As October's first frosts arrive, the garden is ready to rest. In this episode, Brenda shares the old way of putting the garden to bed: not stripping it bare, but tucking it in. Drawing on wisdom from her friend and longtime gardening teacher Bettylou Sandy, she walks through what to cut back, what to leave standing for the birds and native bees, and how a blanket of fallen leaves feeds the soil all winter. She shares how to plant garlic at the New Moon in Libra, and introduces witch hazel, New England's native tree that blooms just as everything else lets go. Whether your garden is acres, a raised bed, or a few pots on the deck, this is a gentle, practical guide to fall cleanup and seasonal living. In this episode: Why "mimic nature" is the heart of fall cleanup, and how three feet of leaves becomes an inch and a half of soil What to cut back and what to leave standing: annuals, perennials, seed heads, and woody herbs Putting a small garden to bed: pots, raised beds on legs, and bringing tender plants indoors A hard-won lesson from an aphid outbreak: why to keep new nursery plants apart before they join the others How to plant garlic in the ground, a raised bed, or a deep pot, and keep the squirrels out Witch hazel's story, from Indigenous medicine and dowsing rods to Connecticut's famous bottle, plus a simple homemade witch hazel wash Herbs featured: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and garlic. Note of care: A homemade witch hazel wash is for external use only. Refrigerate it and use it within about a week, or mix it 50-50 with 80-proof vodka to keep it on the shelf. Patch-test on sensitive skin. From the Herbary Archive: Episodes #10 and #11, Fall Garden Clean Up and Winter Gardening with Bettylou Sandy (first released under the show's original name, Living and Lovin' Herbs). Episode 10 Fall Garden Clean Up and Winter Gardening With Bettylou Sandy Part 1 https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/16258019 Episode 11 Fall Garden Cleanup and Winter Gardening With Bettylou Sandy Part 2 https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/16440317 ✍️ Join my Newsletter! If you'd like to know me a little more personally, a letter arrives from the garden each Friday — seasonal stories, herbal wisdom, the quiet rhythms of the Celtic year, and personal videos from the Herbary I'm building by hand. You'll be the first to hear about new offerings, upcoming classes, and hands-on workshops. And each month, subscribers receive the topic and the link for our free Zoom circle, where we gather to learn and linger together. It's a slow, unhurried corner of the internet. Come as you are. https://thenewenglandherbary.com/join/ 🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools (affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work) Herbs featured in this Show: 1. Dried Witch Hazel Bark https://amzn.to/4yI6ZBU 2. HARDNECK Garlic Bulb for Planting https://amzn.to/473P0K5 3. 2 QT Stainless Steel Sauce Pan with Lid - for making cosmetics https://amzn.to/4AULIXd My favorite tea-making tools: BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker https://amzn.to/4r4LYNH Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar https://amzn.to/4qWQr4L Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars https://amzn.to/4pNflmq 📚Bookstore - Brenda J. Sullivan Books https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com/ 🌱 My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity. My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey. Inside you'll find: Simple planting guidance Space for drawings, photos, and notes Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef's Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden) Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants. ✨ You'll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey. 🌿 Work With Me 🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open) Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars. My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening. 👉 Learn more here: https://mailchi.mp/351efb18cd6b/one-on-one-consultations-landing-page ☕ Buy Me a Cup of Tea If this story brought you comfort, you can support the channel here: https://buymeacoffee.com/thompsonstg 🎶 Music Credits A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the music featured in this story. I am a Patreon supporter of Alexander's work. 🎼 Song: Planning - 320bit - September 5, 2021 🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ 🌿 Stay Connected Website: https://thenewenglandherbary.com/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thenewenglandherbary?si=f7_MB0XEz0vn0Xr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenewenglandherbary/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578148227744 The New England Herbary is a project of Thompson Street Farm LLC. https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/
