End of Season Garden Walk (When the garden dies) | VLOG

Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
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[@WithrowUrbanHomestead]

Last season I took notes of what was overwhelming me and what I could do differently. I actually stuck to my notes, have avoided burnout and am still enjoying the garden.

[@HeyJordanRae]

I just LOVE this comment ❤ Maybe I can follow suit this year!

[@maryellenwilson6075]

Very Smart!

[@ginnysulya9805]

Congratulations 👍🏼👍🏼

[@jamjar5716]

@ketoliving, perfect plan!

[@sassy_steph]

love this. One thing on my list is to install drip, it would help so much

[@kaycompton8983]

I have come to the realize that not only is this year's garden is done but so is my season of gardening is done. My health is now at a point where even getting out into the garden to even do any gardening at all is beyond my abilities. We all have different seasons, and mine is now at the point where I can help encourage younger healthier gardeners and pass my knowledge on to future generations. To that end, I have gifted my gardening tools to a young couple who are just starting the homesteading lifestyle. It makes me happy to know that I can help them move from the waiting room/classroom into a more active season of gardening. It's proof that there is a season beyond the waiting room/classroom and the actual garden. I will still be able to use my greens talk for herbs and kales, etc., but my outdoor gardening days are over.

[@kaylabarras3092]

8/25/23- when I get burnt out from gardening, I watch gardening videos such as yours for motivation. Thank you for doing what you do Jess.

[@kanek0yuki]

I was a commercial vegetable grower for 10 years, and I don't think I ever found a way to get past late Summer burnout; but every Spring, I was so excited for that fresh start. Now that I'm growing just for our family, I'm trying to find a better balance and not let the growing schedule dictate my life. It was hard to get excited about the family garden after having done it on a much larger scale for so long, but I'm really starting to appreciate growing all of the things I used to love, and had to let go of because they weren't practical on a commercial scale. I love having more room for experimentation and failure, so I think that's keeping me motivated. Like Jess said, if you're burned out in August, that's totally normal! It will pass :)

[@MissBetsyLu]

Teach it. Community college need people to teach it. And in highschool also. Many fabulous blessings everyone everywhere.

[@raversmead]

Pocket salsa? 😂😂😂 I love it when you let plants grow wild ❤ it's so fun to see what they do when left to their own devices

[@lonnievancura9702]

Hahaha that was my reaction

[@kathimitchell3581]

I’m always going out to my garden and pulling out the old plants, cleaning out the weeds, amending the soil for my fall seedlings growing in my pantry. My husband helps me, too, in building new beds for next year! Always wanting to add more space onto my current garden!! Never seems enough space in my backyard! We’re getting older, with ailments but still striving!! I think the new greenness always feels like having new babies- - keeps you young!!😂😊

[@maureenbrophy7852]

Ronin’ in the glowing🥰

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I want to double my garden with the no till method next year. We have 12 raised beds and I thought it would be loads of space but I'm realizing otherwise. We're tired of building beds lol!

[@lynhyslop6933]

A tomato smashed in your pocket would be a mess...or maybe a tossed tomato 🍅

[@Junkinsally]

Perpetual optimist here…..I’m always looking forward to the next season. I’m always trying to improve the garden. I try to have a 4 season garden. In the winter when nothing is growing, I have the chickens on it so I visit the garden everyday to tend to them. Once you actually get out in the garden, even on the hottest and most humid day or the coldest, you just naturally start enjoying it. It’s getting there that’s the problem and I find that making it a routine, something you must do every day, regardless is the best way. Because once you’re out there…..the magic of it will enchant you over and over again.

[@LadyGreenThumb2]

So true!

[@zoeshorthouse7913]

I like the idea of "growing chickens" in the garden during the winter.😊

[@emilywohner4205]

When the summer heat hits its peak, I take shorter spurts in the garden so it doesn’t make me bitter 😂 I stop and look at it during the golden hours of both dawn and dusk, and relish in the beauty that still remains. 🧡 I keep it real with what’s diseased and/or dying and remove parts and pieces so it doesn’t outweigh the beauty and joy of it. With that, I look forward to the next season and what I can use to fill in the empty spaces. And at this point, I let the wild go wild; no more taming it! If it wants to live in this hot pocket, let it live! 😂

[@marybethwhalen70]

Very eloquently said.

[@mikkileon6380]

I was emotionally stressed out and exhausted and so I turned on KZbin and said a little prayer to myself. Please let roots and refuge be there. I need one of Jess’s videos right now. So yes, thank you. There’s nothing wrong with a little brief garden tour and a happy little trapes around the growing plants🤗. Thank you so much for being here right when I needed you❣️😁

[@courtneyhastings6428]

Honestly, this growing season has been my best one yet, so I’ve been looking at all I canned, all the delicious meals we’ve eaten, and am thankful for the harvest it has given us this season. In years past when I have not had as successful of a season, I’ve hunkered down and tried obtaining more knowledge (mostly from you Jess!) as to how I can do better next season. When the feeling of overwhelm or disappointment sinks in, it helps to make a plan. It gives hope that things can be better. Also, my success with my garden this year, is very much attributed to using everything I’ve learned from watching your videos, so THANK YOU JESS!

