Even in California we know it’s coming. It’s autumn, but the tomatoes are red, ripe and juicy. There’s a nip in the air, but the melons are ripe and fragrant (and oh so tasty…sigh). Peaches fill the farmers market…but we also see glimpses of sweet potatoes, grapes, pumpkins and pomegranates. We may be in the “Cadillac Desert” but, even here, there is no free lunch…seasons change. Harvest.
The same goes for our garden. Pick those tomatoes, dry those beans, pickle more cucumbers (again?!?) and can/jam those berries and peaches. And if you have a friend who likes thermofuckingnuclear hot peppers, then some “generosity” is in order. Have at it. Share. Abundance is something to celebrate (unless all you have is zucchini, then go stand over there…;-).
All the while we plant our winter crops and look to the colder seasons. Tomatoes become jars of sauce. Peaches freeze into sorbet (yum- won’t last into winter, but whatever), we cure bacon and smoke almonds. There is flavor to be had in any season. And, of course, there are always seasonal cocktails. If you don’t have a bottle of Laird’s Bonded Applejack or good Calvados, now is the time…time to celebrate. Time to reflect. Time to share with friends. And, perhaps, time to take a well-earned nap….
It isn’t an accident that our largest and most important festivals and holidays come after the harvest. Our annual miracle, and it is a miracle, happened again. We live, we eat, we share, we love. Remember that Billions of people live from the fruits of this Earth. It is far from perfect (lord knows, there is more to do) but we have a good foundation to work from. Harvest is time to be thankful and look to the future. We say “thanks for this year and cheers to the next, may your pantry be so full you can share”….and remember to share, there is nothing better….
We leave you with flowers…Happy Monday….
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Putney Farm 
Wow check out all those tomatoes! Very nice.
Thanks…they needed to be picked, frosts are coming…
Beautiful post. And now I want to go procrastinate on my book deadline by planting a garden!
Well, if its a cookbook, maybe a garden is really “research”…;-)
This makes me want to have a farm. Everything looks great! Unfortunately, I don’t think my landlord would appreciate me ripping up his lawn to accomplish it!
Thanks! And maybe if you share some of the goodies w/ the landlord he/she may take a different view…. 😉
Thanks for this hilarious post. I guffawed twice: first over the hot peppers and then over the zucchini. : ) Do you have a good recipe for tomato sauce? We have a bunch, and I, unfortunately, let a big batch go to waste. : (
Hi, thanks for reading. We will post a basic tomato sauce recipe tomorrow or Wednesday… super-easy…just needs a few hours of mostly inactive time roasting and them simmering tomatoes…
Made the sauce today! Will dress it up and eat it tomorrow. Thanks, Stuart!
Any of those nuclear peppers are welcome in our kitchen. 😉
Have at it. These were supposed to be Serranos- hot, but not overly so….but whatever they are, they have some serious burn… go figure. We will pickle them or figure something out…any ideas?
If you don’t like the super hot, I’d dry them, grind them, and then just use a dash or a sprinkle. I don’t actually like hot myself, but DH has been known to toss a few habaneros into two quarts of pico, or just dice one up in his eggs…
Thanks- we may dry them and do our own chili powder.
Habaneros are a special case- they are very spicy but do taste good (in limited quantity)….;-)
Wonderful post again and the photos are so fantastic – sound like an old record again. You will be busy in the kitchen now will this harvest – wonderful … are you making your own Calvados ??? Not anything I like – but many years ago we rent a little castle in Normandy and the owner how lived on the castle farm manufacture Calvados and very famous one too. My German fiance visit the farm nearly every evening before … dinner just to have a glass or two. Personal I don’t like either that or cognac. Adore that last summer rose. You enjoy your harvest.
Thanks! Funny, we have looked at getting a press and then making cider and even distilling from there…we don’t get quite enough of our own apples to pull it off (yet), but it would be fun…
Probably next year you may see some more brewing / distilling / infusing going on here at the farm…
Wow … you, guys are amazing … have a friend that took over a brewery for cider and he are doing fantastically. Here is his website .. only in Swedish .. but lovely pictures. http://www.sovdemusteri.se/
He says it goes 2 kilo apple per 1 litr cider.
What a wonderful reflection on the joys of food & life. From tiny seeds in the earth, through changing seasons, rain, sunshine, harvest & finally our kitchens, there’s nothing quite like the love & sharing of our creations.
Well said! And thanks for the visit. It is a good time of year..
Harvest brings to mind hard work and then enjoyment.
Also well-said. Regardless of the frustations in the garden and orchard (and there are many) this time of year usually shows the rewards and all the work is worth it.
My fiance and I just acquired 2 acorn squash and a TON of chilies. Any recipe ideas? Can we freeze our peppers?
Hi, you can freeze peppers. Just put them in plastic bags (get as much air out as you can) and put them in the freezer. The only issue is that the skins will come off when they thaw, and usually that is a good thing.
If the peppers are spicy, you can make your own tabasco..we may do it with ours.. here is a good link:
http://casualkitchen.blogspot.com/2007/11/make-your-own-tabasco-sauce.html
What a lovely reflection and tribute to all your hard work, as well as enjoyment of the fruits of your labor. Harvest time is bitter sweet. So much hard work, but enjoyment at the same time and so great to know that there will be much to savor throughout the winter. Sad to say goodbye to the garden and greenery, as the fall comes and rains drown us out of our garden. But it makes the next Spring that much better!
Thanks for the kind words…harvest is somewhat bittersweet, particularly after a good year. But we look forward to some rain (and snow). We need it…
Meanwhile, we are off to plant some kale…;-)
Another beautiful post, full of lovely pictures. Thanks for the reminder to keep it simple: hard work, family, food, and a little fun. What could be better?
Thanks. We don’t think there is anything better!
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Your recipes are delicious.
Thanks! We love your photos!
What a beautiful harvest. Lovely photos 🙂
Many Thanks!
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