Resting Time

With the harvest time behind us, we now have some time to rest and reflect on another glorious season on the Farm here at Blackberry. From early spring up until present, we have been very fortunate with timely rains that have helped us to produce bountiful crops of everything that has been planted.

As much as I love farming full time, I also look forward to quieter times during the winter months when I can catch up on recording observations from our farming season and plans for the 2015 season.

Resting time by no means refers to idle time. On cold rainy days, I spend time in the garden shed sitting besides the wood burning stove shelling out whippoorwill and clay peas. I consider this to be a combination of rest time as well as working time.

Today is one of those days that I have just described. I spent most of the day shelling out a unique variety of popping corn, which is called “Red Husk.” The small ears of this variety are a beautiful display of Indian type corn colors of red, yellow, pink, purple, and which some ears featuring combinations of all three colors.

There is something very soothing and restful about shelling seeds, and very often I get some of my best ideas for writing and plans for next year’s gardens.

Sometimes I am reminded of our newly harvested seeds, they are at rest now, dormant and waiting for the awakening of a new season. Winter is also our time of rest and renewal, until spring arrives and we welcome the beginning of a new farming season.

John Coykendall, Master Gardener