As the leaves make their way off of the maples, and the last crisp leaves hang, rattling upon the oaks, it is time to tuck the garden away for a long winter's nap... well, sort of. While we could just leave it all- limp, frosted plants blackened and wilting, tomatoes dropped from vines, earth cooling under nights that dip into the 30s with blazing stars overhead- it is better to take the time now to plan for next year's bounty.
The vegetables have been harvested, and any remaining plants have been cleared away to the compost pile to start breaking down for next year's bounty. Weeds have been cleared, and several beds are now tucked in under a rich pile of shredded leaves. This will insulate the soil a bit, and keep microbes active longer into the season, as well as add nutrients back to the beds that worked so hard all spring and summer. After years of doing this, the soil in this garden is rich, moist, and truly grows more than we can eat. Another step in the fall is planting rye. This cover crop will also enhance the nutrients available next year, with an added bonus: carbon sequestration happening in winter months when so much else is dormant. It turns out the garden isn't completely "napping," after all- much work is still happening, even if it is beyond our line of sight.
So, while it might be tempting at the end of a long season to just walk away and leave it all until spring, the added work now will pay off next year. Not only will there be less mess to pick up when the sun has finally warmed our northern soils enough to plant, but there will be less pests, fewer diseases, and more microbes. What do microbes mean? Rich soil and better nutrition in everything we grow, and carbon being drawn down into the earth where it belongs. These simple steps reward us and help our earth in our own, small way. Now that's an idea worth sowing.
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