November at Windberry Farms

The farm has settled into its quiet season. The blueberries are long finished and tucked away, with only the occasional customer stopping in for frozen berries. That part of our work won’t return again until spring pruning. The squash and corn are harvested, and the cover crops are already rooted and resting.

Inside, the rhythm has shifted. The kids move between festivals and concerts, the dogs are perfectly content to claim warm spots indoors, and we’re taking a moment to simply be. Even our milk cow has entered her dry period as she prepares for her calf arriving in early March. We will miss homemade eggnog this year, but she has earned this break.

We’ve entered our rest. Our winter as farmers. But what does rest actually mean? Webster defines it as “freedom from activity or labor and an absence of motion.” It feels fitting. We rarely see this place in the calendar, and when it finally comes, it feels like stepping into a pause between the constant pull of what’s next.

As the Christmas season and the winter solstice approach, I am reminded that this time is not empty. Rest is part of the work. In nature it is restorative and transforming, and we are choosing to lean into that rhythm. Restoration before renewal.

In the meantime, the farm store remains open with eggs, sourdough bread, and organic chicken in all cuts. If you need larger orders, please reach out. And as we look ahead to the coming season, we welcome your ideas, hopes, and suggestions for what you’d love to see from the farm in the new year