[@MoonSpringAcres]

How do you always know what I need to hear?!?! We relocated back to Missouri almost a year ago and bought our little slice of heaven. Garden went in late (building that infrastructure). And this heat death dome is just brutal on the garden. I was having my first tomatoes ripen as it hit. I probably lost 20 lbs of tomatoes to sunburn. This morning I found what was going to be my first cantaloupe had been half eaten by a raccoon. It’s been a hot, humid, heartbreaking week. But I’m trying to reflect on the positives from this first season and the lessons. I need to journal more to remind myself next year. I’m planning a new flower garden for the spring and will start working on that area as soon as the heat wave breaks. Many blessings to you for helping me stay positive.

[@JaneDoe-ft8sz]

I am also in Missouri and our big beef tomatoes have done great!! Not the tastiest tomato but they really produce. They are really cracking now tho. We just cut that part off.

[@ginnysulya9805]

Hang in there and here is a thumbs up for a beautiful season next year! 👍👍

[@marianapulley]

Needed this encouragement today. Thanks, Jess! ❤

[@rebeccalesueur8352]

That darn raccoon! I’m so sorry about your tomatoes and the cantaloupe. Hugs! Sending sweet tea vibes from Atlanta. Hopefully the heat lets up soon. Until then, keep cool and hydrated, dream and plan.

[@jonesytn83]

I just enjoy it because a dead garden in summer is so much better than anything in winter LOL

[@jerilynnsfarm467]

I begin, one bed at a time, to tear out everything, smooth and feed those beds and plan what's going in for fall. It's like spring time all over again! I LOVE fall gardening!!💜

[@dadamdudum]

Accidentally crushing tomatoes in your pocket results maybe in Pocketchup....

[@MissBetsyLu]

Love that sound of the sprinkler. Memories of working my 3 yrs, outside full time as landscaping field hand. Many fabulous blessings everyone everywhere.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

Am I the only one who LOVES the appearance of the white rusted chairs? For the end of summer - I rest and process (literally) the fruits of my labor. For me - in my area of the Midwest, I've grown to look forward to cool days spent in the kitchen, canning, baking, and not worrying over what's not growing healthily in the garden. I've tried to do a fall garden but my heart is not yet in it. The things I love grow in the HEAT - and when it's done, so am I. Now, come Feb - I am champing at the bit to get going again. But I cram 12 months of stuffs in 5-6 short months. It's enough.

[@tarachalfant7076]

I really needed to hear this today! I told my husband I am over the garden! I had a successful season, but things are looking sad and I feel like I don’t have the band width to plan for another season. I did start fall seeds already but I think the heat is getting to me! Thanks for the encouragement to hang on ! Cooler days are coming and I look forward to see what harvest I can get in the fall. This is the first time I have planted and managed the vegetable garden. I am going to focus on the JOY of gardening, the excitement when my seedlings emerge, the late summer harvests and walking in the garden!

[@marleenkerri2408]

I love this time of year. As the garden starts fading, I love to prepare the ground for next season, and let it rest and do it's thing. Everything we feed it now, makes it healthier for the next round of planting. It helps that nothing goes to waste. Corn stalks go to the pigs, leftover vines to the cows, and the chickens get to come in and toss the dirt around 🥰

[@MissBetsyLu]

You want me to watch a video with those 4 words in title!?!!?!?? Crazy. Many fabulous blessings everyone everywhere.

[@erinjoyorange]

When I am not motivated I come and watch you. Your passion is contagious!

[@Joyfulfarmer]

The brutal summer heat (105 for weeks here currently) is a lot like the cold, sleeping winter…I have to mostly ignore the garden outside and enjoy the AC and seed shopping for the next seasons. 💚🌱

[@elaineekberg113]

We used to call it El Niño back in the 90's. I lived off-road and completely off grid up in the Colorado mountains at 8000 ft in '95. I was pregnant with my daughter, my 3rd child, and we were living in a camper while building our dream log cabin. My due date was Aug.28th and it was already Sept. 4th. The camper was hot, and I thought laying in a hammock in the shade might be better. It wasn't! We used a thermometer to find out the temp in the shade vs. in the camper and took readings in other places too, cuz we were homeschooling. It was 104 degrees F. We had flooding that year too. The mountains are usual dry and dead in the Summer, but not that year. Very similar to what we've had this year.

[@kimberlyearly8918]

Yikes!

