Harvest Time

Cynthia Allen-Linck

August 9, 2008

There is something so luscious about seeing the fruits of summer languishing in the fields or bending the tree branches that it often inspires thievery in some people. Who of us hasn’t heard a story of someone stealing watermelons under the cover of darkness?! Pumpkins are prime targets for pranksters in the fall. Mr. MacGregor isn’t the only one to have problems with thieves in the garden. Anything out in the open is fair game it seems.

All the sweetness to be had is just too much of a temptation I guess. And oh so sweet it is. Melons, and berries, peaches, plums, pears, apples and grapes.... Endless possibilities for sure. Of course you can just eat your heart’s desire right off the tree or vine. But you could opt for jams and jellies, pies and cobblers, maybe some pickles, or try your hand at some homemade wine. It’s all good!

I remember as a child at my Great Uncle John’s farm helping to pick berries. They were sweet and warm from the sun. There were blackberries, and raspberries. What we didn’t eat in the berry patch got mixed together in the kitchen. I sat on the hearth with my bowl of berries - plain thank you. Dad and Uncle John had theirs with fresh cows cream. Yes, I said fresh. Like still warm from the cow in the yard! I passed on the cream saying I preferred mine naked. Uncle John looked at me and shook his head ..... then with a smile offered up his beautiful bowl of bright berries and creamy white goodness.... and said "You can’t get too much of this baby girl". I’m told tree ripened peaches are equally as good served up in the same manner.

We have a couple of peach trees, a couple of apricot trees, and a few blackberry vines. Not a grandiose orchard yet, but we are working on it. There were enough berries this year for a nice big cobbler. Not bad for their third year.

I don’t think we are destined to have apricots. We have had problems with the blossoms freezing in the spring. Last year there were lots of apricots - - but that late freeze got them! It looked like we had grown raisin trees! This year was looking good. We made it through the freezes and frosts and the trees were laden with golden fruit. But.... wouldn’t you know.... every one of them had a worm in it!

So, we set our sights on the peach crop! Our 2 trees suffered no damage from the ice storm. The blossoms made it through the spring frosts. There were peaches on the trees! Our little 3rd year trees were going to give us enough peaches to say we had our first real crop. We looked at them nearly every day- checking their progress - waiting. They were small, but healthy peaches, and finally they were ripe. We were going to have fresh peach pie! Maybe even some homemade peach ice cream. As we approached the trees with our baskets in hand we stopped short.... staring in disbelief.... SOMEONE STOLE THE PEACHES!