Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core………… Keats
Our village is a hive of industry this month as everyone is busy bottling, freezing and making jams and compotes. Pumpkin soup is a winter favourite and freezes well. Peaches must be used very quickly and can be made into juice which will keep if pasteurised.
This year was poor for cherries but now we have an abundance of fruit and vegetables. In the hedgerows there are plenty of blackberries and the walnut trees in the fields are laden. We are still eating raspberries and strawberries and the tomatoes are doing very well. We ate the first of our cabbages today and cut the last of the courgettes.
The grapes in the nearby fields are ready and a gang of pickers is moving around the village getting them in. We did promise to help with the vendange but we haven’t had the time in the past week. It is an experience which will have to wait until next year.
Autumn fruit
