Autumn Chores at the Farm
To stay organized during seasonal transitions here at my Bedford, New York farm, we follow a schedule of tasks from one year to the next.
So far, this autumn has been quite mild here in the Northeast. The weather has allowed us ample time to ready the farm for the cold season ahead. My outdoor grounds crew has been especially busy moving plants, blowing leaves, pruning various trees and shrubs, and completing other outdoor tasks.
Here's a look - enjoy these photos.
-
- This is one of my great sycamore trees – the symbol of my farm. There are still many more leaves to fall, but leaf blowing is a big chore this time of year and it is in full swing.
-
- As colder weather approaches, and sunlight decreases, trees that drop their leaves seal the spots where the leaves are attached, which causes them to change color and fall to the ground.
-
- The outdoor grounds crew has been very busy blowing all the leaves from view around my house.
-
- Chhiring blows them into one area with the portable leaf blower.
-
- And Dawa follows with the walk-behind gas leaf blower before they are hauled away and taken to the compost area. These leaves will decompose and get used again as mulch next year.
-
- This area looks so different once the layer of leaves is removed.
-
- Meanwhile, all of the air conditioner pits around the farm are covered with plywood to protect them from the winter elements.
-
- I keep all my air conditioners in large pits, where they are well hidden behind each house.
-
- Every fall, we cover them with plywood, and then cover the plywood with a layer of burlap. Chhiring unrolls a piece of burlap to cover the entire length of the pit and sheet of plywood.
-
- Using a staple gun, he folds the edge and staples it to the side of the wood cover.
-
- On the other side, Chhiring cuts the burlap, so there is enough extra to create the hem.
-
- He unrolls one more piece to cover the other side of the plywood cover.
-
- Then, Chhiring creates the hem and staples it to the opposite edge of the plywood.
-
- Finally, he staples the length of the burlap, where the pieces overlap each other.
-
- It’s all set for the cold season ahead. Covering these pits also makes it easier to maintain. Any snow or debris that falls can be brushed to the side before accessing the units below.
-
- Chhewang is pruning one of four Sargent crabapples planted near the Tenant House. The name of this species comes from the man who introduced it from its native Japan in 1892, C.S. Sargent. These are good trees for many different landscapes. It has a unique size and form, growing as a dense, mounded shrub rather than a tree.
-
- The Sargent crabapple, Malus sargentii, has pea-sized fruits that are easy for birds of many species to pluck and swallow. They are especially favored by cedar waxwings, robins, grosbeaks, and mockingbirds.
-
- In the vegetable greenhouse, all my fig trees are also moved indoors. Ficus carica is an Asian species of flowering plant in the mulberry family, known as the common fig. I have several of them here at the farm.
-
- Fig trees are meant to live in a Mediterranean climate, and may have a hard time surviving cold weather, so every year, we move them indoors where they can continue to thrive.
-
- Here are smaller specimens lined up along the side of the greenhouse. I love figs – they’re high in fiber and a good source of several essential minerals, including magnesium, manganese, calcium, copper, and potassium, as well as vitamins K and B6.
-
- There’s a lot of growth in the greenhouse as well – we already planted our first indoor crops, so I always have fresh home grown vegetables to enjoy.
-
- All the topiaries and precious staghorns that I keep on my large porch during summer are also moved indoors. Here are a few loaded on our Polaris, ready to be stored in our main greenhouse for the season.
-
- Ryan carefully removes the plants one by one. As a rule, staghorn ferns are not at all tolerant of cold temperatures. They need to be kept indoors where they can receive bright but indirect light.
-
- Here is Phurba carrying one of the plants down to the vehicle – Phurba is very strong.
-
- The ferns are gently hung on a strong bar along the windows of the greenhouse where they will stay until spring. What autumn chores have you completed? Share your comments below – I love reading all of them!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
