I know I am looking forward to cooler weather and the leaves starting to change colors. Leaves are changing and the hard work of the spring is paying off with the fall harvest. As Cindy has been cultivating her new book "Giving Away the Farm" I have been taking courses. She's preparing to publish her first book in November as I launch my new career as a real estate agent. It is a time of celebration for us on Jacob's Reward Farm. It’s also time for October maintenance and fall gardening for "townies" and farm girl's alike.
October to do list:
- Change out your HVAC filter.
- Test your Smoke Detectors in the house and the barn. Make sure the batteries are in good working order.
- Make sure all exposed water pipes are insulated or wrapped with heat tape.
- Clean your back patio furniture, barbecue grill, etc… and store them properly for next season.
- Remove all the annuals from your flowerbeds & add them to your compost pile.
- Plant pansies, decorative cabbages, and bulbs for color next spring like daffodils and tulips. (I really LOVE planting bulbs and anticipating them coming up in the spring!)
- Cover the beds with a layer of mulch to prepare it for spring and to help control weeds
- Mow your lawn on a lower setting, thatch your lawn with a steel rake, and aerate if required
- Mulch trees and shrubs as well.
- Remove dead and diseased branches on your trees so your home is not damaged during high winds or winter ice storms.
- Enjoy the cooler weather and the calm before the holiday rush begins!
What are you harvesting this fall?
