October almanac

1st Yom Kippur Jewish Day of atonement – holiest day of the year. The literal translation of kippurim is cleansing. Yom Kippur is a Jewish day to atone for misdeeds and become cleansed and purified from them. 20th Diwali – a Hindhu/ Sikh/Jain Festival of Lights 23rd Stow horse fair – Autumn gypsy/Roma gathering 25th Apple day Read more about October almanac[…]

Autumn

Shadows lengthen, leaves begin to turn & fall, fruits, nuts & berries ripen for harvest. Birds migrate from & fro, owls duet & deer rut. Mushrooms pop, winds swirl until first frosts descend. Because the early Roman year began in March rather than January, the final four months of our year—September, October, November and December—were Read more about Autumn[…]

Nature’s feast of Early Autumn Fruits

 Jeremy Torrance web producer | 12:06 UK time, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 The word harvest comes from the Anglo-Saxon word haerfest meaning autumn and early autumn really is a time of wild fruits aplenty. So what’s in season now and who’s eating? Blackberries Blackberry jam, blackberry fool, blackberry cordial… blackberry picking is one of the nation’s favourite autumn past-times and this late summer/early Read more about Nature’s feast of Early Autumn Fruits[…]

August

Worts & weeds Nuts & Berries Goldfinches chattering on thistles  & Swallows preparing to leave August brings the best bounty of the season—ripened tomatoes, beans, peas and corn. THE MONTH OF AUGUST August was named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Augustus Caesar (63 b.c.–a.d. 14). Find out the origin of each month’s name. Read more about August[…]

Lammas – Lughnasa

The Festival Sabbat of Lammas  Lughnassadh, Lugnasad August 1st/2nd It is now high summer and the union of Sun and Earth, of God and Goddess, has produced the First Harvest. Lammas is the celebration of this first, Grain Harvest, a time for gathering in and giving thanks for abundance. Mabon or the Autumn Equinox is the Second Read more about Lammas – Lughnasa[…]

July Bloom & Wild

A messy riot, Purple Knapweed, Yellow wagtails, red hot Pokers of Rosebay Willowherb & Puffs of Meadowsweet against a backdrop of Thunderous skies & the smell of cool woodlands 3rd The Dog days of summer – the Time of searing heat 7th Chinese season of Xiǎo shǔ – Slight heat 10th Full Buck moon in Read more about July Bloom & Wild[…]