Leaves let go, a descending spiral, a flurry of whirling dervishes in the air.
In November, we walk into the heart of fall and into forests aflame with color. It is a time when the veils between the worlds are thin, when our ancestors linger close, and when we bare witness to an amazing transformation: from life to death, from abundance to scarcity, for light to dark.
It’s a season for reflection, for remembering those who came before us, for offering our gratitude for all that we have inherited from our tribe and from our earth. In honor of this special time, here is a homesteading guide, created by Natalie Bogwalker, the founder of Wild Abundance and the Firefly Gathering, to help inspire connection between mind, body, spirit and land.
Wild and Woodland Harvest
• Harvest Polonia leaves for super-high-nutrient mulch
• Hunt deer and wild turkey (check exact seasons yearly)
• Harvest pecans
Orcharding
• Dig holes where trees or shrubs are to be planted, put deer guts and hocks in holes to get them ready for spring planting
• Weed around the bottom of fruit trees and berries, mulch with carbon rich material
• Plant and transplant berries and trees
Food Preservation
• Harvest, process, and smoke hogs.
• Make jerky, and sausage — put up and enjoy.
• Harvest unripe persimmons on branch to dry.
• Harvest ripe persimmons and deseed for fresh pudding and to dry.
• Don’t forget to relax, enjoy the long, luxurious nights, drink hot apple cider, review your garden log and make notes for next year!
Wild Abundance will be hosting a fall workshop on scared animal slaughter. To find our more about check out Wild Abundance.
Aiyanna Sezak-Blattis a writer, student of permaculture design, and is an organic top-bar beekeeper in Asheville, NC. Read other articles featuring the work of Natalie Bogwalker and Wild Abundance, published by MOTHER EARTH NEWS here.
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