[@shellyek6237]

I am glad the garden is almost done. This year we aren't doing a fall garden because we are rebuilding the garden into a bigger garden with another green house and new raised beds. My husband has so far built me 6 of the 9 3x6 ft garden boxes using Miah's how to vlog. My existing 3x3 raised beds are getting moved to another part of our yard and I have blueberry bushes to plant in them and my garlic for next year. Jess you are so inspiring thank you for being you. ❤

[@jeas4980]

Yes. My husband built me 4 of the 10 planned (4x8 and 4x12) this year and we had to stop because of the heat. But I have to say, the 4 I have are sooooo nice because they're tall and I don't have to bend and the grass pressures are gone.

[@shellyek6237]

@@jeas4980 I'm pretty excited. I might actually be able to grow cabbage for once.

[@missthang4770]

I have learned to love the process of "putting the garden to bed" for the winter. Pulling out spent plants and building the compost heaps for next year. Shovelling rich, dark manure and crumbly finished compost onto the beds then raking them smooth and level. Piling on a blanket of shredded maple leaves to "tuck in" those beds for the season. Then looking forward to my Autumn and early Winter rest before revelling in the excitement of seeds, seeds and more seeds come early January. I am just so grateful for the privilege of being able to put my hands into the ground and pull them back full of bounty that even the fading of the garden gives me cause to rejoice.

[@tinatedder8963]

I rejoice in the ending. I appreciate the season, and say a prayer of thanks. Then I start tending to the beds to clean them out to prepare for next year. Oh the dreams of the next year! Crop rotation, feeding the soil, new varieties to explore. I put up 90% of the food grown in our 3700 square foot garden, so the feeling of accomplishment when I go into our pantry always makes my heart sing. Blessings to you Jess!

[@MrsThebault]

I love all the random chairs all over the garden to simply sit and enjoy it! ❤

[@amywert8088]

When I was married and raising my kids, we always rented. Not knowing if we were going to be in the same space, a space with a yard to garden in (we had containers of tomatoes and squash that thrived once) I have always been a new gardener, a first time gardener in a once and done garden. Not knowing where the sun will shine and the rain will fall. Or what critters will arrive to eat it all down! I don't think I would have known what kept me going before this year. I certainly haven't always gotten a harvest, I haven't always planted. But it's the anticipation. The seed sprouts! The bud appears! The flower opens! And with each of those things I am happy and grateful.

[@cindyciszewski4507]

I always remember that winter and bitter cold are right around the corner - helps me embrace the heat and weeds.

[@Marsha_B]

As the gardening season is near the end I am grateful because I know that I’ve learned a lot of things, made some mistakes, move the plants that just wasn’t having it, plan for a bigger better garden/harvest. I enjoy journaling my progress every season, making garden charts, take pictures and reconfiguring my garden if necessary and then plan for another successful year. Thanks to you I’ve learned a lot and have grown so wise learning from you and many others on YT - so thanks a million- you’re a blessing. ❤🍅🌺🌻

[@erinhall8294]

I live in NW Montana ( Zone 4B ) and have experienced a heartbreaking gardening season . Late frost set the stage for late and sickly plants. The rodent pressure has been OFF THE CHART. I had to really let God speak to me and not try to control what I have no control over. I preserved earlier this year and foraged more than ever. I have supported my local Hutterite community and purchased beautiful produce. I have gained so many precious relationships with local farmers that would not have come to fruition if my garden had done well. I am thankful for the new blessing and friends that God knew I needed. I’ve cried ... I’ve been angry and frustrated .... but .... God has given me a new normal and I will take that over regret .

[@sarawells3053]

Jess, I love that you encourage conversations! Throughout the year I keep a gardening journal. I research, watch youtube videos, and read books; then I write it ALL down in my gardening journal! If I am not feeling inspired to work in the garden, I turn to my journal...I either go back through and read it or learn about something new (recently it has been how to transition a lemon tree indoors in the fall) and then it inspires me to get back out to the garden! Also at the end of the season, after my fall seeds are in and my summer vegetables are starting to get disease and die, I start to focus on my perennial native plant gardens! I turn my focus onto something else, which makes me feel better. I have small flower gardens tucked into different areas on the property (I keep them for my pollinators and to look pretty). The past three years, I have been slowly changing them from annuals to all native, perennial gardens. I am taking seeds and spreading them from things like yarrow, echinacea, rudbeckias, asters, and more. I am splitting plants to have multiples in different areas. And I am taking out the invasive plants I don't want growing on my property. This helps me to feel better and less like a gardening failure at the end of the summer garden season. This the long way of saying...I keep myself inspired by learning about the garden or I keep gardening just in different ways. I hope this helps!

[@danagibbs5664]

I moved mid season so my summer garden was a ss, even though I tried to bring my scraggly tomato starts with me. Last weekend I cleaned up the beds and transplanted some flowers. Seeing everything eat and tidy has me motivated for a fall garden and to do some winter sowing for next year. The ability to start fresh is reassuring! Thanks for this encouragement, Jess!

