Harvest

Havesting Food and Harvesting Memories

/ Lee Reynolds

 

Don’t you just love fall?

I know I was reluctant to greet this season, since I felt I hadn’t experience enough summer….

But like any good friend who you haven’t seen for a long time, you connect immediately and pick up where you left off.

Hello fall.

I’m so happy to see you again!

So much of the season makes me smile but lately the bounty of the harvest from our garden brings me the most JOY! I feel abundantly blessed when basket after basket of food comes into my kitchen, ready to be processed and stored away for the upcoming long, cold winter.

Even though I’ve had a garden for years now, I feel abundantly blessed every time I go outside. There is something so deeply fulfilling about growing your own food and feeding your family

I remember when I was just a small child, before my Dad died, living in our little, white clapboard house in Hope, my parents would drive up to Orchard country in early September and bring home boxes of peaches, pears, plums, and apples. Our small kitchen, always the heart of our home, with mom presiding in front of the sink, would be bustling with food preparation and canning. As the shelves of our pantry slowly filled, one jar after another with delicious peaches, pears, plums and applesauce to name a few, I felt safely wrapped in an envelope of abundance and gratitude.

We really didn’t have much and were far from well off but having those shelves full of food and living in a loving family was EVERYTHING I needed.

In the old days, if you wanted to eat vegetables or have fruit in the winter, you had to put them up. Canning was the number one choice, since no power was needed to maintain the food’s freshness…just a good ‘ole pantry like we had or even better; a cold room. Nowadays we have the choice of canning, drying, freezing, storing or buying in a grocery store as needed.

Even if you aren’t able to grow your own food, you can buy large quantities at low prices and either store them or process them. When I was at my local Super Store yesterday they were selling 10 pounds of beets, carrots and 20 pounds of potatoes for around $3.50 dollars each and if you had a cold storage area, you could easily store them and save some serious cash.

Victoria loves to collect our eggs, today we have a whopper of a basket considering we just have four hens

At a recent SENS (Sustainable Environment Network Systems) group meeting in my area, several experts on harvesting, processing and storing food gave mini talks. I was quite interested in the mini root cellar. Even those who have a tiny bit of yard can use this method. Simply find a large bin with a good fitting lid (an old camping cooler works great) and then dig a hole and put the bin in the hole. Cover it with leaves and voila, a modern day root cellar, which will store potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, squash, etc. If you are like me though, you may need to dig a few holes and have several boxes because our squash crop alone would fill up a box. (and I recently gave a bunch away to family who don’t have gardens)

 

No root cellar….no problem, just dig and hole, find a container that seals well and put some leaves on top
Here’s Kate, harvesting a spaghetti squash to take for show and tell. She said many children in her class had never seen one so her teacher roasted it in the kitchen and they all got to taste it. In our day and age, many children don’t know how food is grown or even what it tastes like fresh YUM!

We planted fruit trees in our backyard eight years ago this fall and this was the first year we had what I call a BUMPER crop of apples on our two trees; a honey crisp and a spartan. If I had thinned them a bit more, I would have grown even more usable apples…ah a note to self for next year.

Still, it was enough to keep me busy most nights making apple sauce, apple crisp, apple pies, and recently, I tried drying the apples. Soaking them in water with a bit of lemon juice helped to keep them from going brown. The kids love them!

Victoria and Kathryn digging up potatoes, we planted them near the lavender this year with lots of bees and we had a great crop of nice size potatoes, of course last fall I dug in a lot of dried leaves and grass clippings into this area and that seems to have lightened the soil so big ones could grow.
Will was so proud of the corn he grew. Although he only had a 4×4 foot box to grow it in, we had at least 5 good feeds from that crop of corn. Next year will even be better since this was the first year we did it in the box and of course there is cardboard at the bottom which will have decomposed next season. We will also rotate it to the far box.

 

Even Harrison brought food in from the garden this summer…I had to laugh when I took this picture since the purple cabbage he just picked for coleslaw one night is the size of a basketball and he’s wearing one of his team basketball shirts in this picture. I’m going to miss watching him play this winter…but to each season in life there is a gift.

