Autumn brings relief from the heat and humidity of prairie summer. However, autumn is the time to say goodbye. We have said goodbye to our housemates, the previous A Rocha Prairie Canada directors, Nick and Susan Pharaoh. We are saying goodbye to long days and warm nights. Our summer intern, Samara Bugden, has returned to university. And while we enjoy the turning colours of the forest, prairie, and fields, we know that green things are waning and preparing to sleep.
You may join us during this beautiful time of year. Come watch the many migrating birds; see the very last hummingbirds before they head south. You could help us release the last four Monarchs when they emerge from their chrysalis.
September has arrived, bringing many good changes. I am beginning full-time work this week as site manager for A Rocha Prairie Canada. I am, therefore, engaging with schools and churches to book visits and educational activities here for the upcoming seasons. It looks like it will be a quiet autumn, but we are looking forward to hosting groups for winter camping and snowshoeing, as well as school visits. The visiting children and youth will learn about watersheds, native flora and fauna, and creation care. Most exciting for me is a grant project to expand the native (replanted) tall grass prairie on the property. I have just put in an order for seeds and plant plugs and will be in charge of planting this fall and next spring. I am taking care of volunteers and workers who are constructing our new Education Facility in the meeting place.
Josh has been on paternity leave this summer, taking care of the kids. Since I have only been working part time, it has been a wonderful respite for our little family. We enjoyed the summer, thankfully without too many ticks or mosquitoes, and with our garden full and brimming with good food and flowers. Autumn is beginning now and soon frost will put an end to the tender vegetables. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to the slow movement of autumn and winter. Josh has spent some time in the summer with his studies (reading books of his own choice and writing some reviews for publishers and for friends’ online posts); this fall Josh will work for A Rocha doing outdoor maintenance. He intends to do more discerning and prepare to begin distance-classes for his Masters of Divinity.
These are the things keeping us busy. Last week our friends and housemates moved out and we moved upstairs here in the A Rocha house. This week I will can more pickles, tomato juice, pasta sauce, etc. Later this fall I will squirrel away more produce in the crawl-space root cellar and prepare to host and feed visitors all winter!
