AUTUMN

A late fall garden can feel like a secret treasure, a quiet escape from the industry of school and jobs. When my daughters were school age, they often snuck into the garden after school to catch the last rays of daylight and delay the start of homework. They weren’t allowed snacks before dinner, but the garden proved too tempting not to bend the rules a little. Imagine my delight when I once found them sheepishly trying to hide the sweet raw kale they’d been enjoying as if it were a decadent, forbidden treat.

Harvesting dark leafy greens and hearty squashes while also preparing the beds for the colder months ahead helps me ease into a winter state of mind. I start to crave warm, filling soups and satisfying pastas, and I anticipate the pleasure of sharing the flavors of summer—now jarred or frozen to keep for months—with friends and family over the holidays.