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These October reflections are part of the Seasonal Reflections series — a year-long practice of living with the rhythm of nature.

October is so much more than just pumpkin spice and Halloween. It’s the golden bridge between autumn and winter, bringing us the most vibrant time of the year. Nature dresses itself in its most beautiful ball gown, inviting us to a fabulous party before calling it, well, a season.

For me, it’s usually a busy month. There’s still produce to preserve, and the garden must be prepared for winter. The first night frosts occur, making it necessary to protect sensitive plants, and sometimes it seems like a race against time to harvest the last summer plants before frost gets to them.

In Bavaria, we celebrate our “Erntedankfest” (Thanksgiving) on the first Sunday in October, when it’s (usually) still relatively warm, and there’s lots of fresh produce to decorate the altars in the churches with. It’s quite different from American Thanksgiving. Primarily, it’s a religious harvest celebration rather than a family holiday centred around a large meal. We usually just attend a thanksgiving service.

What I like most about Erntedank is the intention of gratitude for what nature provides. I try to focus on what went well instead of what didn’t. As gardeners, we especially need to acknowledge that we cannot control the outcome of our efforts, no matter how well we plan and prepare. There will always be plants that don’t grow as well as we would have liked them to, while others produce abundantly. I’m grateful for my harvest while still learning from my mistakes.

👉 In these October reflections, we’ll explore seasonal living in October — from the garden and kitchen to simple ways of making the most of autumn.

Nature in October

The air smells different now, richer and riper. If I had to create the scent of autumn, it would be a mixture of ripe plums and apples, nuts, damp soil, rain and fallen leaves.

The trees show off their prettiest colours now, ranging from light gold to dark red, and resemble beautifully dressed divas in their final performance.

And, oh, the light! The blazing summer sun has made room for a golden October light. It’s softer now, warmer and cosier, caressing our skin. The golden light and colourful leaves create a splendour reminiscent of baroque cathedrals with their golden ornaments and dramatic light.

When I stroll through the woods now, I always come home with my pockets full. Chestnuts are ripe and fall from the trees. (Honestly, who can resist grabbing a chestnut from the ground?) Their beautiful auburn colour, their polished surface and the smooth feel of them in my palm are enough to tempt me every autumn.

October is also the time of falling beechnuts. Have you ever stood under a beech tree in autumn and listened to the popping and crackling as it sheds its nuts? It sounds a bit like a popcorn machine. And the beautiful husks can’t just lie there unattended. Some of them also miraculously find their way into my pockets…

October Garden Tasks

My favourite garden task in October is harvesting. That’s right, there’s still plenty to harvest now. Think of cabbages, beetroot, carrots, and other root vegetables. There may still be some autumn lettuce in the beds and in the greenhouse, as well as spinach.

Sowing and planting have almost come to an end now, but not quite. October is the perfect time, for instance, to plant garlic and overwintering onions. I’m so grateful that I can just take the largest garlic cloves from this year’s harvest and stick them in the ground where they will produce new bulbs next year. Isn’t it magic?

Our main garden task in October, though, is preparing our gardens for winter. Tedious as it always is, I force myself to remove all remaining weeds from the beds. They would only continue growing, making it even more tedious to get them out in spring. I also cover all bare soil with a thick layer of mulch for protection. It’s a bit like tucking a child in with a thick blanket before it goes to sleep. I refrain from singing a lullaby, though.

October In The Kitchen And At Home

When the first apples, pears and plums ripen in late August, I’m so grateful and enjoy canning and making jam from them. Now in October, the joy has dimmed a little (“ANOTHER basket of apples?”), but I can’t and won’t let anything go to waste if I can help it, knowing that I’ll be incredibly grateful for every jar of apple sauce or pear jam in winter.

The orchard isn’t the only place still providing a harvest; the vegetable garden still has plenty to offer. I ferment the last heads of red and white cabbage now, often in combination with beetroot, carrots and other root vegetables. The hot sauce, which has been sitting in the pantry for the last eight weeks, is ready to be pureed and filled into bottles.

