By Serah Blackstone-Fredericks
Rain has arrived in Arcata! With it comes the reminder that seasons shape not only the land, but also the rhythms of our lives.
This is my first true gardening season in Arcata, and I am discovering how much there is to learn when tending both food and flowers in a new climate. Volunteering with friends on local farms has shown me the “do,” and the “maybe do differently next time,” that comes with hands-on practice. Each misstep is its own kind of teacher, reminding me that gardening — like rest — is not about perfection, but presence.
One joy this fall has been planting a new tea garden. For years, I have grown most of my own teas and finally creating a small herbal arsenal in my own backyard feels like a long-awaited exhale. Tulsi, chamomile, mint — each one a gentle ally, teaching me to slow down, harvest thoughtfully and steep what the season offers.
If we want to tether ourselves more firmly to earth, to time and to place, gardening is a good start. I began years ago with only a small patio in Walnut Creek, where I trellised plants upward with twine and anything I could find. A friend noticed my growing passion and built me two planter boxes, which I still cherish today. They remain a reminder that community and care are as much a part of gardening as soil and seed.
I invite you to try a new hobby this season, or to return to an old one, and to notice the rest it offers you.
If you have questions, feel free to write to me directly at sb625@humboldt.edu. And if you use Instagram, you’ll find a post with a QR code where you can send in your gardening curiosities.