Old October..........
Beguile us in the way you know
Enchant the land with amethyst
Robert Frost
Photos of Caroline County, Virginia
by Susan Fitzhugh Sili
In
the early years of Virginia’s history, Autumn brought the end of
the year long harvest. In those days, the season meant the
preserving of foods to feed large families all winter long. In Caroline and all over the rural south, miles
separated farms and homesteads and people gathered together as the
cold weather approached to celebrate the fruits of their labor.
There was no such thing as an overnight visit. As weather played
havoc with the old roads, often, friends and family arrived in
October and stayed until twelfth night in January. Over the years
transportation underwent incredible changes and food production and
modern preserving methods brought about local grocery stores and then
the huge chains operations we know today. This unofficial celebration
of the Harvest and October was no more. In the last several years
however, an Agricultural Renaissance has occurred in Caroline
with the opening of family farms like Slow Grown In Virginia, and new
avenues to showcase the produce of local growers like the Farmers
Markets located in both Bowling Green and Ladysmith. Mt. Olympus Berry
Farm located on Rt 1 near Carmel Church is still going strong with
wonderful activities and Cheryl English of English Acres Nursery offers
not only plants but her expertise on how to grow them These provide
wonderful opportunities for a weekend family outing and to return
to a time to celebrate the good
things of value in our lives and throughout our community. 
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