Girls' Night In - Issue #240: lessons from the garden 🌱

Friday edition: Our best recommendations for your downtime.
Issue 240 ~ October 1, 2021

view email in browser
share with a friend

Guest Editor's Note

Marking the Little Moments, One Seed at a Time

Looking ahead to winter and not knowing how you'll pass the time? Look into planting some seeds.

by Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-founder and CEO of Golde

Hello everyone, and hello October!

My name is Trinity Mouzon Wofford, and I’m the Co-founder and CEO of Golde, a wellness company powered by superfoods. I’m based in upstate New York, where I live with my fiancé/biz partner.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve already been in the swing of fall for a while. Since moving back home to upstate New York in 2020, I notice the seasonal shift so clearly—in mid-August, the white froth of summer’s carrot flowers had given way to endless goldenrod, blanketing the hillsides in the ochre promise of autumn to come. By now, we’re in full leaf-peeping season, and I hope you are indulging in at least a few cider doughnuts to celebrate.

Since making the switch to country living, I’ve taken up gardening. As a kid, I was totally fascinated by gardens, particularly veggie plots. I grew up with endless guide books and plans, but never had the skills or the determination to bring them to life on my own. When I moved to NYC for college and never looked back, the dream went on hiatus. But as the pandemic brought me home, I found myself finally putting those childhood dreams into action.

This started back in February, when I discovered that the bleak, endless winter of the Adirondack region could be temporarily escaped by the timely ordering of seeds. I ordered more heirloom varietals than I knew what to do with, cross-referencing the Hudson Valley Seed Co., High Mowing Seeds, and Kitazawa Seed Co. for every pepper, herb, or squash that looked delicious and exciting. The real delight is that most seed companies will mail you an actual printed catalogue to look through, the perfect antidote to endless screen time. Some of my vegetables had to be started indoors a full 12 weeks ahead of our last frost date, lending me the opportunity to plot my springtime vision from under the snow cover.

Through the seasonal shifts, I’ve watched as my garden has thrived through a perfectly warm springtime, suffered through a multi-week drought, and plodded through a month of near-daily rainstorms. I’ve observed as my Lavender Cloud Nicotiana gently opened its pale white flowers for just a few high-summer evenings, enchanting me and all the night-pollinators with its sweet scent. While my garden life has taught me a lot about soil nutrients and mulching techniques, I’ve been most grateful for the lesson in marking little moments in time. Somehow, acknowledging the fleeting nature of an instant makes me appreciate it so much more.

Here’s to marking all those little moments. Hope you are savoring this one, too. — Trinity

P.S. from the GNI team: Did you catch our first issue of Downtime Dilemma? Check it out if you missed it, and sign up for the list to get it directly in your inbox every other week.

trinity's picks

Have you tried facial yoga? I once met a woman who swore by it, and then conveniently told me that she had recorded a tutorial video with all the tips on Into the Gloss — here’s the link!
GIGANTIC! Candy fair trade dark chocolate bars are SO GOOD.
Shameless self-promo but this is the honest truth: I don’t go a day without using Golde’s Superwhisk. This USB-rechargeable frother packs a punch for perfectly frothy lattes at home, every time.
The Geography of Nowhere is all at once a history of American architecture and city planning, and a pointed take on how to build systems that actually support human life and happiness. If you’re a Jane Jacobs enthusiast, you’ll love this.

