As the mornings bring hints of crisp fall air here in South Carolina, I can’t help but find myself eagerly awaiting the transition from summer to fall (it is my favorite season after all). When the air brings the cool earthy smell and the temperatures start to drop, my soul starts to come alive. The earth brings four seasons, each beautiful in their own unique way. The beginning of fall brings about a necessary change for the upcoming months. We can’t have spring and summer growth without the shedding of the old in fall.
When looking at the anatomy of seeds and plants, they all need the dormancy of fall and winter to bring about the beautiful new growth in the warmer months. Many wildflowers that bring so much beauty drop their seeds and rely on the cooler weather to multiply and thrive. Much like the changing of seasons, life is one beautiful road filled with death and rebirth. The shedding of the old is needed to make way for the new path. And in fact, we often make more of a wider impact after a season of death and rebirth, like the wildflower seeds that multiply after a cool season.
It’s been quite here for a number of reasons, but mostly because I have gone through a change of seasons. When I said goodbye to our family farm, I tried to hold onto everything that I had learned and experienced and hoped to inspire others people to support local farms and learn how to utilize seasonal produce with ease. It was hard to accept that season of farm life had come to an end. It still is hard every day to go through the mental battle of “what if’s”. What if I had done things differently, would the outcome change? What if I had sacrificed more. What if it was me that wasn’t good enough.
But if I have learned anything through this season, it is that I can’t wonder about the what if’s. I can only look forward to the new growth that comes from a season of loss. It has been a few years since I said goodbye, and as more time passes I feel more peace about the turns that life has brought. I am in the midst of my raising kids season, with two adventurous boys and our little girl that graced us with her presence in January 2024.
Much like farming, raising children is not an easy season. They are unpredictable, emotional and the tides can turn at the drop of a hat much like farming. Being a mom requires lots of patience, like waiting for seeds to sprout. Sometimes you won’t see the fruits of your labor for a long time, like regenerating the soil with cover crops. You have to be adaptable and creative as a mother, prepared for any outcome much like weathering a storm that could destroy your crops. I could draw numerous parrallels to raising children and farming, but I’m sure the point has been made.
As I reflect on the last 10 years of my life, I realize that it has been filled with beautiful (and at times very difficult) seasons. From meeting my soulmate, to stumbling upon a career that I loved then leaving it all behind to raising tiny humans, each season has brought growth that is more stunning and numerous than the previous season.
While my passions still revolve around local food and sustainable living, I understand that I am in a very different season right now where my children demand a lot of my attention. We made the decision to homeschool our oldest son and it has been one of the best decisions we made. To see him adapt and flourish through learning has been a huge blessing. But with the demands of homeschooling and caring for a toddler and infant, my priorities have had to shift. In our season of life right now, I have had less time to dedicate to my mission of advocating for local food through sharing ways to source and utilize farm fresh produce and it has been a struggle for me lately.
Thankfully, I know that busy seasons will soon quiet and I will have more time to dedicate to things that I am passionate about, but for now I will continue to share what I can in my Instagram stories and sprinkle in a little life here and there. Being a mom is my greatest joy, and I know this season while my kids are little will not last long, but it is my goal to uplift my children so that they will continue to thrive through their seasons as well.
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