The chill is in the air. The bee balm seed heads sway with frost, the leaves on the peach trees are finally giving up, the witch hazel has had her last bloom for the season. We’ve shucked the beans (such glorious beans — Doloff, Purple Podded Pole, and True Red Cranberry Pole Beans), dried Calendula, and collected tiny Multiflora rose hips. My guilt for the neglected gardens gives way because now there is nothing I can do — what’s done is done. Onto other things like festivities, a breather before next year’s planning.
With that said, we are coming up on our first year anniversary at the shop! Can you believe it? I barely can. On one hand we have a hard time believing we made it this far (thanks to the bravery and support of our lovely customer base) and on the other hand we see so much growth potential. With the final acquiescence of Instagram and beautiful partnerships (like the Good Life Center, the Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, and Hallowell Pride Alliance), we’re connecting in different ways to different folks. We foresee and welcome more of that goodness in our world. Our second year looks to have some great additions to our wares and relations.
Meanwhile, we’ve been arting and writing away, getting ready to solidify my final degree process. The baker has been developing some new breads (like the lovely Fougasse, ready to be stuffed and shaped), and reworking his schedule (soon to be announced, yes, sorry, we are going to be taking another day off in the New Year) so that he can be a human, too. And the child is a wonder and a gift, helping us along, growing her own self now. It’s all coming together, little by little.
Rock Bottom Homestead 