When the Fields Grow Quiet: Life on Our Iowa Family Farm After Harvest
The growing season may be ending, but there's a whole lot happening behind the scenes at Wendland Family Farm.
There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over the farm in October. Life on an Iowa farm changes with the seasons, and here at Wendland Family Farm in West Point, October marks the transition from busy harvest days to preparing for another year of growing.
The mornings are cooler. The flowers that once filled our buckets are beginning to fade. The vegetable gardens are giving us their final harvests, and the long summer evenings are getting shorter.
After months of planting, harvesting, arranging bouquets, preparing for farmers markets, and welcoming visitors to the farm, everything begins to change.
And while I love the excitement of the growing season, there's something about this time of year that I've come to appreciate.
A chance to look back.
A chance to catch up.
And maybe, eventually, a chance to rest.
Although if you know me, you probably know that last part doesn't always happen quite the way I imagine.
A Season of Growing More Than Flowers
Every year, I go into the growing season with plans.
Lots of plans.
There are flowers I want to grow, vegetables I want to harvest, workshops I want to host, and new things I want to try. And every year, the season unfolds in ways I couldn't have predicted.
Some things grow beautifully.
Others struggle.
Some ideas turn into something wonderful, while others remind me that farming is one continuous learning experience.
This year was no different.
At Wendland Family Farm, we've spent the season growing specialty cut flowers, seasonal vegetables, and culinary herbs while sharing those harvests with families throughout our community in southeast Iowa.
There have been farmers market mornings, bouquets arranged for special occasions, fresh vegetables heading home to local kitchens, and opportunities to welcome people into the fields where everything begins. Those moments are what make the long days worthwhile.
Because as much as I love growing flowers and food, what I love even more is what happens because of them.
The conversations.
The connections.
The families making memories.
The children learning where their food comes from.
The simple joy of someone taking home something beautiful that was grown right here.
That's always been the heart of our farm.
Life on an Iowa Farm: What Happens After Harvest?
One of the questions people sometimes have about seasonal farms is what happens when the growing season ends.
Do we just close everything up and wait until spring?
I wish it were quite that simple!
While the fields may be slowing down, the work behind the scenes continues.
Fall is a time for cleaning up garden beds, removing spent plants, organizing supplies, evaluating crops, and preparing the soil for another growing season. It's also when I start looking through my notes from the year.
Which flower varieties performed the best?
Which vegetables were favorites among our customers?
What could we grow more of?
What needs to change?
And what new ideas have I been carrying around all summer that might finally have a chance to become reality?
There's a lot of reflection that happens this time of year.
And a lot of planning.
Because growing a successful garden or flower field doesn't start when the weather gets warm. It starts months earlier, with the decisions we make now.
Planning the 2027 Growing Season
One of the most exciting parts of planning for next year is knowing that some of what we'll grow already has a home waiting for it.
Through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, local families can become part of the growing season before it even begins.
CSA is a simple idea with a meaningful purpose. Families purchase a seasonal membership with a local farm, and in return, they receive a share of what that farm grows during the harvest season.
For us, that means growing fresh vegetables and culinary herbs for families who want to enjoy locally grown food while supporting the people producing it.
When I plan our vegetable garden, I'm thinking about more than rows and planting dates.
I'm thinking about the meals those vegetables will become.
The families who will gather around the table.
The children who might discover a new favorite vegetable.
And the opportunity to help people feel a little more connected to the food they eat.
Our 2027 CSA memberships are currently available, and I'm looking forward to welcoming both returning and new families into another growing season.
If you've ever considered joining a CSA in southeast Iowa, we'd love to grow for you.
Preserving a Little Piece of the Growing Season
Another part of farm life that continues well beyond the fresh harvest is finding ways to use and preserve what we've grown.
This fall, I've been spending quite a bit of time developing our Farm Pantry and Harvest & Home collections. What began with herbs grown in our garden has grown into a collection of infused salts, seasonings, farmhouse mixes, and other kitchen favorites. Alongside those, we've been creating simmer pots, mulling spices, and seasonal goods inspired by the comforts of home.
There's something incredibly satisfying about harvesting herbs from the garden, drying them, blending them, and turning them into something that another family can enjoy.
It's another way to make the growing season last a little longer. And it's given me an opportunity to keep creating even when the flower fields are no longer overflowing with blooms.
As we move toward the holiday season, I'm especially excited about the idea of sharing these products as thoughtful, farm-inspired gifts.
Not everything we grow has to be enjoyed the day it's harvested. Sometimes, a little piece of summer can find its way into a winter kitchen.
Why Supporting Local Farms Matters Year-Round
When people think about supporting local farms, they often think about summer farmers markets, roadside stands, and fresh produce.
And those things are incredibly important.
But supporting a small farm doesn't have to end when the growing season does.
Shopping locally made products, purchasing CSA memberships for the coming year, sharing a farm's story, or simply recommending a local grower to a friend can make a meaningful difference.
For small family farms like ours, those connections help us plan, invest in the next season, and continue doing what we love.
Every purchase, every visit, and every word of encouragement matters. And when you choose to support a local farm, you're doing more than purchasing a product. You're helping keep local agriculture, small businesses, and community connections growing.
Looking Ahead, With Gratitude
As another growing season comes to a close, I find myself feeling a little bit of everything.
Relief that the busiest months are behind us.
Gratitude for the people who supported us.
Pride in what we've accomplished.
And excitement about what comes next.
This season wasn't without its challenges. There were long days, difficult moments, and plenty of things that didn't go according to plan. But there was beauty in it, too.
And there is still so much I want to grow, create, and share. For now, the fields will rest.
We'll keep working behind the scenes, dreaming about next year, and finding new ways to bring a little piece of the farm into your homes.
Thank you for being part of Wendland Family Farm. We look forward to growing with you in 2027.
Erica
Wendland Family Farm
West Point, Iowa
Faith • Family • Flowers
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