Storing Summer for the Months Ahead

A Season in the Attic – Storing Summer for the Months Ahead

Late summer is one of my favourite times to forage. The hedgerows are heavy with colour, the air smells green and sweet, and there’s a sense of gathering before the quiet of autumn sets in.

This week’s haul feels like a snapshot of the season. Hawthorn branches with berries just turning red — still tart, still holding that promise of ripeness. They’ll dry alongside the leaves and sticks, ready to bring a pop of colour and a burst of antioxidants to winter mixes.

There’s linden in abundance too — leaves, flowers, pods, and sticks, each with their own texture and scent. Linden is a calming forage, and I like to think the animals can feel that. Hanging it in the attic, the flowers still carry the scent of sunshine.

The damsons and plums were a joint find with Taylor. She’s claimed a bucket for jam-making, but I’ve got leaves and smaller branches drying for the blends. It’s enrichment for the animals, but for me, it’s a memory in the making — her excitement at spotting them first, the sticky fingers, the little plans for the days ahead.

Even the giant willow herb made its way into the attic — soft, fluffy seed heads that the animals will strip bare before you’ve even turned your back. There’s something about that plant: gentle to handle, but irresistible once dried.

I like to think of the attic as my seasonal pantry. Every bunch hanging from the beams tells a story — where it came from, what the day was like, and the animals it’s destined for. In the middle of winter, when everything outside is bare, these jars and bundles will open to the smell of late summer.

For the animals, it’s variety, texture, and health in every handful. For me, it’s knowing that even when the days get darker, there’s still a little piece of sunshine stored away, ready to share.