Autumn – Wineberry Wood Press

31Oct 2024 by catbird No Comments

What is Samhain?

Samhain is a celebration halfway between the Autumn Equinox (the official start of fall) and the Winter Solstice (the official start of winter). It is observed on November 1st, although the technical astronomical midpoint varies slightly. It is what is known as a “cross quarter” day on the Wheel of the Year. These days are seasonal midpoints in between the “quarters” or solstices/ equinoxes. This celebration can be known as Halloween, All Souls Day, Dia de la Muertos or Samhain. It is the end of the harvest season and begins the darker half of the Wheel of the Year. It is the last harvest of any remaining food before the killing frost sets in, but it’s also the time to harvest seed for next year. For our ancestors this time…

22Oct 2024 by catbird No Comments

Samhain Simmer Pot

Autumn, Folklore, Samhain, Simmer Pot

Where I live Samhain is when the cold really starts to set in. Simmer pots become more than just a way to make the house smell nice, they add much needed moisture and warmth to the air in my drafty old house. Samhain is more of a time for quiet reflection than other fall holidays, thinking about those who are no longer with us and the cycle of life. Consequently, this recipe has a different vibe. It's not all apples and pumpkin spice it's more about memory. If there is a plant or scent you associate with a particular loved one, that would be a perfect thing to add as well. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like…

30Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Simmer Pots

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Samhain, Simmer Pot

Autumn is when simmer pot season really starts in earnest around our house. A simmer pot is basically a homemade air freshener made by simmering fragrant pieces of fruits, herbs, and other spices in water. You throw some nice smelling things into a pot and let it just simmer on the stove all day. It makes the house smell amazing and cozy. It's a great way to make use of apple peels and core from fall baking. I went ahead and used teh cut outs from our jack-o-lanterns too! I went beyond the usual apples and spices in the harvest simmer pot, using some common fall garden plants and weeds. Sweet autumn clematis is terribly invasive in my area so I don't feel at all and about yanking it. It also…

21Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

What is Autumn Equinox?

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Folklore, Learning

The Fall or Autumnal Equinox is the midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. Day and night are of equal length in nearly all parts of the world. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the Autumn Equinox the Earth’s tilt is at zero relative to the sun, meaning it is not tilting towards or away from the light, it is in balance. The Equinox is the astronomical first day of fall, traditionally starting the fall season. Darkness and night increase, we move within our homes and ourselves and begin to prepare ourselves for the coming winter. This is the time of year when farmers would know how well their summer crops did, and whether they would have enough food for…

20Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Equinox Simmer Pot

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Simmer Pot

Autumn Equinox is a time when people all over the place are taking stock and settling in to the cozy time of year. It brings to mind apple pies and falling leaves. Bountiful produce and abundance as nature makes her last big push. An easy (and nice smelling!) way to celebrate the season is to make a special Equinox simmer pot. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like the smell or want to encourage more of what the plant symbolizes in your life. Apple peels & cores: I am pretty passionate about using things that would otherwise be wasted for simmer pots, cutting up and wasting a perfectly good apple is not my style, but apple cores and…

18Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Giving Back Seed Bombs for Foraging

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Foraging

We love to forage as a family, One of the most important things about foraging is remembering to give back-- to leaves some for the animals, to thank the plants and to cultivate gratitude. When kids are invlved I like to do something concrete to help them think about giving back. Recently we have been making seed bombs with native plants to throw along the trail and very literally give back. So many natural areas are completely overrun with non-native invasive plants that I hope this small action helps native plants regain their foothold and makes more food for the woodland critters. It's really REALLY important that you use seeds for plants that are native to your area and will thrive in the conditions that you are distributing them. Sun?…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Leaf Lanterns

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Nature Art

As soon as the weather begins to turn cold, I cannot stop making lanterns. This darker time of year is perfect for flickering lights and lantern walks. Sometimes I build the lantern structure itself for a more advanced project, but I like to have a variety of easy to make lanterns as well. This is one of those. I usually like to leave natural materials natural, but these lanterns are so cute I couldn't help myself! The lantern also makes use of fallen autumn leaves making it especially seasonally appropriate. If you are working with younger kids, or just prefer the natural shapes, you can skip the cutting and just use full leaves instead. You can use any type of leaf you prefer, although some seem to hold their color…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Harvest Moon Sun Catcher

Autumn, Craft Project, Folklore, Foraging, Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Play

I know, I know, it should really be a moon catcher, but those aren't a thing and not all littles can stay up late enough to see the full moon! The Harvest Moon is what the September full moon is called in Europe and parts of North America. In most of Asia it is the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and while I don't live in Asia, I find this celebration and it's related folktales super inspiring. I am also always interested in similarity of celebrations across cultures, and you will find some sort of harvest celebration in just about every place with a temperate climate this time of year, many with similar traditions. The Mid Autumn Festival is connected to the folktale of Chang'e and the Moon Rabbit. It's a lovely…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Equinox Harvest Chandelier

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Foraging, Garden, Nature Art, Nature Collection

The Fall or Autumnal Equinox is the midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. Day and night are of equal length in nearly all parts of the world. The Equinox is the astronomical first day of fall, traditionally starting the fall season. Darkness and night increase, we move within our homes and ourselves and begin to prepare for the coming winter. This is the time of year when farmers would historically know how well their summer crops did, and whether they would have enough food for the winter. It’s not a coincidence that so many disparate people and cultures celebrate the harvest around this time. Whether you observe the equinox, Thanksgiving or another fall celebration, giving thanks for the harvest is something we can all appreciate this time of year. …

21Mar 2024 by catbird No Comments

“Fungi Grow”

Autumn, Craft Project, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Hikes, Play, Recipes, STEAM

Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! Fungi Grow Written by: Maria Gianferrari & Illustrated by: Diana Sudyka Maria Gianferrari is one of my favorite nonfiction authors and Diana Sudyka is one of my favorite illustrators so I I had high hopes for this book. It didn't disappoint-- it has simple kind friendly explanations of how mushrooms and mycelium grow and live. It is of course a perfect excuse to take a mushroom hike! I usually think of this as a fall activity because so many edible mushrooms fruit in late summer/ early fall, but there are mushrooms fruiting nearly year round. I love crafting and cooking…

Category: Autumn