[@gailmcdonald1946]

❤ WOW, that garden is seriously rockin the original Jess Sowards vibe, Absolutely beautiful, Full and vibrant ❤❤❤

[@cathyscreationandvlog4224]

As of right now I go out each day and look at my patio garden to see if I have anything new to bring in the house. I pray for the day that I have a garden space that is overflowing with an abundance of produce.

[@petpawteek8776]

While my garden is dying outside, my grow shelves are full of little starts for the fall garden! It’s too hot to start them outside and get any kind of consistent germination-especially when I simply don’t want to be out there constantly watering them. I have fallen in love with the fall garden and the ease of growing it. That is what keeps me going. Every year the fall garden gets bigger and bigger and with that my enthusiasm for it deepens. Last year I started to go big on cool season flowers as well … even more so this year, it feels like spring all over again!😊

[@elmolady25]

I live in AZ so end-of-season is always just the beginning of the next season. From fall through late summer, my beds are never truly empty for more than a week or two. But I do find that when it's hard to be outside and I WANT to be involved in the garden, planning for the next season and beginning to collect resources helps. Planning for expansion, upgrades and repairs gets me going.

[@shandysgarden]

I just got my very first chickens from a friend who raised them from baby chips! They are helping out in the heat of the summer by scratching through things and finding snacks for themselves. Keeping the interest up for me and I hope that they will keep me interested all through the cold Ohio winter! I'm about to start some cool weather crops and when I put them outside I will have to protect them from chickens for the first time!

[@davetegler1061]

Your smile and laughter saturates every video you produce!

[@wooby9898]

When the garden is wrapping up my pressuring season is in full swing. Then I start transitioning to craft and quilt making time. I love the fall .

[@hotpepper897]

Your comments are very inspirational and obviously comes from your love of growing and the frustrations as well. It's very honest and that is easy to relate to.

[@cazmarsh6395]

When my garden eventually trips over the finish line of the season and I can’t feel the warmth of the beautiful summer sun on my skin. I turn on KZbin and watch your garden start, and listen to your dreams for summer. I live in Australia so our winter is your summer, so your planting in my inspiration for the season to come.

[@DaughterofAries]

Seed packets and catalogs help me as much in the oppressive heat as in the coldest darkest days of winter! So much inspiration comes from digging through the collection.

[@radhikam2401]

I had a very rough spring and early summer. Life! But as soon as I was back on my feet, I started planting. And while a late, smaller footprint garden, it has really fulfilled me. Now I am still eager to plant the winter garden and not at all burned out this season. Definitely given me a different perspective. Life is always teaching us. Thro big and small moments. Thank you so much for teaching us as well, Jess. When I couldn’t garden, I watched and learned from other gardeners. I used my waiting room as a classroom. ❤️❤️

[@sheraeduncan2980]

That dress though. I planted beans, squash abs tomatoes today. 3 months since my partner passed suddenly. I'm proud of myself. I mowed the lane to my farm and half the lawn . Small steps. I'll mow my pastures in sections. Thank you Jesus for pulling my out of my bed. Thank you Lord for your promises.

[@LadyGreenThumb2]

With gardening long enough I know that there is always another season where I can choose to begin again. Feel like I’m never giving up now.

[@melissamiew4056]

I went hard on the weeds early in the morning, earlier in the summer. And now that i have my own little burn out. I work on other projects. I take crochet or some sort of art out to my garden and just enjoy the space. Motivation and inspiration will likely come. Enjoy your life. You only have one. Flex, don't stress.

[@jahlivesalways7494]

I'm in Manitoba Canada, we are gearing down now before the first frost and the impending snow. We have harvested our potatoes already. The tomatoes are still producing, pumpkins, squash are now starting to turn. I look forward to the peace and quiet of winter. Standing outside after the first large snowfall and hearing nothing but silence. It's very refreshing but after 3 months of it, I'm ready to say goodbye to winter but alas winter hangs on for at least 5 months where I am.

[@barbararuthsmith2882]

I am from the US but have lived in Sweden for almost 20 years now. We have a really short season maximum is around 120 days in a good year. But right now in August with temps in the 50-70F (13-22 C) range everything is still growing and this is the best time for me. In a month, at the end of September, a hard frost usually comes and all the summer stuff is hopefully in the house because even with the tunnel and greenhouses nothing will survive, of the summer veggies/fruits. But I have already planted all of the brassicas, brocolli, cauliflower and cabbage so even when all the summer crops have bit the dust there will still be things growing until the final days i November/December when everything freezes. By then I have planted the garlic in it's winter home and start making next years plan for the garden and looking at seed catalogs and websites. Thanks for another great vlog Jess. Have fun with your loooong season :-)

[@TerrieAllred2023]

