Traditionally, a harvest home celebration is a festival that marks the end of the harvest season. For us in Canada, that’s usually early- to mid-October when we celebrate Thanksgiving. But, the growing and harvest season runs for several months, and often the amazing bounty of Ontario comes in stages.
Because we live in such a rich and productive part of the farming world, it’s time to take a pause and consider the possibility of a late summer harvest home as well. Fresh off the August long weekend, with its barbecues and corn roasts, we’d like to take a peek at what this amazing season has to offer.
The Bounty of Late Summer Ontario
We sometimes like to joke that Ontario is “where food comes from.” Sure, for a slice of the year it’s hard to get fresh berries and spinach from our own backyard, but once the markets start opening up in May, there’s a clear and productive seasonal produce wave that absolutely explodes by August.
On the fruit tables are every variety of apple, pear, plum and berry. Berry picking time is in full swing for family outings, and it’s hard to resist all those pops of tart and sweet. We might want to get some into the freezer or into preserves for winter, but they don’t always last in the bowl.
New corn is on its way in weekly, and is a staple on every grill in town. This is the high season for tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini, making Italian dishes and preserved sauces a must for loading up the freezer. Cool cucumbers, zesty onions, peas, beans and carrots mean we’re never at a loss for amazing things to put on our plates.
This is also the time when the herb garden comes alive. Whether you’re into tending your own pots of basil, thyme, rosemary and more or you pick up fresh bundles from the market, you know you’re getting the absolute best of the season. Pick fresh dill for pickles and salads and trim fennel fronds for an extra burst of flavour. Hang them on a string in your kitchen to dry, and you’ve not only got the best smelling kitchen in the neighbourhood, but you’ll be instantly transported to the look and feel of a country home from days gone by.
Tip:
When cooking with harvested herbs, fresh herbs tend to become muted if cooked too long. Save them for a little later in the cooking process. Dried herbs, on the other hand, need time to “steep” in order to release their fragrant oils. The earlier in the cooking you add them the more flavour you’ll coax out of them.
Celebrating the Harvest
We often think about celebrating the harvest home as an autumnal event, surrounded by pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales. But in late summer, we can thrive with fresh-cut flowers, field greens, and a rainbow of colour.
This is the time of year when the world is lush, rich, and succulent. Warm nights mean amazing meals on the patio. We celebrate all of this abundance, not in a single holiday, but in a weekly ritual farmers’ markets, fresh produce, and a Sunday afternoon spent simmering, braising, roasting, and baking for a family gathering that will fill our bellies, warm our hearts, and fuel our souls for the coming week.
In the summertime, everyday life can be part of the celebration, and every moment preserved for the cooler months ahead.
It’s a time for friends to gather, children to explore, and life to be fully enjoyed.
What do you think? Is fall the only time for a harvest festival, or will you join us in celebrating the amazing abundance of the summer season as well? Let us know in the comments if we’ve got you thinking about late summer as a time of bounty and thanks!