Whether we realize it or not, the seasons influence much of our everyday lives. They affect the food we eat, the things we grow, the resources we use and even how we spend our time. Yet with so many modern conveniences available to us, it’s easy to lose sight of those connections.
Welcome to “In Season,” a place where I’ll share my experiences with gardening, cooking, food preservation and finding practical ways to make better use of the resources available to us. My philosophy is simple: living well by living with the seasons. That doesn’t mean giving up modern conveniences or returning to the way our grandparents lived. It means understanding the choices we make and finding ways to live a little more thoughtfully.
Where ‘In Season’ began
“In Season” began as a gardening column I wrote for the Pahrump Valley Times. At the time, I was actively involved in the local gardening community and also managed the Las Vegas Gardening Club on Facebook, despite living in Pahrump.
Through my involvement with these gardening communities, I had opportunities to exchange ideas, answer questions and learn from other gardeners. When the editor of the Pahrump Valley Times approached me about contributing a column, it seemed like a natural extension of something I was already doing.
Gardening in Southern Nevada presents some unique challenges. Our extreme summer temperatures, limited rainfall and difficult soils mean that advice written for other parts of the country doesn’t always apply here. My goal with the column was to share practical information that could help readers become more successful gardeners in our desert environment.
I enjoyed writing “In Season,” and I missed it after the column ended. Although it originally focused on gardening, my interests have always extended beyond the garden. Now, I’m bringing it back with a broader focus, exploring the connections between growing food, cooking, preserving, managing household resources and living with the seasons.
Why ‘In Season’ matters today
There seems to be a growing interest in more intentional ways of living. Younger generations are rediscovering analog technology, people are taking up traditional crafts and there’s renewed interest in growing food and learning skills that were once part of everyday household life.
I believe some of this reflects a desire to slow down and reconnect with the world around us. But I also think practical considerations are playing a role. Rising household expenses, economic uncertainty and concerns about climate change are giving us reasons to reconsider how we use our resources and prepare for the future.
For generations, people relied on skills such as gardening, cooking, preserving food and repairing what they owned because they had little choice. Today, we have conveniences that make many of those tasks unnecessary. Yet that doesn’t mean the knowledge has lost its value.
Modern tools and scientific knowledge can help us improve upon many traditional practices. But I believe there is value in knowing how to do more for ourselves, understanding where our food comes from and making thoughtful decisions about what we consume. Whether the motivation is financial necessity, environmental concern or simply the satisfaction of doing something yourself, I believe these skills can help us live well in a changing world.
Learning by doing
At “In Season,” I believe one of the best ways to learn is by doing. Whether I’m experimenting with a new gardening technique, preserving food from the harvest or finding ways to make better use of household resources, there’s always something to learn from the experience.
Gardening will remain an important part of “In Season,” but we’ll also explore seasonal cooking, food preservation, raising backyard chickens and making practical choices about the resources we use every day. Along the way, we’ll look at the science behind these activities, their costs and benefits, and how they affect our households and the environment.
These subjects are often more connected than they first appear. Growing vegetables leads to questions about soil, water and climate. Preserving a harvest raises questions about food safety, energy use and household economics. Even something as ordinary as preparing dinner can involve decisions about cost, convenience, nutrition and waste.
My goal is to share what I’m doing, explain why I’m doing it and report on what happens along the way. Some projects will be successful, while others may require a different approach. I’ll share those experiences, along with useful research and information from other knowledgeable sources, so readers can decide what might work for them.
Progress, not perfection
Living well by living with the seasons doesn’t mean we have to grow all our own food, give up modern conveniences or make every decision based on its environmental impact. The reality is that we all have competing demands on our time, money and resources, and what works for one household may not be practical for another.
I would love to grow and preserve everything my family eats, but I know that’s not realistic. Sometimes purchasing food from the grocery store makes more sense than growing it myself. Other times, the convenience of a modern appliance is worth the energy it consumes. These decisions aren’t always straightforward, and the most sustainable choice on paper isn’t necessarily the most practical one in everyday life.
I believe in progress, not perfection. I’m not trying to convince anyone to adopt a particular lifestyle, but to encourage readers to understand their options, try new approaches and make informed choices that fit their circumstances.
One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about gardening is how much there is to learn, not only from our own experiences but from the knowledge others are willing to share. I believe the same is true of cooking, preserving food and the many other ways we can learn to live well with the seasons.
My hope is that “In Season” becomes a place where we can exchange ideas, ask questions and learn from one another. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, just beginning to explore sustainable living or simply curious about trying something new, I invite you to follow along, share your experiences and perhaps discover something useful along the way.
New to “In Season?” Learn more about why I share these projects and my approach to living well by living with the seasons.
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