From the Farm - Shifting Seasons
Letting go, listening closer, and finding our place in the season
The corn has been cut and the fields around the house feel open again. For months the tall stalks formed a tunnel of green that turned to gold. Now the horizon stretches clear toward Piney Creek, and the air keeps shifting, warm one day, cool the next, sometimes heavy with humidity and sometimes crisp and dry.
The animals seem to be getting ready for winter. Deer linger at the edges of the field, moving through the remnants of the corn we left behind, taking advantage of what is there. Squirrels move quickly from branch to branch, storing what they can. Even the creek feels different and I am seeing fewer beavers and turtles as the season shifts.
Walking and breathing through these changes feels like a reminder that autumn belongs to the body as much as to the land. Just as the fields release what they have held, we are invited to let go of what has run its course.
UPDATE: Schefflera Cutting
Here’s a quick update from the garden. The Schefflera cutting still looks healthy, though it hasn’t put out roots yet.
The first photo shows the stalk just after we took the cutting on September 1.
Now, about 25 days later, a fresh shoot is pushing out from that same spot.
The plant is showing signs of recovery and resilience, even as it takes its time.
Cottonmouth Encounter
On a recent walk along the spring branch, I spotted a Northern Cottonmouth sunning on the bank. After I disturbed him, he slipped into the water and swam across the branch.
Encounters like this carry a charge, a mix of adrenaline, respect, and awe.
Cottonmouths are often feared, but they are also part of the balance of life along Piney Creek.
A little healthy respect goes a long way.
Learning to Know Our Neighbors
Every now and then I come across tools that genuinely make my life richer.
I have no connection to these apps. They have simply added value to my journey, and I thought they might do the same for you.
As far as I know they are both free, and they have helped me notice and name more of the life that’s around me.
Merlin Bird ID App
I took Merlin out on the farm and recorded for about a minute. In that short time it identified six different birds.
What I love is that it shows in real time which bird is calling, with a name and photo appearing on the screen as the sound comes through. The more I use it, the more familiar those voices become, and what once felt like background noise now feels like neighbors.
Seek by iNaturalist
The Seek app has become one of my favorite ways to explore. I can point my camera at a plant, insect, or animal and it quickly suggests what I’m looking at.
If I snap a picture, it saves the record and gives me details about what it is. It’s a simple way to learn more about the world right around me, and each time I use it I feel like I’m getting to know my neighbors a little better.
Both of these apps are free, and both encourage me to slow down and notice. The more I learn their voices and names, the more I remember that I am part of this shared place.
As the days grow shorter and time outdoors feels limited, they offer me one more way to stay connected with the living world. Even a short walk can become a chance to listen more closely, to learn, and to carry that sense of belonging into the season ahead.
Thanks for joining me in noticing these small changes. I’d love to hear what you’re seeing where you are as the season shifts.
Keith Rowe is a breathworker, teacher, and founder of Vital Healing, a nonprofit that helps people reconnect with the wisdom of their heart through breathwork, somatic practice, and walking meditation.
He is co-creator of the upcoming Walking Pilgrim app, a 33-day journey of mindful walking and presence. Sign up for updates at walkingpilgrim.com.