October 28, 2026
Completing Autumn Chores Around My Farm
Here at my farm, seasonal transitions follow a carefully planned schedule of tasks that I refine each year to keep the property in excellent condition.
Autumn has been relatively mild here in the Northeast, giving us valuable time to prepare for the colder months ahead. Over the last couple of weeks my outdoor grounds crew has been hard at work clearing fallen leaves, winterizing hydrants, installing storm doors, wrapping ornamental urns in burlap, and tackling countless other indoor and outdoor chores. Maintaining a working farm of this size is a tremendous responsibility, requiring constant attention, careful planning, and a dedicated team to ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the year.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Adan, who takes excellent care of my lawns has now transitioned his time from mowing grass to blowing leaves. Leaf blowers are noisy, but they are the most effective for gathering the bulk of leaves into large piles.
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- Jimmy helps by collecting the blown leaves with our industrial leaf vacuum. The machine relies on a high‑powered engine and strong suction to pull leaves and debris through a hose and into the back of the dump truck. The leaves are then taken to the compost area, where they will decompose and get used again as mulch.
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- Adan uses our trusted STIHL backpack blower. I’ve been using STIHL’s blowers for years here at my farm. These blowers are powerful and fuel-efficient. The gasoline-powered engines provide enough rugged power to tackle heavy debris while delivering much lower emissions.
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- This area behind my stable is all cleared of leaves… for now.
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- Nearby, my long Boxwood Allée is given a fresh layer of compost made right here at the farm.
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- Pasang fills wheelbarrows and then hand shovels a two to three inch thick layer under each shrub.
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- In another section, weeds are being pulled from the beds.
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- Phurba rakes debris as he works. It’s a team effort to get the jobs done.
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- All the boxwood is also fed a generous amount of plant food for the season.
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- Behind my Summer House, Pete continues to cover ornamental urns and other objects with burlap to protect them from the winter elements. This is my sundial that is located in the formal sunken garden.
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- It is wrapped with burlap and sewn closed in the same manner as all the other outdoor urns and garden ornaments.
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- Jimmy works in this enclosed plant nursery where I keep potted young trees before they are planted in more permanent locations. It will be cleaned up and prepared for the storage of more saplings.
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- Chhiring checks all the water supplies and closes the hydrants for the winter. Closing and winterizing the hydrants is essential to prevent freeze damage and maintain water flow.
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- At my Winter House, Carlos installs the storm doors – this one is for my kitchen.
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- Inside, Patricia organizes linens in preparation for all my fall entertaining. Doing this now will save lots of time later.
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- Pasang works in my terrace parterres, gathering and disposing leaves and other plant debris. He collects it in one of my giant Multi-Purpose Reusable Garden Totes. These bags can carry hundreds of pounds.
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- The crew also uses a battery powered handheld blower from STIHL to blow any leaves from the area.
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- The vents of the vegetable greenhouse are covered. This greenhouse is equipped with several heavy-duty aluminum vent systems that automatically open and close when needed to allow hot air to escape while simultaneously allowing fresh air into the space. Before winter, both the inside and the outside of these units are covered to help insulate the structure.
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- Pete puts a layer of industrial floor covering fabric left over from another project and cardboard between the vent mechanics and the cover to further prevent drafts.
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- Pete also covers all my air conditioner pits. I keep all my air conditioners in large pits, where they are well hidden behind each house. These air conditioner pits are covered with industrial strength plastic and plywood to protect them from the winter elements.
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- Here’s Fernando storing my giant birdcage for the season.
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- And no matter what the season, the horses are always well exercised. Helen rides them every day around the farm. Here’s Bond heading out into the autumn sunshine. Good luck with all your fall chores – the cold weather is on its way!
This story originally appeared on Martha Stewart Blog