For me, this is the time when I get up before the sun, drink my coffee in the garden, and get to work cleaning up the weeds, and covering the parts of the garden that I won't be using for fall. I hit the thrift shops for "pretties" for the garden, and just purchased a slightly rusty white umbrella table (minus the umbrella) and two vintage metal chairs...one is orange, the other green. We loaded my statue on the tractor that I found at an estate sale, got her settled in the garden, and I'm planning the flower bed that I will build around her. I clean out my containers, and cut circles of cardboard to cover the soil in them, ready to amend in spring. When it gets too hot to be out there, I write down my plans, and begin searching online for seeds. I have my brassicas started indoors, and planning to plant carrots in the next day or two. I've been obsessed with gardening for around 40 years, and no plans to slow down. Jess is so motivating and I appreciate her and her videos. 😍

[@sunshinensprinkles9322]

Yay! I always love a walk through the garden. Your farm and garden still looks beautiful! I love love the red and yellow flowers. They are standing tall and vibrant, full of color in this oppressive heat. 💪🏼 ❤️💛

[@SarahBorder]

When summer burnout happens I oddly enjoy pulling out the summer crops of tomatoes, zinnias etc that look worn out & starting over to seed prep with fall crops & fall flowers. Always get excited for fall & decorating for Halloween 🎃 Thank you for your positive spirit & videos to watch!

[@LauraLea1978]

This year I'm embracing the approach of the end of the season and reveling in what I brought into existence and also in the excitement for a well deserved rest. Sheer will and the joy of growing lots of flowers is what gets me through.

[@anniejefferson7329]

Feel blessed and be thankful for one positive.

[@deborahvaughn6605]

One of the hardest things for me in gardening and the dying season is not so much about the garden, but the condition of my house. The kitchen area and dining room table are filled with veggies that have been harvested and waiting to be processed for storage. That combined with the tools I use for the processing, be it freezing, canning, fermenting, etc, are also out because something is being used every day to process the bounty. So I have to just wrap my heart around the mess until I decide the season is officially done. I can't stop going to the garden and caring for those plants that are fighting hard to survive the heat, disease, and insects. If they are surviving, I'm helping them. And if I can't process the bounty coming in because there is no more time or energy to do it, I'm giving it away. I LOVE the sweep of joy that comes across a friend's face, a doctor or nurses face, an elderly person's face when I bring them a bag of cherry tomatoes or okra, or an amazing zuchinni rampacante! It's such a blessing to bless others, and the end of the garden season is a great opportunity for that. It's not that I'm giving leftovers, cuz I give bounty away at the beginning of the season as well, people just know you've sacrificed by going out into the heat and keeping plants alive when you give at the end of the season. I do try to keep the weeds down by weeding in the evening just for my sanity....raised beds make that easier.... but I refuse to let what I don't have control of stress me. There is still joy to find out there, so I purposefully look for it. It's not perfect, but it still brings me joy.

[@ladenamichaud9804]

I'm focusing on fall garden with the eyes of wonder I had for spring garden.

[@Peachy08]

I guess U am a very optimistic gardener. I am 64 and live in Georgia where it is hot and humid. I love being out in my garden every day. I am still harvesting veggies, wattering my flowers and planning for my next thing!🌻🐞

[@katherineb6102]

When the garden starts to die back from heat and exhaustion, that's my summer vacation time to retreat to the air conditioning, catch up on some reading and jigsaw puzzles and relax. Being in S.C. allows me to enjoy a winter garden as well, so it doesn't feel like anything is ending. I'm just on a much needed vacation from the garden.

[@hishers4535]

This is our 3rd "growing" year in this garden. We bought the ground in Nov of 2019. In 2020 we planted a couple of things, but since we didn't have water up there and had to haul it, the garden didn't last long, so I don't really count that year. We put in a well the following year and the garden still really struggled. Last year we added some water lines but it was SO hot and realized our soil was just in very poor condition, I harvested a handful of: strawberries, potatoes, and Brad's Atomic Grape tomatoes. This year we added some bagged compost/manure blend and I am harvesting way more tomatoes than I did last year!! Each year we have done work to the garden and seen the benefits. The garden isn't fully mulched and we don't have beds in all of the areas I want. So 1/3-2/3 go the garden is completely unusable due to the weeds. Getting more each year is really what keeps me going. I have worked very hard each year with little pay off. This year I'm finally getting a little bit and it's making my hard work actually seem worth it. Thinking about future gardens and how well it will be doing in 3-5 years keeps me going, too! I'm definitely taking mental notes on what varieties are doing well each year and they will have a permanent place in my garden. If they can do well with the imperfect conditions we have right now, I can only imagine how well they will do in years to come as the garden and soil continue to improve. Thank you so much, Jess, for sharing your wisdom! I cannot express how much I learn from you!!

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

Pocket pasta sauce! Lol rewatching old videos for my soul.