“to every season there is a gift”

I put the dried apples in a large canning jar in our pantry and the kids help themselves when they want a snack. When I see them sitting at our kitchen island, with the pantry door open and the jar of dried apples in their lap, it takes me right back to my childhood, when I felt safe and comforted with our full pantry.

 

The kids coming in from the garden for some hummus on bagels and a large bowl of veggies…behind Victoria is our pantry cupboard where I keep jars of dried apples, nuts, and baking supplies. Maybe it will be part of their childhood memory one day.

What are your happiest childhood memories? Do they have anything to do with food?

We have had so many apples this fall that one day, we came home to find a large brown, paper bag at our front door that said, “Chinese” food on the outside. The kids got so excited, after all, who doesn’t like take out? But then they all groaned when they saw it was just a big bag of apples. (If they only knew in most parts of the world this would be a real treat but not so much here in apple country) Thanks Auntie J….it was nice to have another variety of apples to try and even if the kids weren’t thrilled with more of the fresh stuff, I was and I knew exactly what to do with that bag of apples.

Our eight year old Honey Crisp apple tree

 

Next year I have to thin them so I get more usable apples, still they are great for apple sauce and drying
Soaking the cut and peeled apples for 5 minutes in water and a bit of lemon juice keeps them from going brown
Dried apples are my new kid’s favourite snack, sweet and chewy!

So while harvesting is in full swing around here. We are also mindful of the memories we are creating for ourselves and our children. One thing we have started back up again is Friday family fun night. (Sorry Harry but you used to win all the time anyway!) It’s one night of the week where we actually don’t have anything going on. I thought it would be the perfect night to get the kids involved making a meal together. After dinner we can play a few board games or card games. Maybe work on a puzzle together. It’s been a big hit so far and the kids start talking about what we will make for dinner and what game we will play early in the week so I know it’s something they look forward to.

Grace helping to make pizza on family fun night
Grace taught me how to make stuffed crust pizza..it’s easy, just mozzarella cheese, oregano, basil and garlic!

If you are one of those families still ordering pizza…get on board; homemade pizza RULES! Check out a post where I share our easy pizza recipe and pile your favourites on top.

Our new fall schedule, busy with everything that interests us and something for everyone

And while making memories with our children are a highlight for David and I, as we know how fast little ones grow, we also know that partners can lose each other while raising a family. This fall, we have made a point of having a dedicated, Saturday Date night.

So far we have only managed a few evenings staying home with popcorn, licorice and Netflix, except for one night we went to our new Starbuck’s coffee shop in town and chatted, while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte! It was absolutely yummy. Also, did you know that if you bring your OWN CUP, they will fill it to the top with your beverage of choice and it’s actually, 10 cents cheaper than if you use one of their paper cups. I love it!

(If you want to make your own pumpkin spice lattes this fall, check out my blog post; Simple Pleasures)

This weekend is Thanksgiving in my part of the world. I have so much to be thankful for this year.

Let me list a few of them off, although they aren’t in any particular order….I’m thankful for…..

1. Peace: I live in Canada….living in a country that is peaceful is not something I take for granted.

2. Health: Being healthy and having a healthy family but knowing our health care is excellent if we need it is huge

3. Education: From our youngest who are in elementary school to our oldest who are in University or beyond, we feel fortunate to have access to wonderful education in our country

4. Clean water and food: Abundance of both….we are so blessed.

5. A Home: Seeing others less fortunate reminds me of simply having somewhere safe to put my head is everything…..let’s help others less fortunate!

6. Warm Clothes and Shoes.…at this time of year when the days are colder, I’m so grateful and I’m happy to declutter and share what we aren’t using with others. Makes me smile when I can share

7. Hope: Having hope and moving in the direction of creating a world where EVERYONE can have the things I have listed above, keeps me saying, “thank you!”

 

My husband David will be out of town on work for much of the weekend (thankful for his job) but he will return in time for us to celebrate his birthday on Monday. And so I will end this blog, saying,                                                       “Happy Birthday David!”

