Happy Lammas: On Harvesting

Hello friends,

It’s the first of August, which in parts of the Northern Hemisphere is considered a time of first harvest. This varies by region, of course, and has been affected by climate change as well, but I always pause at the beginning of August to ponder life, and wealth, and the fruits we share.

I reflect on my personal harvest and make time to thank all those whose labor keeps us fed.* Our household garden is filled with squash and cucumbers planted by my partner, and radishes the squirrels have mostly dug up. I harvest words, collected into books, and moments, collected by memory and photograph. I also harvest sprouts I grow in jars.

This week, I snapped a photo of one of the small indigenous bees that call Oregon home. The bees were happily collecting pollen from sunflowers. One thing I love about bees is that they collect pollen for their own use, but while doing this work, help every plant and flower they touch to propagate and grow. In focusing on their task, they help the world around them.

I hope our work does the same.

So, this August, no matter where you are in the world, I ask:

What are you harvesting?

What will you share?

Best wishes — Thorn

*I hope we all support, celebrate, and safeguard the harvesters in the fields, especially in the US right now where many of these laborers are at risk, not only from harsh working conditions, but from masked bullies with guns.