[@amymorrison1780]

I grew a garden this year and purposefully grew native flowers that would support a diverse little ecosystem in my backyard. I spotted my first monarch yesterday and that helps motivate me to keep everything going! I’m ready for my fall garden to take off, still very excited about learning and growing food in the next season!

[@kimmieb8882]

At the tough, gross, dying part of the summer like now, I chaotically throw fall seeds under my other plants. Right now in my tiny patio garden I've got mustards, peas, and radishes poking their little heads out under the collapsing tomatoes and peppers, and they look so new and beautiful.

[@laurajordan8517]

When I am just done with the garden, I hand it over to my grown daughter to harvest and preserve what she wants and rest for the next storm.

[@tdleitch]

As hard as it is for me to watch the garden die this time of year, I embrace it. I allow myself to look forward to the coming months of rest. I push my body further than I physically should in the summer and I love every minute of it. But living with major spinal issues, I look forward to the winter months of rest. I know I need those months to build my strength back up for next season. So while the end of summer holds sadness, it also holds the promise of rest and the joy of planning and anticipating next years garden.

[@karenl7786]

This year in the garden was so different for me. Because I built out so much new last year, it was just a case of planting what I loved and tending to it as it grew. I struggled a lot with the up-and-down weather and the plants reacted very strangely as if they didn't quite know what was going on. Now as the season ends, everything is lush and beautiful. And I am reminded that what we call death is simply another step in the never-ending cycle of living energy. I'm already planning a fall harvest, 🤞🏽, winter rest and spring renewal.

[@CurlyProverbz]

Completely unrelated to the garden but in the opening shot close up. My jaw dropped open and I was like this lady is aging in reverse …. Your spirit is shining and your skin is following suit.

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

Haha hey thanks! Kind words!

[@ambersimpson75]

When the garden starts to fall apart the things I do are clean the dead up, save seeds, trim the tree if it needs it, brake down what I can, get the wood pile stacked up, definitely crochet, started fall garden plants a week ago, I need to find more seeds for spinach, making a list for what's needed to start next year, Stalk up the pantry, close up the swamp cooler and wrap it up, make sure all the vehicles have oil changes, cause that sucks to do vehicle work in the winter, i should get lids for my 5 gallon buckets to put dogs food in, propane tanks filled, extra gas for the fourwheeler; we use to clear heavy snow or play in it. It sounds like a lot, but it's done over quite like two months of time, so no problem Thanks Jess 🍀🍀🍀

[@michellereid9339]

I love fall and the tearing things out and prepping the garden for the long winter nap while putting together the plan for next spring. Then I rest with the garden.

[@cynthia4676]

Here in North Texas we actually have two very short summer growing seasons. In July and August I just do my best to water every couple days to keep plants alive until the temps come back down again into the 90's. When it's in the 100's, nothing sets fruit and nobody wants to be outside when the heat is that hateful. The fall garden is the best garden here! Less pest pressure and tolerable temps for the win.

[@WildValleyFarm]

Oh Jess that shot of the butterfly on the zinnias took my breath away. ❤

[@sweetcaramelsmile]

This season has been really hard with shoulder surgery and a lack of willing helpers. The hornworms and vine borers won this season. It has been heartbreaking. I have joy in knowing that I’ve been able to help my first time gardening neighbor figure out her garden problems. I will now spend time reflecting and researching how to do better next season.💜

[@EhGardenerGuy]

To maintain the passion; I go through what worked and what didn't, I look to next season planning, taking stock of my seeds and figuring what I need to order and what new things to grow.

[@tatianka30006]

Thank you Jess for showing the garden in this stage. I feel like (and maybe this is just my perception) in previous years (back in Arkansas) you've stayed on top of things more - like you let things go wild but you filled in the empty spaces quicker to keep the garden full. I don't know if that was the pressure of presenting it that way on KZbin, or having a bit less space. But I appreciate being able to see spaces that have dead plants just left there because you haven't gotten to clearing them out yet. Thank you for the advice and encouragement. I appreciate you and how real you are!

[@nancygraceful]

I talk to “younger” gardeners about the possibility of the fall garden; what I planted last year, harvests and wins to motivate them, and that in turn motivates me to get my fanny outside (or inside in seed trays) and get things planted

[@leeahselfridge7177]

I plant fall plants even when it's hard. I rest in my wild end of season garden and plan next year's garden ❤️

[@sallybedwell1354]

The season is not over until the frost arrives. Then we rest and enjoy all our work.

[@rootsanddirt]

I listen to my "in the thick of things" playlist, which consists mostly of specific Elliot Homestead videos that remind me if why I'm doing what I'm doing. It reminds me of the romance of it all when all I see are piles of veggies that need to be processed and a jungle of plants out in the garden.