David in September…little picnic in the park

 

And this following song, “Harvest Moon,” by Neil Young, is dedicated to you. On our next date night, let’s dance under the light of the moon. “I’m still in love with you on this harvest moon.”

Thank you for coming to visit today. I hope you are harvesting food and memories in your home too.

But MOST of all, let HOPE be harvested from your heart. Let’s gather together and be grateful for what we have and share our bounty with others. I’m holding my vision of a brighter world for all.

Until we connect again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope

Vegetable Borscht~Grateful Gardens

/ Lee Reynolds
Look what I have found in my garden this summer?

 

This was the first one I found in my garden. EVER!
And look where I found it.
I know hey, a jumble of pumpkin, raspberry bushes, somewhere under there are also potatoes growing in containers …but then cantaloupes have been discovered too.
This mysterious cantaloupe appeared in my pumpkin/raspberry/potatoes in container/ garden this summer, …next to one of my compost bins.
Yes, I know, it’s lucky I found anything in this mess but one day, when I was out hand watering this patch, I was counting pumpkins and boy was I SHOCKED to find a cantaloupe.
I didn’t plant ANY cantaloupe seeds. I’m actually surprised too that anything grew in this patch down by my compost bin.  My sister J says raspberries grow anywhere…thanks btw J, for the new raspberry plants. I’ll put them in as soon as I clear out this mess this fall.
After I planted my main garden, I still had a few plants left and I just randomly planted them in this bed, not thinking anything would come up at all. After all, it isn’t on our underground irrigation system and the dirt is terrible.
 For years we had a weeping birch planted in this space. Although I really like birch trees, that one was always needing pruning and well, it also absorbed a ton of water and wasn’t producing anything for us to eat. When I started thinking garden sustainability, one of the first things to go was that birch. Before I planted down there this year, I meant to remove the stump and improve the soil but I never got around to it/ Was I ever surprised ANYTHING grew down there. One of the reasons I had the compost put in this area was I was wanting to build up the soil in this location. Smart thinking on my part to place my compost bin, where I wanted the new, improved garden area.
So SURPRISE, surprise, surprise….I grew a cantaloupe.
And boy was I feeling like a real farmer when that happened.
But then, on another occasion, I found another one, again surprise! Did I mention this area gets little sunshine (no water, unless I get down there with the hose) and from what I have read melons love the hot sun.
And I wasn’t the only one surprised at our bounty. Harrison who is always happy to see food even posed with our new melon friend…to be eaten forthwith.
Then it happened two more times.

 

From a plant  I didn’t even “knowingly” plant, we received four glorious cantaloupes. YOU can bet  I saved the seeds for us to plant in this same spot next year. I know four melons isn’t a lot in the big scheme of things and even eating but hey…when you have bonus food that you weren’t expecting, and it’s fruit that your family loves to boot, well you are GRATEFUL!
Then there is the produce you did plant that turns out beautifully. I have never planted cabbage before as I was concerned about the notorious white cabbage butterfly infesting our garden but this summer our first cabbages turned out beautifully. I planted two varieties this year, a green and a red. They grew to enormous sizes and 6 plants of each fed our family all summer. Next year I’m doubling that as I want to put some away for winter. Cabbage keeps great I hear.
All summer we ate coleslaw and I added cabbage to my kale salad but I was hoping that there would be one cabbage left in September so we could have our first pot of Borscht of the season.
And look what was waiting for me in the garden the other day. Another reason to be grateful.
Isn’t this Red Dynasty Cabbage a sight for sore eyes…..something my grandmother would have said…but it’s beautiful.
And that wasn’t all. Down in that infamous pumpkin patch, I tipped over one of the containers I planted with Yukon Gold potatoes and I was happily surprised to find enough potatoes for several meals. We can go through 10 pounds of potatoes in no time if all the older boys are eating.
Potatoes grown in one of the containers down at our pumpkin patch
If you live on an urban homestead as I do, I would recommend growing your potatoes in a container. It was so easy and  as I was pouring my lawn clippings into the compost bin, I would top up my potatoes with a bit of mulch and throw a bit of dirt as well. By the end of summer the container was topped up and it was full of veggies. I was surprised by how many potatoes we received.
With  our newly dug potatoes and this beautiful cabbage, I’m going to make a vegetable borscht. Come and join me as I cook.
Pour a cup of tea and let’s get cooking. We can chat about being grateful as we go.

