🌙 November on the Homestead: Saffron Crocus, Maple Syrup Dreams & Fall Projects in the Pacific Northwest

First saffron bloom of the season-the moment that sparked my November inspiration

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November settled softly over the homestead this year, and with it came a blend of discoveries, hands-on projects, and the kind of seasonal magic that makes living in the Pacific Northwest so rewarding.

Discovering the Magic of Saffron Crocuses

One of the brightest highlights of the month was watching my saffron crocuses bloom for the very first time. These little purple flowers opened like tiny gemstones, each one offering a few delicate red threads that reminded me why people call saffron “red gold.”

This was my first year growing saffron at home, and even though first-year harvests are small, the experience was peaceful, slow, and almost meditative. It sparked a bigger dream — expanding into a full saffron crocus bed next season, hopefully with enough harvest to fill my own jars and maybe even share or sell small batches of homegrown saffron someday.

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Looking Ahead: Garden & Seed Planning

November is one of my favorite planning months.

I mapped out my seed-starting schedule for Zone 8b, including delphinium, snapdragons, lupines, marigolds, tomatoes, and peppers. All of these will begin under my grow lights after the new year.

I also checked on plants overwintering in the greenhouse — rosemary, onions, and a few tender starts — making notes for next year’s PNW gardening layout.

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The Simple Joy of a Tortilla Press

Another unexpected joy this month was playing with my tortilla press. I didn’t realize how satisfying it would be to make my own homemade tortillas, but it quickly became one of my favorite kitchen experiments. There’s something grounding about turning simple ingredients into warm, fresh food right on the homestead.

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Beginning the Maple Syrup Journey

This month also sparked my curiosity about making big leaf maple syrup, something unique to our region. I learned about sap collection, the timing, and how to boil it down into syrup. It feels like a long-term project I’m excited to revisit when the season is right — another way to work with what the Pacific Northwest naturally offers.

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Leaf Mold & Quiet Seasonal Progress

I also checked in on my leaf mold pile, one of the slowest but most rewarding compost projects. Even though it takes months to break down, seeing that gentle progress reminded me that some parts of the homestead run quietly in the background, doing their work without much attention.

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Adding to the Homestead Master List

My Homestead Master List grew steadily this month.

I added:

   •   saffron division schedules

   •   garlic and onion planting dates

   •   passionflower steps

   •   Zone 8b seed-starting timelines

   •   compost and leaf mold reminders

   •   greenhouse watering notes

Keeping this list updated helps me track seasonal cycles and keeps the rhythm of the homestead steady year after year.

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Thanksgiving & the Foraged Mocktail Bar

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving was creating a family-friendly mocktail bar using syrups I crafted from foraged ingredients. I used evergreen needles, berries, herbs, and other seasonal flavors to make homemade mocktail syrups that felt festive without alcohol.

Watching family mix and taste each syrup made the whole project worth it. Even though it wasn’t the centerpiece of the evening, it added a creative, seasonal touch and gave me ideas for future gatherings — especially since these foraged syrup flavors fit so naturally with PNW living.

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Creative Projects & Homestead Branding

This month was full of creative work for Shoot for the Moon Homestead — Canva layouts, recipe cards, vellum overlays, journal dividers, and blogs. I love seeing everything come together in a style that feels rustic, personal, and true to the homestead.

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Closing Thoughts