[@KathyFitz1113]

I walk through the garden every day with a cup of coffee in one hand, harvesting what’s available, pulling plants that are done for the season, saving seeds from promising plants, and adding more mulch as needed with the other hand. In Ct the season of two handed gardening is on hold until it’s time to plant garlic and prepare the garden for winter. I also spend time with my garden journal noting what went well, what didn’t, what I want to change and, of course, I’ve already started buying seeds for next year. 😂

[@flymom4724]

I took notes of what struggles I had so that I could do more research on how to try to overcome bugs, etc. I also celebrated the little things that I grew well knowing I was new at it and I had a success. I worked to improve the soil as that was key and kept going looking at what fun things I could try growing next. Winter garden was the easiest and most successful in my zone 9a and my family started to buy into this garden journey with me. I’m hooked now. Tell yourself “challenge Accepted “ then keep going it’s so worth it in the end. We were born to create! ❤🍅🌻

[@marcialittle7893]

I have a 20x60 high tunnel, new to me as of last spring. I am right now planting all the fall crops and praying that they will make it through the fall and winter, to keep my freezers and freeze dryer, and canners going til near next spring.

[@donnaporto6732]

I actually embrace the wild. I enjoy watching the wildlife, butterflies and bees, enjoy the crazy.

[@jkq9717]

Having grown up an outside feral kid in the 60s/70s, I am still that way. I could literally live outside on every WARM day. I dislike winter so much (we live in the very center of the great U.S. of A), that I tend to obsess with being outside when it is above 60 degrees 😊 I haven't done any slowing up of watering and harvesting even though we have been in the inferno region the past few weeks, the plants are deciding to slow progress on their own. Some cold crops are direct sown and under shade cloth, with brassicas waiting to go out once the weather breaks. I work outside every day for a living. I treasure each bird chirp and cicadas song right now.

[@gailpetchenik3048]

When the burnout happens, I take a break & start thinking about my fall garden😁

[@jessicakivett7838]

I love ripping out the plants and seeing the blank slate. Seeing that reset launches me into seed starting

[@debichats8634]

I had a completely failed garden this year. First year for GreenStalks and I got bad potting soil. Nothing grew! I fertilized, did all I could think of and read and finally realized it wasn’t me…..it was the soil. I thought about you and your bad soil you had. I had a bunch of potatoes that were sprouting so I got some different soil and planted them. Today I got a very small harvest but it WAS A HARVEST! I’ve already bought new potting soil and seeds for next year. I will NOT give up! You gave me hope! I thank you for giving all of us so much encouragement! I have a notebook and am starting to plan my garden for next year! When I will start seeds, when I’ll plant them outside and where and how….I have grow bags (don’t like them much) and I have some buckets. Tomatoes will go into the buckets! Thank you Jess! You’re an inspiration and I love the giggle in your laugh when you talk! ❤

[@lizcroucher8046]

At the end of season I make a point of each day finding one thing that is still beautiful in the garden. That might be the music of the wind chime if the plants are struggling. It keeps me engaged with the joy of the garden. I also like to visit open gardens at the end of the season, I can see that all gardeners experience the wane. I like to see how they begin to use all the waning of above ground life to feed the life in the soil, chop and drop, living mulches etc and all the hope that is pouring into the next season. I quite often sow some windowsill cress and pea shoots for salad on the windowsill that looks over the garden so that there is some green in the view even if the garden is grey.

[@urbanitefarms842]

I am constantly dreaming of the “next”! I pull what is spent and replant as I go. Sometimes it’s successful & sometimes it’s not 🤷🏼‍♀️ But it try to keep the garden going as long as I can ❤🌱

[@shant2885]

I’m always in the garden until the snow falls….preparing for the next gardening season! During winter I crochet, get creams and salves made up, do some baking and any canning projects I couldn’t get to during the harvest season. But when we have enough snow and the lakes are frozen…..ice fishing and snowmobiling !!!

[@sassyherbgardener7154]

When things are looking dead, I pull them out and rake the soil, as I prefer to look at nice dirt, instead of brown plants. I collect any seeds from the garden that I can. Then I plant fall veggies, and put little straw bales and pumpkins here and there. I tuck in some scarecrows, wooden or metal sunflower art, and fall garden signs, which all help to make the ending of the summer garden a little less sad. The bright orange pumpkins really make me happy! I also clean up, and organize, my seed packets for next spring. This year, we made plans to order some more Vego garden tubs in the late fall, and hubby has all winter to assemble, and fill them. No more wasted time and energy in the spring, putting them together and filling them, when we could actually be planting. I'm good with a rest, even though it's sad. It makes you appreciate the green, growing garden of the other half of the year! It is like a Christmas tree. If you left it up in your house all year, then you would not be all excited and happy about putting it up, and decorating it, in December!!

