We are always balancing being a working farm and a spiritual retreat center. At our best we combine these to create a whole space which nourishes mind, body, spirit and nature. One of the most sacred acts of the farming year is the planting of the winter squash. These magical plants provide massive yields for the coming fall/winter and have been grown on this land for over 10,000 years by native peoples. These plants require perfection in timing, since they take almost 4 months to mature, and can only be planted after our last frost date. There is magic that comes from cultivating this store-able abundance during this short window of warm weather. Like our ancestors, we are using this time close to the sun to provide delicious nourishment to our loved ones and this year we are planting on a huge scale. We have dug by hand, 108 squash holes. The number 108 is considered sacred in many Eastern religions and traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and connected yoga and dharma based practices. Even the pre-historic monument Stonehenge is 108 feet in diameter!
We are proud to report that these holes have been dug, compost has been stirred in, and we are praying for healthy and delicious fruits. We even planted on a biodynamic fruit day! Winter squash is one of the vegetables where growing practices most affect the flavor. It is a good thing these are all organic, and growing with the best compost and mineral nutrients possible. Flavor should abound. Farming in these moments seems like a long term relationship with the earth that contains the most beautiful reciprocity. Love the soil, love the earth, cultivate abundance, repeat.
