July Garden Journal

As the calendar turns to August 1st, we welcome Lughnasa—the ancient festival marking the beginning of the harvest season! It's a time to cull what’s spent and begin storing away for the colder, darker months ahead.

In the garden, signs of transition are everywhere. The tomatoes are beginning to fade, goldenrod is starting to bloom, while black-eyed Susans and other summer flowers begin to set seed, which will nourish our feathered friends this fall and winter.

Once again, it’s hard to believe we are already turning our thoughts to fall planting. A sense of urgency is always felt in a garden, especially during times of transition. For the month ahead, we must make the most of each day and the warmth and light that August will bring.

With just two weeks left in our DIG internship, we’ll focus on harvesting, saving seeds, and reflecting on all we’ve learned. Throughout the summer, community members from across Durham have generously shared their time and talents with our interns, offering workshops on everything from starting a small business and pine needle soda making to preparing pambazos. From hands-on techniques to deeper personal development, we hope the lessons learned this season will stay with our interns long after their time in the garden ends. As the season begins to shift, so too does our work, moving from tending and growing to gathering and giving thanks.