weekly picks

this week's picks and reads were curated by Mary Anne Porto

October 1st means bring on all the spooky/cozy/warming things, like a new haunted house podcast, a pumpkin-scented candle (I like that this one's not too sweet), and a go-to fall pasta recipe. Plus these amazing teddy Birkenstock clogs!!!
Lil Nas X covering Dolly Parton... need we say more?
Sheets & Giggles bedding is made with eucalyptus, which means it's soft, smooth, and sustainable. Breathable and temperature-regulating, these sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and duvet covers will keep you cool and comfy all night long. Just for GNI readers, get 15% off with code GIRLSNIGHT. Sponsor
Not-so-patiently awaiting next March so we can cook from Eric Kim’s debut cookbook!!
Katrina on the team recommends this massage gun as a cheaper alternative to a Theragun. 👀
Smile brings the top uplifting stories to your inbox daily—think heartfelt family stories, animals being adorable, and new ways to start the day off positively, all in a five-minute read. Sign up for the free newsletter today. Sponsor
I love every video in Leena Norms' "Lies You're Told About..." series, but this one about climate anxiety was especially soothing, and moving, even.
Glossier made eyeshadow palettes for all your monochromatic makeup look needs. I'm eyeing the especially autumnal olive and terracotta ones!
I won’t bore you with yet another recommendation for Beautiful World Where Are You, but I will say that those who enjoyed it might also like Thin Places, an essay collection I read earlier this year. If Sally Rooney’s writing on religion made you curious for more, I think you’ll like it. Plus, the title comes from an Irish proverb.
If you're transitioning your closet right now from summer to fall, these new Baggu storage cubes look perfect for packing away warm weather items like swimsuits.
Love the idea of a personal popcorn maker, just in time for Meg Ryan Fall.

weekly reads

Speaking of gardening, loved this reflection on yard maintenance as life maintenance: "Part of how I think about myself as a dad is how I take care of other people, but it’s also in how I care for the living world around me." (Catapult)
Why burnout is a broken promise. (Refinery29)
Horchata has a long history, and some chefs and baristas are thinking about what the horchata latte might symbolize. (Grubstreet)
I can relate to the perils of online shopping when you're short so I'm curious about these tech solutions... (Input)
This made me sentimental: did you, too, have The Cookie Tin that curiously never had cookies in it? (The New York Times)
On nostalgia for teen magazines, and the Instagram page celebrating them. (New Yorker)
Things I learned from reading this story about cooking mushrooms with lightning: a Ratatouille ride is coming to Disney World, the term "ohmic cooking", I should rewatch this movie ASAP. (Eater)
Here's some practical tips for vaxxed hangouts in the Delta Era. (Vice)

take action and take care

Join or contribute to your local community gardens, which can support those facing environmental injustice, reduce and reuse waste, and increase food access—not to mention, working in community and nature can be great for your mental health. Find resources and other ways to get involved via City Blossoms, who operate kid-driven gardens at schools.

reader ❤️ from our inbox...

"I absolutely loved this week's newsletter! I'm going to implement this routine with my mum as well." -Paula (So good to hear that last week's weekly check-in suggestion resonated!)

Trinity Mouzon Wofford upstate New York full leafpeeping season

Girls' Night In - Issue #240: lessons from the garden 🌱

Guest Editor's Note

Marking the Little Moments, One Seed at a Time

Looking ahead to winter and not knowing how you'll pass the time? Look into planting some seeds.

by Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-founder and CEO of Golde

trinity's picks

weekly picks

this week's picks and reads were curated by Mary Anne Porto

weekly reads

take action and take care

reader ❤️ from our inbox...

"I absolutely loved this week's newsletter! I'm going to implement this routine with my mum as well." -Paula (So good to hear that last week's weekly check-in suggestion resonated!)

Key phrases

Older messages

Help! I want to be creative in my downtime 💡

cozy meals made simple 🥘

Issue #239: weekly chats and love notes 💌

A really, really good fall giveaway 🍂

We're launching two new email series 🎉

You Might Also Like

Can shoppy shops like Foxtrot be all things to all people?

6-Second Sunday: On admiration, being useful, and managing expectations

RI#222 - Find valuable knowledge/Secbrain/Go to bed early?

"Borrow" by Sarah McCartt-Jackson

“TONGUE” (SHORT STORY)

Princess Diana's One & Only Met Gala Appearance Is Still So Iconic

45 Great Mother's Day Gifts for Your Wife That’ll Earn You Brownie Points

On love and desire, The Universe in Verse book, inside the creative process of beloved artists

The Week in Review

100+ Best Way Day Deals to Shop for the Next 72 Hours