September 2023 Guide to Key Dates Events and Updates

September has already slipped by, and with it comes that familiar feeling that the most comforting months of the year are just ahead. I could spend every monthly newsletter wondering how time moves so quickly, but this season feels too good to dwell on that. Instead, I’m choosing to enjoy the shift. In my growing zone, September marks the beginning of the end of the garden season. This month brought plenty of harvesting, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and kale. The zucchini finally gave up after the vine borers moved in, and the cucumbers met the same fate. Mom and I also picked the apples from the orchard, and even after a dry season, the crop was generous, beautiful, and worth celebrating.

Over the last few weeks, the small signs of fall have become impossible to ignore. Yardwork is slowing down, the afternoon sun feels softer, and the leaves are beginning to change before they eventually drift to the ground. This time of year always makes me want to settle in. Cooler evenings call for bowls of soup, and crisp mornings feel even better with a hot cup of coffee in hand. That said, I have not abandoned my afternoon shaken espressos; some habits are too good to leave behind.

I hope this September 2023 guide finds you somewhere cozy, perhaps with coffee, tea, or spiced cider nearby. Let’s take a look back at the garden, the seasonal recipes, and the latest update on Kip.

Let’s talk about the garden.

This year has been full, in the best and busiest ways. Along with the everyday work of writing and testing recipes, filming long-form videos, and creating Reels, there has also been a special project happening behind the scenes. I cannot share the details just yet, but I can say that I am excited about it. With so much happening, I spent less time in the garden than I normally would. I did not check the pumpkins as often as I should have, and the landscaping did not receive the attention it usually does. The garden can be forgiving, but I missed those quiet hours outside. Time in nature helps me decompress, refocus, and come back to my work with more creativity.

The pumpkin patch is the clearest example of where things got away from me. The weeds grew tall enough to shade and crowd out many of the vines. I know I could have done a better job keeping up with it, but during Kip’s health scare, my attention was completely on him. Thankfully, he is doing very well now, and I’ll share more about that below. Even with all the weeds, I was still able to pick a few pumpkins, and they have added plenty of joy to the fall season. Next year, I plan to use compostable landscape fabric after speaking with a local grower about what works for them. It should help keep weeds under control while giving the vines a cleaner place to grow.

Since I grow pumpkins mostly for fun and autumn decorating, I try to keep the right perspective. This year’s patch was not what I hoped it would be, but that does not mean next year cannot be better. And if life gets busy again and the pumpkins need to take a back seat, that will be okay too.

The tomatoes, however, have been plentiful. Mom and I had enough for both fresh picking and canning. We put up tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, and salsa. If time allows, I may still can a few whole tomatoes before the season is completely over.

Eggplant has also made regular appearances in the kitchen. I have prepared baba ganoush several times, but more often, I keep it simple by slicing the eggplant and roasting it with olive oil, salt, and pepper. When the garden is producing well, meals do not need to be complicated. Sometimes the best dinner is whatever is ready to harvest, roasted until tender and flavorful.

I recently started pulling a few tomato plants that were covered in blight and tomato worms. One important reminder: diseased tomato plants should be discarded, not composted. They can carry problems that may spread through compost and affect future garden beds. October will likely bring the end of the growing season, so any cleanup done now will save time later when the weather is colder and less pleasant.

Let’s talk about food.

Because I harvested some winter squash from the pumpkin patch, squash has been showing up often in my cooking. It is one of the best ingredients for the transition from late summer to fall. If you need more seasonal cooking ideas, take a look through my squash recipes. Here are a few of the dishes I have been enjoying this month:

• My slow cooker squash soup is perfect for a busy day. You can be away from home and still return to a warm, comforting soup that tastes like fall.
• I have noticed many of you making my pork tenderloin with squash and apples. It is a practical weeknight dinner that feels seasonal, hearty, and satisfying. Several of you have said your whole family enjoys it, even the picky eaters.
• I have not made pumpkin loaf yet this season, but both the loaf and pumpkin bars will be coming soon. They are some of my most nostalgic fall recipes. I always think of Mom baking them for dessert during harvest, especially when Dad was working in the fields.
• I made apple crisp recently and was reminded that it works just as well for breakfast as it does for dessert. It is fruit, after all. The craggy streusel topping and warm apple filling make it taste like pure comfort.

If you missed any of the new recipes from this month, here is the full list of what I shared:

• Ramen chicken salad
• Apple pie bars
• Slow cooker squash soup
• Pecan and apple chicken salad
• Fresh tomato galette
• Roasted sweet potato salad

Let’s talk about Kip.

With the cooler weather settling in, Kip is more than ready to spend extra time outside. He often waits by the door, watching for the moment I head out to work. As soon as he gets the chance, he runs for the frisbee, grabs it, and brings it back so I can throw it again. His favorite part of the game is pretending he cannot be caught, and he is very good at staying just out of reach.

In the middle of summer, Kip had a health scare that was very difficult. Right now, I am grateful to say he is doing extremely well. Because he had pancreatitis and IBD, he needs to stay on a low-fat diet. I sometimes make food for him myself, and he also enjoys Just Food For Dogs fresh food. Some of you asked after last month’s newsletter what I had switched to, and he seems to enjoy it as much as The Farmer’s Dog.

Not a day goes by that I do not think about how fortunate I am to have Kip and to see him feeling healthy. Thank you for the kind messages, encouragement, and well wishes over the past few months. So many of you understand what it means to love an animal and care for them through the easy seasons and the hard ones. The worry can be heavy, but the love they give is far greater than any trial.

That is all for this month’s September guide. In the coming weeks, I will announce the preorder for my annual holiday magazine. It should be available around the middle of the month, so watch for an email with all the details. Until we catch up again, I hope you enjoy everything October brings: the cooler weather, the fall recipes, the garden cleanup, and all the cozy moments in between.