Harvest journal: navigating the cascade

I missed writing on the equinox yesterday. Harvest time is busy under the best of circumstances, and I’ve been moonlighting to support our unsustainable farming practices. The gardens don’t know that.

The popcorn glows in the low September light.

The popcorn glows in the low September light.

We’ve had bumper crops of most everything, except cherries. The late spring made us replant tomatoes and eggplant and harmed the cherries and apricots, but once frost passed us by, it got hot and dry. Apparently, that’s what gardens like!

We’ve had bumper crops of most everything, except cherries. The late spring made us replant tomatoes and eggplant and harmed the cherries and apricots, but once frost passed us by, it got hot and dry. Apparently, that’s what gardens like!

The apple blossoms opened after frost.

The apple blossoms opened after frost.

A small sample of the total harvest.

A small sample of the total harvest.

Luckily, we had willing recruits to help us press the cider fodder…two weekends in a row!

Luckily, we had willing recruits to help us press the cider fodder…two weekends in a row!

The pay is bad, but the entertainment dividends are great.

The pay is bad, but the entertainment dividends are great.

This is 1/8th of a head of cabbage. My 14” knife reaches across, but just barely. Braised with a bit of butter and salt, it’s what’s for dinner.

This is 1/8th of a head of cabbage. My 14” knife reaches across, but just barely. Braised with a bit of butter and salt, it’s what’s for dinner.

The black walnuts have been plentiful as well.

The black walnuts have been plentiful as well.

It takes about a gallon of uncracked nuts to make 3 cups of nut meats.

It takes about a gallon of uncracked nuts to make 3 cups of nut meats.

In amongst everything else, Michael got the outdoor outlet moved so we can put siding up whenever the window arrives. I’m leaving for Colorado and the arrival of Grand Girl # 2 in two days. The window comes today or it won’t get in until November. Le sigh.

In amongst everything else, Michael got the outdoor outlet moved so we can put siding up whenever the window arrives. I’m leaving for Colorado and the arrival of Grand Girl # 2 in two days. The window comes today or it won’t get in until November. Le sigh.

Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days…

Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days…

In spite of ourselves, we’ll be sitting at the end of the rainbow…

In spite of ourselves, we’ll be sitting at the end of the rainbow…

The great thing about working with Michael is, no matter if projects aren’t perfect, they tend to turn out pretty well in the end.

And the food really is good, on a number of levels.

And the food really is good, on a number of levels.