Intentional Living: Tomatoes Day 2026

A few weeks ago, we shared the question we ask ourselves every summer:

Are we crazy?

Crazy to work all day and then head into the garden. Crazy to grow, harvest, can, freeze, dry, and preserve as much as we do.

Now September is here, and we have our answer:

Maybe. But it was worth it.

More than 400 pounds of Ohio-grown Roma tomatoes have been processed. The herbs are dried, crushed and put away. Flavored butters are mixed, molded and frozen. The garlic, onions, and potatoes are stored. The freezer is full of sweet corn, and the shelves are lined with jars that will feed our families long after the gardens go quiet. 

And honestly? We're tired.

All summer, nature asks us to keep up. Water. Weed. Harvest. Preserve. Repeat.

Then fall arrives and things begin to change.

The days get shorter. The garden slows down. The bees prepare for cooler weather. Even our skin starts responding to cooler, drier air.

Maybe there's something to learn from that.

Intentional living doesn't always mean doing more. Sometimes it means paying attention to what we need as the season changes.

Consistency, Not Perfection

We don't grow everything we eat. We don't make everything ourselves. We still go to the grocery store, order takeout, and have nights when nothing on the list gets done.

That's real life.

For us, intentional living is simply about making thoughtful choices where we can.

Where did this come from? What's in it? Could we buy it locally? Could we make it ourselves? Is there a better option for our family?

And sometimes the most important question is:

Do I need to slow down?

As we move into fall, that's what we're reminding ourselves.

Keep nourishing your body. Keep caring for your skin. Keep choosing products and food you feel good about. Keep doing the small things that matter to you.

But also give yourself permission to rest.

The garden does.

Maybe we should, too.