Late tomatoes I gathered when cutting off the plants sit on my windowsill to ripen slowly in the warm kitchen. That way, I can often make fresh tomato sauce until December.

Everything I have preserved (and still am preserving) is stacked in my cool basement. And you know what? Sometimes I just go down there to have a look at my full shelves and enjoy the sense of pride, contentment and security they give me. The knowledge that winter can come now and we’ll be prepared is priceless.

When the garden and pantry are attended to, it’s time to take care of myself.

October self-care

In September, I could feel a renewed energy that came with cooler temperatures and still-sunny days. The “Altweibersommer”, as we call it here in Bavaria, felt like a second spring.

In October, however, the receding daylight becomes more and more noticeable, temperatures drop (sometimes even below zero), and we increasingly withdraw indoors. Yet, it’s too early to go into hibernation. Finding a healthy balance between outdoor and indoor activities, as well as caring for our health during those first cold days, should now be our priority.

Self-care for Body…

October is a perfect time for hiking here in Bavaria, and I love taking day tours to the mountains. But even if I don’t take the time for long hikes, I love going for a walk and savouring Nature’s beauty before it fades away. Even a short stroll after lunch or in the afternoon will benefit our health and mood.

Although I still have some tomatoes from the garden or windowsill, I now prefer more down-to-earth food. I particularly enjoy all the root vegetables that I can still harvest in October, like carrots, parsnips, beetroots and celery. A nice stew or a tray of them roasted in the oven nourishes body and soul.

…For Mind…

It’s time for more challenging books now (I’m currently reading a very good book about koji), as well as cosy stories. Much like October’s changeable weather, I also have these two opposites in me: the need for intellectual stimulation as well as relaxation, both of which need to be satisfied. One moment, I’m all interested in learning more about a certain topic; the next I want to hop onto the sofa, snuggle under a blanket and escape into a cosy story.

As the gardening season gradually winds down, and most of the harvest is preserved, I now have more time for my creative hobbies like baking, knitting or crafting with what I found in the woods earlier.

…And Soul

I desire a cosy home now. Well, I always do, but never so much as now. I get out the thick, soft-textured blankets, candles and my favourite hot chocolate mug. I decorate the balcony with carved pumpkins and mums and bring out the sofa cushions with the autumnal prints. There’s nothing more satisfying now than returning to a cosy and comfortable home from a walk or errand in cold weather. It makes for a warm and safe haven in a world that slowly gets colder and darker.

It’s also a lovely time to invite friends over for a movie night or a soup party. Nothing too fancy, just “gemütlich” and uncomplicated is how I like it now. After all, what counts most is spending time together and celebrating that we have one another. No need to overcomplicate things.

The Silent Power of Gratitude

Although October starts with opulence, there’s no doubt that it leads us towards winter. The golden and crimson leaves will eventually fall off, the trees will shed their nuts, and soon Nature will go to a well-deserved rest.

But instead of mourning what is coming to an end, why not celebrate what is still here? October invites us to one last splendid feast: a world adorned with colourful leaves, chestnuts and acorns, tables filled with hearty meals made from the last harvest, and homes becoming warm and welcoming shelters against the approaching cold.

Perhaps that’s what October teaches us: gratitude isn’t only about appreciating what we’ve been given, but also about accepting that everything has its season. Just as we cannot wholly control the outcome in our gardens, we cannot hold on to summer forever.  Nor should we try.

The trees show us how it’s done.

A Little More Seasonal Inspiration?

Enjoyed these October reflections? Join my newsletter for seasonal inspiration from the garden, kitchen and home, along with practical tips and simple projects to help you live with the rhythm of nature.

I’d love to have you along!

Missed last month’s reflection? Read September Reflections: A New Energy and explore the changing rhythm of the seasons.