September Field Notes: Shifting Seasons on the Farm

~ September 1, 2025

As September settles in, the pace on the farm begins to change. The long days of summer maintenance are behind us, and now our work shifts toward preparing for the busy fall season ahead. Inventory is complete, and every tree in the field has been counted and measured. With updated numbers in hand, we’re ready to help customers tag trees for both fall and spring orders! Completing inventory counts marks the first big step in the seasonal transition: setting the stage for the digging, shipping, and planting to come. With the fall season on the horizon, be on the lookout for our brand new SGN Catalog being mailed out in the coming weeks – they’re hot off the press! 

Out in the field, we’re shifting focus to planting our grass strip cover crops, a practice that keeps our soils healthy, resilient, and protected going into winter. At the same time, we’re set to receive a fresh crop of potted evergreens. These trees are available now to preorder and will also be planted into our field for the future. There’s a steady rhythm in this work: preparing the fields, tending to cover crops, and nurturing young trees that will grow into the next generation.

The September sun still carries summer’s warmth, but the feel of the season is already shifting. Maintenance projects wrap up, crews prep equipment, and we ready ourselves for the digging season to begin. Soon, trucks will be full of freshly harvested trees, ready to roll out of the yard daily, and the energy of fall will truly be underway.

We also look forward to connecting beyond the farm this month. On September 12th at 6pm, our Leaf by Leaf Book Club will gather to read and discuss The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a thoughtful reflection on community, reciprocity, and the gifts of nature. Later in the month, Becky and Maggie will be heading to Washington, D.C. to join AmericanHort in advocating for the nursery and green industry. These conversations remind us that our work in the fields is part of a larger network of growers, leaders, and community members committed to cultivating a greener future.

September is a month of beginnings, of cooler mornings, shifting leaves, and the first steps into our fall season. We’re grateful for the growth behind us, the work before us, and the community that continues to grow alongside our trees! Let’s GROW! 

~ Maggie Thomas Harper