Kelly's Healthy Home

September is one of my favorite months of the year. Cooler nights, changing colors, less chaos off a summer high and pumpkin flavors are back. October is when I really start to embrace the fall season though. Maybe it’s the colder days or the Halloween decorations. Last weekend we put out some Halloween decorations, started doing bonfires at night and of course, cheering on the Phillies!

There are so many fun, inexpensive and sustainable activities you can do in the fall too. If you’re looking for some ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

First, let’s talk about the beautiful changing of the leaves. From going on a nature walk and admiring them to scenic drives (although, not so energy efficient). The beautiful colors going on around Montgomery County is stunning. And it’s just beginning! I love taking the dogs for a walk on the Chester County Trail near our house and have every intention to get to Valley Forge park ASAP! Here is a photo from the Perkiomen Valley Trail that I was able to enjoy between some appointments on Friday.

The other thing about leaves that I want to point out is that they are amazing for your yards and gardens. Stop raking them up and throwing them out! Here is a blurb from the Leave Leaves Alone website:

“Ecological best practices suggest that leaves are left whole and in place where they fall wherever possible. This would be in flower beds, under trees and shrubs and under tough ground cover like pachysandra and ivy. This provides valuable winter habitat for butterflies and other insects, which in turn provide food for foraging birds in the winter. If we “clean” our yards and remove all the leaves, these creatures will not survive.”

So, I give you permission to stop wasting your weekends on cleaning up leaves. You’re welcome!

We can’t talk about Fall without mentioning pumpkins. Head to a local farm to support them through pumpkin and other fall produce purchases. Then, use every bit of those pumpkins! Use as decorations (bonus tip: they are a symbol of prosperity and wealth), food, then compost when completed or leave out for your local wildlife to enjoy. When was the last time you roasted pumpkin seeds? Or make a bird feeder out the the pumpkin instead of a jack-o-lantern.

Pumpkin picking is fun for the whole family and there are often other things to enjoy at the farm too to make it an afternoon to remember.

What are some of your favorite fall traditions?