Good morning Rural Sprout readers, 

Today I woke to a gray, blustery day. I hope all the little Trick-or-Treaters in town don’t get blown away this evening! I am reminded that the pagans celebrate Samhain today – the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. 

I’ve always preferred their calendar to the Gregorian one we follow. 

But that’s because it makes more sense where I live. I know that’s not the case for everyone. And it truly is the end of the harvest, what with the many hard freezes we had last week. 

This is a reminder from your friend in PA that Mother Nature sets aside this time of year for the soil to rest, and we should do the same. 

As we enter the time of year when the days are short and the nights are long, I hope you make a little extra space in your day for quiet, restful things. 

A few of my favorites are reading long into the night, jigsaw puzzles, and knitting. 

I’ve selected a few articles to help get you started. I enjoy doing my garden reading in the off-season and storing up ideas for next spring.