[@joan-lisa-smith]

If you want to see what's eating things put out trail cams, best thing ever. I have set them up for garden stuff and set one up a few nights aimed along my stone foundation to find where a red squirrel was getting in to spend winters in the cellar. I couldn't find the gap but the cam caught where it was climbing in hidden so I could know where to mortar it over. Good for finding bat gaps in attics too. I was also shocked to discover I have a few feral cats come out at night that I never even knew were out here, I'm pretty much in the middle of dense forest with no neighbours nearby. Ends up it was them around my chicken barn, they come and get the mice. You don't have to have them set out all the time but they're great for when you need to figure out whats going on with something when you aren't able to see it.

[@joytotheworld2100]

I bought this cottage 10 years ago. It had nothing but dead grass and a few trees. Now it's a food forest. Not much from the fruit trees yet. But yesterday there it was hanging there all domestic, my first peach. I'm so excited!

[@adventureswithdaphne5352]

I am glad I am not the only one that gets tired of the garden in August. I always get that feeling in August. I don't water that much and I forget about the garden. I did have a great gardening season. I harvested a lot of pickling cucumbers and I did get into canning that past month and a half.

[@marilynprietto1162]

I happen to live in a 10b garden where the growing never stops…sound like a great time right but it can get too much. It’s also hard to keep the passion of gardening when it never dies! The garden and the gardener never rests.

[@witchininthekitchin]

I have chairs in my garden too. I love to sir and watch the bees buzzing around my garden. Makes me feel joy 🌱💕

[@LittleHomesteadOnHinerPond]

Such a helpful point about remembering the garden in winter! Now I just hope I remember to remember that 😀

[@ponygirl1073]

So over summer here in low desert of Arizona. Constant battering of 111-118 deg burned most of my garden. I think when I was in the hospital because my cancer is rearing it’s ugly head again, my plants lost hope. In saying that, when I returned to my burned out garden, I was so elated that in 116 deg I was watering everything dead or alive & talking & singing to them that in 2 days time, new growth appeared & I wept. I rise before the sun comes over my block wall early in the morning but not always wanting to go out. However I make myself & the Lord rewards me with his grace & I feel whole again. I feel my garden reach for me as I reach for them & pure explosion of love, trust & harmony races through my being & I see & feel the promise of a new beginning & I weep again. They need me but more, I need them. The circle is complete. Fall is on its glorious way & a new beginning with it. 🙏❤️🌱

[@SoilandMargaritas]

I have a love-hate relationship with that golden evening hour, the views and feels are abundant but also the mosquitoes 😣😣😣, I swear I have to take a shower in spray before I head outside lately. Your ginger is looking great, this year the garden was AMAZING!

[@HarvestingFaithHomestead]

I learned from the Garden like a Viking channel that you can ferment cherry tomatoes to continue eating them “fresh” over the winter! I started a jar a few days ago and tried them today, and they are INCREDIBLE! I generally don’t grow a lot of cherry tomatoes because I don’t preserve them, they are just garden snacks for us, but now I cannot wait to grow more next year. It’s such a fabulous way to preserve them! And I love fermenting stuff. It has such great flavor.

[@kristingarland5786]

Every morning I get a cup of coffee and give God thanks for what’s around me. I’ll have no intention to work the garden, just sit in it. As your quiet the birds chirp, and snacking on the last ground cherries, notice some snap dragons, cilantro, parsley popping back from the cooler weather. Just taking a moment to be in Gods presence.

[@alpinereid5265]

I'm on the east coast of Canada and my tomatoes haven't ripened yet so I'm still looking forward to the harvest. But I do love the fall and collecting seeds from all types of plants -- finding a new to me flower and seeing how it produces it's seeds and collecting those for next year, is a joy.

[@sandyhaines2124]

I am on a fixed income small budget so I can’t dream about purchasing too much. So this is what I do - I use what is here already! Example: my tiny yard grows a ton of cherry laurel saplings because my backyard neighbor has a huge cherry laurel and the birds eat the berries and plant the seeds everywhere! I have let some grow on purpose so that I can cut them down when they are about 6 feet tall. I now have enough stockpiled so I can use them to build structures for my garden. Just a simple four sapling “pyramid“ lashed together at the top and buried at the bottom will serve as a support for the climbing rose I planted this spring. Letting my imagination and frugal creativity go wild in the heat and humidity of the South Carolina summer keeps me in the gardening mood.

[@kerrycoyle8930]

At this time of the year I enjoy taking my time while gradually cleaning out the garden beds. I usually plant a few rows of radishes to munch on nearing the end of September... I also scatter turnip seeds around because I really enjoy picking and peeling off the outer layer and eating them raw beginning around the end of October all the way through November. In early December I'll spread at least half of my finished compost from my three bins, adding 2 - 4 inches of new rich compost throughout the garden and spend some time planning the layout for next years crops while relaxing through the holidays. Then when the new year comes I start all over again by cleaning up my seed starting stuff, trays, etc., so I'm ready to get new seedlings ready for planting out next Spring.