A Fall Sustainable Bucket List for Mindful Living at Stoney Creek Farm
As the leaves turn and the air chills, fall invites you to slow down, reconnect, and savor the season’s gifts. At Stoney Creek Farm, we believe this time of year isn’t just about pumpkin spice and hayrides (although we love those, too! It’s also a chance to live closer to the land, nurture community, and embrace sustainable living. So here is the Fall Sustainable Bucket List to help you enjoy the season!
One way to do that is to take care of some important bucket-list items on your property that will help you enjoy mindful living not just during the fall and winter, but all year long. Not sure what to add to your list?
Finding just the right project can be challenging, although we’re sure you’ve got at least a few dream projects of your own. That’s why we created this fall bucket list that not only celebrates the season but also leaves the world a little better for it.
1. Build a Fire Pit for Crisp Nights and Cozy Conversations
There’s something timeless about gathering around a fire. It slows you down, grounding you in the moment. Build a fire pit with reclaimed stones or bricks, and you’ll create a hub for fall evenings. Roast local sweet potatoes, share stories, or simply bask in the warmth of a crackling flame.
Worried that your dream fire pit will break the bank (or your back?) Creating a fire pit doesn’t have to be super expensive or incredibly labor-intensive. At Stoney Creek Farm, we’ve turned this into an art form—our fire pit workshops guide you in creating a space that’s functional, sustainable, and beautiful.
2. Host a Farm-to-Table Potluck
Fall is a harvest celebration, and nothing connects you more to your food than sharing it. Invite friends and family to bring dishes made with seasonal, local ingredients. Think roasted squash, apple cider, and hearty stews. Better yet, challenge everyone to incorporate something they grew or sourced sustainably.It’s easier than you might think to do this, too. All you need is a little space and some time to decorate. A few well-placed pumpkins and gourds (that you ca then reuse later) combined with native leaves and other seasonal effects will help you set the tone. A few tables will give everyone ample space for their pots, casserole dishes, and pie pans.
3. Plant for Pollinators
Autumn is a prime time to plant native wildflowers and cover crops that will support pollinators come spring. At Stoney Creek Farm, we advocate for preserving biodiversity—it’s why we grow native plants and offer workshops to help you do the same. A single afternoon planting seeds can yield seasons of blooms and sustain the bees and butterflies that make our world possible.
While what you can grow and when you’ll need to plant it will vary depending on your geographic location, some of the better options in pollinator-friendly cover crops include:
- Buckwheat
- Hairy vetch
- Rye grass
- Clover
- Sunn hemp
- Field peas
- Oats
4. Preserve the Harvest
Fall’s abundance doesn’t have to end when the frost arrives. Learn to can apples, pickle cucumbers, or ferment cabbage into kraut. At Stoney Creek, we embrace preserving as an act of resilience. Stocking your pantry with homemade goods not only reduces waste but also deepens your relationship with the food you eat.
It’s surprisingly easy to get involved with food preservation. If you go the fermented food route, you don’t even need a pressure canner. Many vegetables are fine being canned in a hot water bath, too. However, you can pick up a cheap canner at most big box stores to ensure food safety. If you want to learn more about food preservation, our Online Canning Class will give you all the details for successful food safety and stocking your pantry.
5. Take a Nature Walk and Gather Inspiration
Wander through the woods or fields with an eye for what nature leaves behind—fallen leaves, acorns, seed pods. Create a seasonal wreath, table centerpiece, or even a journal of your findings. Let nature teach you how to see the world as both an artist and a steward.
Nature walks aren’t just for great decorating finds. They have real, tangible, measurable benefits for you. Just five minutes of walking in nature can lift your mood, help you relax, and even boost your self-esteem. Being active in nature can also help improve overall brain function and make you more productive.
6. Practice Gratitude Under the Stars
Bundle up and find a quiet spot under the stars on a clear fall night. Let the vastness of the sky remind you how interconnected we are. At Stoney Creek Farm, we often say sustainability starts with gratitude—for the land, the community, and the small, simple joys that ground us. This also allows you to put that new fire pit to work (maybe with steaming mugs of hot chocolate or hot apple cider!).
7. Read and Reflect on Sustainable Living
Fall offers the perfect excuse to curl up with a good book. Dive into something that challenges your perspective on sustainability and inspires action. Stoney Creek Farm’s blog is a great place to start, with posts like “A Sustainable Fall for All” offering actionable tips for a greener, more mindful season, plus fun for the entire family.
8. Fall Harvest Celebrations
From apple picking to pumpkin patches, there’s no shortage of fall harvest celebrations. Many of these let you get out in nature while also connecting with local growers and farmers. Plus, it’s a ton of fun for the whole family. With a little research, you can find apple festivals, cider pressing celebrations, pumpkin patch harvests, corn mazes, and so many other options.
A Fall to Remember
This fall, let your bucket list be more than a checklist—let it be a call to live with intention. At Stoney Creek Farm, we know sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Start small, dig deep, and celebrate the beauty of fall while keeping one eye on the future. The land, after all, is counting on us.
