Autumn’s Place in the Cycle of Life
Here’s a look at the life-death-life cycle that governs any homestead, farm, or (let’s face it) life or experience.
Last week, we processed one of our pigs, and Jason snapped the picture below right after we were finished with the process.
The acorns have been falling for weeks, and the pigs have been crunching away at the sweet seeds, fattening up and filling up.
The very same gigantic oak tree that shades our processing area is the one that drops huge amounts of these acorns each year. In fact, oaks often skip production years, but since we’ve been on our farm and processing under this tree—for 6 years—it’s never missed a chance to drop loads of acorns. We think that it’s due to all of the extra water and animal nutrients that have seeped into its ground over the year, and the pigs love to partake in the bounty.
This season is also the season for yellow jackets. While they’re around beginning in the spring, they really hang out at our processing area during the fall, enjoying the dropped meaty bits and blood—ever the focused scavengers.
When this bit of blood hit the ground, they swarmed around, ready to collect as much sustenance as they could. Everything gets used, and everything gets recycled. Energy and life isn’t created, it’s only borrowed and then given back. The pig’s time is done, the yellow jacket’s is just beginning, and the oak tree perseveres by sending out thousands of hopeful and patient acorns each year, many which feed the food that we eat.
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