Fall and Coastal California Farming

Many people think California weather, particularly in Southern California, simply consists of one long endless summer. Not so! The signs of fall are perhaps subtler, but they're felt, if one takes a moment to experience them. The shortened daylight hours, the crisp coolness of the evening breeze, and the changing colors in many trees in the neighborhood, along with the slow wilting of tomato and zucchini plants, and the return of wintering birds to the feeder, are all signals of the beginning of fall and the slow, persistent drift into months of chilly days and the sleeping garden boxes of winter.

It is a beautiful time of year, though a little sad as well. I already miss the sweaty toil of turning the soil and staring with sweet satisfaction at my peppers, berries, artichokes, peaches, oranges, apricots, potatoes, figs, asparagus, and all of the other fruits of my labor. When I take a peek, though, in my freezers or open the cupboard where all of the full jars are stored, I can smile and feel good again.