As September arrives and the warmth of summer begins to soften, I find myself reflecting on the abundance that Freighter View Farms has brought this year. The summer garden, now winding down, has been a source of joy, peace, and so much more than just food. It’s a place where the seasons have unfolded in their own time, the sun rising over Saginaw Bay each morning, nurturing the plants and, in turn, me.
The early part of the season gave us the crisp, sweet radishes, planted in the cool spring soil. French Breakfast and Cherry Belle radishes sprouted up quickly, their bright colors poking through the soil, a sign that the garden was waking up. Those first harvests—done with coffee in hand, walking through the garden in the cool morning air—were the promise of what was to come. Alongside them were the snow peas, climbing their trellises, offering sweet pods that hinted at the season’s potential.
The Grand Rapids and Tango leaf lettuces, which were so perfect for cut-and-come-again planting, kept our salads fresh for weeks. The Butterhead lettuce, which I spaced a foot apart, provided tender leaves well into June, never heading, but always offering just enough for a meal. But that’s a story for another day.
As the summer truly took hold, the garden exploded into life. Roma tomatoes were the stars, growing tall on their 8-foot stakes, carefully pruned and tied to maximize space and airflow. This year’s harvest led to jars of rich tomato sauce, salsa, and even pizza sauce. Each jar, now lined up on the shelf, represents more than just food for the coming months—it’s the essence of summer, sealed away to be enjoyed in the dead of winter. Alongside those jars are the fruits of the season: blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry jams, each capturing the sweetness of the summer sun.
The herbs were another joy. Basil, oregano, rosemary, and of course, dill, were harvested, dried, and tucked away for the colder months. Their fragrance filled the kitchen as they dried, a reminder of how even the smallest plants can add richness to our meals and our lives. There’s something so grounding about working with herbs—clipping, drying, and saving them for another day. It’s a quiet task, but one that feels deeply connected to the garden and its rhythms.
The sweetness of summer was also captured in the Sugar Baby watermelons, their vines trailing through the garden, hiding perfectly round, dark green fruit. The first slice of one of these little melons was pure joy—the sweet, crisp flesh bursting with flavor, a perfect reminder of what summer gives. These watermelons were a highlight, their sugar-sweet taste the epitome of summer’s abundance.
The sweet peppers—all 12 varieties—were equally prolific, their bright colors filling the garden with vibrancy. And the 20 varieties of indeterminate tomatoes, each meticulously staked and trimmed, produced a rainbow of fruit that never ceased to amaze. The smaller varieties, Red Robin and Kitchen tomatoes, were particularly prolific, filling bowl after bowl. I’ve saved seeds from both, knowing next year’s harvest will bring an exciting new adventure, as both are hybrids. Who knows what surprises await?
Then there were the English cucumbers, their crisp flesh perfect for salads and snacks, and the hidden carrots, waiting quietly beneath the soil until their time came to be pulled—each one a unique, sweet gift from the earth. The garden was alive with abundance.
Now, as I look back, the garden has truly given me so much. Freighter View Farms, tucked along the bay, isn’t just a place where plants grow—it’s a place where I grow, where the seasons unfold, and where each moment in the garden feels like a gift. The view of the freighters slowly making their way across the water reminds me of the steady passage of time, of the rhythm of the seasons, and of how much there is to be thankful for.
So, thank you, summer, for the warmth you brought, for the radishes, peas, lettuces, and tomatoes. For the jars of salsa, sauce, and jam that will carry your sweetness into the colder months. For the carrots, the English cucumbers, and the peppers, each one harvested with care. For the herbs, dried and stored, ready to flavor our winter meals. And for the flowers—the bold Zinnias, the swaying cosmos, and the towering Sunflowers—that added beauty and life to the garden.
As the season turns and the garden begins to rest, I’ll carry with me the memories of this summer. The jars lined up in the pantry, the seeds saved for next spring, and the lessons learned from tending to this land will keep me connected to the warmth and abundance of these past months. And before long, the garden will wake again—the peas will sprout, the radishes will grow, and the cycle will begin anew.
Thank you, summer. Your gifts will carry us through until we meet again next year.
For variety recommendations, see The Best Heirloom Tomatoes for Michigan.
For more on saving seeds from your own garden, see the Complete Guide to Seed Saving.
— Chris Izworski, Freighter View Farms, Bay City, Michigan
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