olive Harvest

Summer has slipped away, and today’s crisp fall air feels like a gentle reminder of all the goodness this season brings. The olive harvest is in, the bulbs are tucked into the ground, and Rose and I have planted our new lavender field. Fall is such a time of abundance; farmers are pressing fresh olive oil, growers are picking citrus, pomegranates, persimmons, and walnuts, and fall vegetables are making their way back to the markets. Beets, lettuces, leeks, and Swiss chard are finding their way onto our tables again, nudging us toward pots of soup, cozy stews, and meals that feed both our families and our spirits.

In the middle of all the end-of-year work, we’re also doing one of my favorite things: seeding the flowers that will overwinter in the raised beds and in the ground. Sweet peas, ranunculus, larkspur, snapdragons, and daffodils are all being planted now, getting ready for the spring garden. There’s something so comforting about planting seeds, plugs, and bulbs while Spring is still far in the future, promising good things to come.

Daffodil Bulbs

As the days grow shorter, we’re getting ready to wrap up for the year. The rains have started, the farmstand is winding down, and November 22 and November 29 will be our last two days of the season. We’ll finish with one festive hurrah at the Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 6th, from 9–3 at Morningsun Herb Farm.

Every year, Rose, who owns Morningsun Herb Farm Morningsun Herb Farm , and I host a small, heartfelt Christmas Fair for our farm community. There will be donkeys dressed like elves, local farmers and makers, music, and that cozy, old-fashioned feeling of gathering together. It’s the perfect day to reconnect with neighbors, meet your local farmers and small business owners, and enjoy the warmth of the season.

We are also hosting a Toy Drive on the same day as the Christmas Fair, so please consider bringing a small new toy. Rose and I will donate all the toys to Toys for Tots, supported by our local Fire Department.

Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand will reopen in May, and all those spring flowers we’re planting right now will be front and center, ready to greet you when the new season begins.

We want to thank every single person who stopped by the farmstand this year and showed their love for local farmers and all things small, handmade, and delicious. As a little thank-you, we’re sharing a special coupon just for our Substack readers to use at the Christmas Fair on December 6th, hosted at Morningsun Herb Farm. Please bring a printed copy or show it on your phone to receive a thank you discount at the Soul Food Farm booth. We’ll have our olive oil, fresh flower arrangements, wreaths, garlands, and handmade jams, all the things we’ve poured our hearts into this season.

Thank you for being part of our farm community. Here’s to fall’s abundance, the promise of spring, and the simple joy of gathering.

Eric & Alexis Koefoed