Here in New England, as the days turn crisp and clear we enjoy the traditions of fall: cuddly sweaters, tangy cider, and a fire in the evenings.  Harvest is one of the most important autumn rituals – as it has been for all the generations before us, and will be for those to come.  We gather the fruits of what we have sown in the gardens, or enjoy the bountiful harvest of local farms.  In our modern society, we have the luxury of many types of foods and goods available year-round.  Yet the freshness of fall produce, the traditions of our ancestors, and the haunting knowledge that winter is coming make us poignantly aware of fall’s offerings.

As anxious as we are to till and sow in the spring, the first frost brings some relief from gardening duties.  We are ready to celebrate the successes and put the little failures behind us.  Gardeners – they say – are the most hopeful people on earth.  No matter what happened this season by way of pests, drought, or disease – we joyfully start again next year.  But now that the growing time is past, there is satisfaction in gathering the bounty of Nature.

The last flowers gleam like jewels against their tired backdrops.  We cut as many as possible to put in glass jars on the kitchen table or give to neighbors.  Some, like the bright strawflowers, dry nicely for winter bouquets and wreaths.  Dahlias and gladioli are devastated once the frost has nipped them, but   when we dig their tubers and corms (knowing they will keep in storage till next year), we see their colors again in our mind’s eye.

Tomatoes abound in all sizes.  We wonder “what we were thinking?”  Did we really expect to can all those?   Ah – but the rows of glass jars, gleaming with red orbs look so satisfying once they are filled. Peppers and eggplants hang full on their stems, and squashes and pumpkins rise above their withered vines, drying in the sun.  Potatoes lie waiting to be dug like hidden treasures under the soil.  The last herbs are ready to be hung to dry, or minced and frozen in little bags.  How delicious they will be in our winter tomato sauces!  Some produce remains for early winter harvests, like late lettuce protected by row cover.   Brussel sprouts and kale actually become tastier after frost.  Some independent folks save their own seed for next year, creating an intimate connection from one harvest to the next.

Once the frost does come, and we have to accept the end of this season, there is abundance of garden material for the compost pile.  Refuse should be free of disease and weed seeds.  Leaves “harvested” from the lawn were once considered nuisance waste products, but now are recognized by most homeowners to be valuable ingredients for compost – which is “black gold” for future gardens.

Many folks are becoming more interested in health through diet and exercise.  Fall offers opportunities for both.  Vegetables and fruits abound to provide nutritious sustenance, and gardening chores keep us active.  We are more likely to stretch our legs outside when we know that time is short.  And we foster a sense of community by visiting local farms, garden centers, and markets, where we find colorful mums, pumpkins, and other agricultural treasures grown right here in Maine.

Regardless of whether our fall “harvest” comes from the garden, the farmers’ market, or the grocery store – it marks the end of another season, and the beginning of winter. Gardens are put to bed, compost is assembled, tubers are stored, pumpkins are carved, and tomatoes are simmered.  After the time of winter’s rest, we do it all again. . .and so the cycle continues.

Anna Brown is the Design Manager at Longfellow's Greenhouse located at 81 Puddledock road in Manchester, Maine.  207.622.5965 www.longfellowgreenhouse.com.