Let’s see, where is my recipe, oh here it is:

Hope’s Homemade Vegetable Borscht
 
Ingredients
  • 3 medium-size beets, peeled and grated
  • 2 large carrot, peeled and grated
  • 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 2 tbsp of water
  • juice from ½ lemon
  • 2 L of water/vegetable broth
  • 1 tbsp of salt…or salt to your taste.
  • 6 medium-size potatoes, or the equivalent, diced
  • ½ cabbage….you can use green or red
  • 1  onion, diced
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  •  black pepper/pinch of salt
  • 2  bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley or fresh finely chopped.
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped or minced as you desire
  • 1 tbsp of dried dill or a large bunch of fresh finely chopped
Directions
  1. Heat up 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add grated beets, carrots and diced tomatoes.


2. Add 2 tbsp of  water and lemon juice to the vegetables and stir.
3. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, boil 2 L of water in a kettle and add to the shredded vegetables, that have been on simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Bring to a boil and add salt to your taste
6. Add diced potatoes and shredded cabbage to the soup and cook for another 10 minutes


7. While that is cooking, saute the onions and garlic over medium heat until golden


8. Add onions and garlic to the pot and combine well.
9. Add freshly ground black pepper, salt, bay leaves, parsley and dill to the soup. Cook for 15 minutes. 




10. Now the best part, pour into bowls, add a big dollop of sour cream and a sprig of parsley.


Serve with salad and dinner buns (recipe below) for a complete and delicious meal.

This recipe feeds 12-14 people. It fed us for 2 nights which I’m grateful for as the second night was after being at the dentist with the whole gang and we were hungry when we arrived home. If you don’t need a whole pot full, please know it freezes really well. Perfect for a cold fall night.

Let’s say Grace….

Don’t you think when you come from a place of gratitude, even more gifts are bestowed. Let’s say grace.

And before I close this post, I just wanted to jot down my dinner bun recipe. I used this also for my black bean burger recipe…but I make the buns a bit smaller for dinner.

Ingredients:

Serves: 12-15
  • 4 1/2cups flour
  • 4 1/2teaspoons dry yeast (2 8g packages)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4cup water
  • 1/2cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup of oil
  • 1/3-1/2cup  white sugar
  • 1/2teaspoon  salt

 

Directions:

 

    1. Mix 2 C flour& yeast in a large bowl.
    2. In a separate bowl, heat milk, water, oil, sugar& salt to lukewarm in microwave.
    3. Add all at once to flour mixture and beat till smooth. (Approx 2 mins in a Kitchenaid stand mixer).
    4. Mix in enough flour to make a soft dough (2 – 2 1/2 Cups).
    5. Mix well until dough is soft and slightly sticky, then turn out onto floured surface and let rest under a large greased bowl for about 15 minutes.
    6. Shape dough into 12-15 small balls and place on greased baking sheet to rise until doubled in size. (approx 45 Mins).
    7. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven 12-15 minutes.
      I add some ground flax seed and oatmeal to the tops of the dough as I’m making the buns

       

      For some reason, making bread and buns is such a nurturing experience

 

 

So there it is my blog friends. A home cooked meal, nothing extravagant but when the ingredients come from your garden, you are even more thankful. I have to tell you our kitchen smells heavenly between the borscht and the buns cooking.

Our cat, May Ling, a blue lynx point Siamese, has snoozed the whole afternoon away on the window seat in our kitchen. There is nothing like homemade soup, buns and a cat dosing in the kitchen in my books.

 

When she hears my camera click, she starts slightly but only just…in a second she is dreaming about mice and quail again

Thanks for coming today……..

Until we meet again, may you be well, peaceful and happy.

Blessings from Hope