The Autumn Equinox is one of my favorite seasonal transitions to experience. Don’t get me wrong – I love all of the seasons and I appreciate the changes, but Autumn is just the bee’s knees.
There is a tradition that takes place on the 1st day of September involving a persimmon: you go out and pick a persimmon and cut it open, the shape of the seed inside is supposed to indicate the forthcoming winters weather. For instance, when the seed is shaped like a spoon there is supposed to be heavy snow, a knife symbolizes chopping of ice and freezing cold wind, and a fork predicts a rather mild but wet winter. I have tested this theory and it has been true every time.
Depending on your geographical location Autumn may represent the end of your growing season which includes a final harvest, and if you are in a warmer climate and lucky enough to get an extra growing season then you should have already started tending the beds. Harvesting can be a chore but seeing the full bounty of your love and labor is incredible.
Not only does the fall provide the garden’s harvest, but it is a great time to gather and forage wild foods. As the days get cooler I often find myself busy in the woods looking for food. There are all sorts of nuts to be harvested and stored for winter and berries to be dried out. The amount of sunlight each day begins to get a little shorter each day and the very scent of the forest begins to change. It’s almost like walking into any coffee shop or bakery in October; it smells of pumpkin spice and warmth.
Autumn is also a time to gather wood for winters to come. I love working with wood, especially in the fall, because I can often find certain mushrooms at the same time. Autumn brings in a steady flow of work off the grid but it is really healthy. It is a great time to cook outdoors and have campfires, a time to listen to how the sounds of the forest change. The forest floor begins to fill with dry leaves in place of the spongy green overgrowth and the songs of the creatures change as well.
The Autumn Equinox represents the next phase to me in my life off the grid. It is the transition from hot to cool, but not yet cold. Mornings start out with a comfy sweatshirt but by midday, it is time to toss it aside. Often while gathering wood I will see deer and other little pack creatures out preparing for winter just like me. Just as we are gathering so are predator animals so it is an important time to make repairs to your livestock housing.
With every Autumn’s harvest comes canning time, I’m usually busy making and canning apples, pumpkins, and pears for pie filling and holiday baking. Roasting fresh nuts and making different nut butters is always a treat.
As the colors throughout the forest continue changing the forest begins to slowly transform into its new seasonal outfits. It becomes a little easier to see the little animals living in the woods as some of the growth dies back. The deer become more noticeable and sometimes can be seen in droves in the right area, and if you take the time to watch them, you can see the generation gaps between the old and young of the herd. It is truly amazing. Some of the birds make their way further South while other greet the colder weather happily.
Every different season brings about a different side of life, especially off the grid. The Autumn Equinox is pretty amazing in my book and the weather is just right. My favorite color is Autumn, and it’s my favorite scent as well.
