Even though I live on a farm where there is fruit, September got me thinking about all my annual wildharvesting and alley-way gleaning spots around town. While slicing and drying seconds apples and Asian pears from boxes the farmers couldn’t use is fast and convenient, I was missing the challenge of going out and gathering. It was to my benefit that they didn’t have seconds of Italian plums, because it prompted me to take my daughter out plum picking one day after school. It made for a great mother-daughter outing.
After years of watching me, she’s getting very good with the picking basket to reach those high branches. This is going to sound like a terribly archaic statement or possibly something a mother bear would say if bears could talk, but I always feel like I’ve done my job properly as a parent when my kids show their skills in going out and finding food.
We ended up with a good sized basket full to dry into prunes and munch on with goat cheese and walnuts. There are few things in the world so good as fresh fruit picked off the tree.
We even stopped by our concord grape spot for a few bunches of the delicious, crunchy seeded purple globes. At this point, my kitchen table and counters are covered in baskets and bowls of all manner of good fruits, and I’m working away to capture Summer in my freezer, dehydrator, and canning jars. Winter is on the way, and we will be ready.
This is beautiful in so many ways – and I really am delighted by "mother bear would say if bears could talk" ~ what valuable gifts you give to your young ones. Taking them to the wilderness, teaching them to grow and gather food and put it up for scarce times. And being present with them, appreciating and loving them. You are a wise woman. Thank you.
Thanks Molly 🙂