September Seasonal Plans

I mentioned in my last post that I had been doing a bit of seasonal planning for September and that I would post my plans. Well here they are. These I put together on a Word document and then printed out so that I have them on hand every day - lots of lovely plans but I don't want to forget them which I am apt to do if they are left on my computer :)

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

This month marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Towards the end of the month the leaves of deciduous trees begin to change colour. Children go back to school, and life returns to humdrum normality. For the farming community this is the climax of the grain harvest, a time of hard work followed by the celebrations of Harvest.

Folklaw:

Full moon this month - Harvest or Corn moon (closest to equinox)

Saying: If St Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow

Country lore predicts a hard winter if spiders are plentiful in September.

Gem: Sapphire

Flower: Aster

Conkers - a traditional game played by children with the fruit of the horse-chestnut tree (Eng. Trad.)

Nature:

Hedgerows full of ripe blackberries

Apple Season – go pick apples and process at home

Start of misty mornings

Autumn Equinox (23)

Shortening days

Smell of wood smoke in the air

Birds migrating

Leaves changing colour

Busy squirrels

Harvest time

Rutting deer

Conkers

Creepy Crawlies are on the move!

Snails are laying eggs this month. See garden notes

Garden Jobs This Month

Dig over veggie beds and compost

Plan and plant out spring bulbs (not tulips yet, that’s for October)

Sow lamb’s lettuce and spinach for winter harvesting by no later than mid-Sept.

Put out a few boards for snails to lay their eggs on – dispose of eggs later on

Buy a few Hellebores (Christmas and Lenten Rose) and plant out.

Home:

Sort out clothing cupboards, donate clothes that no longer fit

Make a list of winter clothing needs

Add Autumn touches to decorate home mid-September

Have boiler and central heating system serviced

Preserve garden harvest

Deep clean kitchen cupboards ready for winter pantry stockpile

Food:

Apple and Blackberry pies

Homemade soups

Cook and bake with apples – Landlove 2013 pg 43 (traybake apple buns, apple puffs, apple sauce, apple fritters with icing sugar, apple and potato puffs) See Pinterest board too.

One-pot wonders – Landlove 2013 pg 50 and Pinterest crockpot ideas

Rosehip Jam

Life:

Blackberry picking – Countryside Nature Walk

Rosehip picking – Countryside Nature Walk – make rosehip jam

Apple and Sunflower picking – Visit a Pick-Your-Own farm

Faith:

Holy Rood (cross) day (14) - traditionally children let off school to gather nuts

Michaelmas Day (29)

In the Schoolroom

                                                  Read Aloud:                                                 

Nature Topics:  House Sparrow, Seasonal Tree Study Begins, Chestnut, Leaves in Autumn, Insects

Field Trips: Apple Orchard, Autumn Colour Woodland (late Sept), (check out NT events in our area)

Schoolroom Display: Seasonal book basket, Autumn displays, World Affairs Board,

Composer:

 Art Appreciation:        

                                                                                                 

Poetry:  We are going to focus on autumnal poetry over the next two months. Add to nature journals and enjoy reading together. 

                                                                                               

Arts, Craft and Nature Activities

Leaf covered candle’s/holders to mark the start of Autumn

Make a nature’s bounty mobile for the schoolroom. See Landlove 2014 page 80

Start an Autumn Leaf collection – identify the tree and label.

Weave a basket from gathered materials

Michaelmas craft off Pinterest

Build a Bug Hotel for the insects to overwinter in

Explore an autumn forest/woodland

Seasonal Decorating Ideas

Nature-Walk Wreath

Jars of leaves and seeds (Fill glass jars with fall leaves and seeds to display)

Autumn leaf Garlands

Sew up some fabric corncobs

Mums at the front door

Cross Stitch Autumn cushions for decoration

Collect Conkers and display

Autumnal wreath on the front door.

Check out some of the autumnal display ideas from the Landlove Mags.

That's it from me today friends. See you back here very soon.