Rad Home Maker

The landslide of holiday decoration invasion is just around the corner: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rather than fight against the inevitable, there’s a better story behind celebrating the end of summer. There’s a history and connection to seasonal affect worth commemorating. This year, (not every year), September 23rd is Summer’s last [full] moon and Fall’s first. It’s a day when the light and dark are at an equal balance (or as close as they’ll ever be), better known as the Equinox.

For those who grow their own food or practice being a Locavore’s, this is a time when we can mark an appreciated bid farewell to Spring & Summer’s last delectable sweet thin skinned fruits and vegetables and celebrate Fall’s first yield of rich savory squashes.

In Southern California, this line is a bit more blurred, but the cool nights that are now creeping in, mean that I can embrace dishes that will once again heat my kitchen in heartiness.

Before the tumble of heedless holidays begin, now to ponder:

1. How you’ll celebrate Halloween with your family. Will you look to past cultures to restore some of the history?

2. Are there local community events to connect your children with their neighbors?

3. Do you know what fruits and vegetables are in season? Will you prepare a special fall harvest dinner?

4. Where will you purchase your Thanksgiving (and Christmas) turkey? Is there a local pasture farm you can turn to; perhaps someone from your local farmers market?

*Don’t assume Whole Foods supplies free range pasture turkeys. Many of their meats are corn and grain fed, supporting industrialized organic animals.

5. What can you make instead of buy this year?

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