One of our family’s favorite things to do together is to head out first thing in the morning and harvest in the garden. Before the rest of the day starts. Before we even think about breakfast. When all we can hear are the birds singing. When the mountains are still covered in mist and the sun hasn’t yet come out for the day.

When the day is new and fresh, and harvesting feels like a treasure-filled adventure.

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This was yesterday’s morning harvest. 

(And yes, that’s our laundry basket holding greens to bring in the house.)

We harvested:

2 Cucumbers

A handful of Green Beans

1 striped Zucchini

4 yellow Zucchini

Kale and more Kale

Several heads of Lettuce

Some Chard

A bundle of Thyme

A bundle of Sage

And some spicy Oregano

A bunch of Comfrey

Later we harvested some St.John’s Wort flowers, Mullein flowers, Calendula flowers, Chamomile Flowers (for tea), and Marigold flowers (for dye.) I picked a few blackberries to surprise the boys. Bracken picked a few blueberries from our bushes and I helped him get the huckleberries that were out of his reach.

 Jeff has been saving lots of seeds.

And he’s been making dehydrated kale chips and zucchini chips. 

(Pounding the kale with a rock in this picture to prepare it.)

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We didn’t plant as many vegetables this year as we usually do and we planted a lot more herbs. Each year the garden changes, but we have certain things that we always plant. Like kale. We always plant kale.

When people compliment our garden, I say thank you, but I really can’t take much credit this year. I harvest. I planted some and weeded some. I’ve watered here and there. But mostly, it’s been Jeff. He’s planted, weeded, watered. Gardening is one of his greatest joys and it shows. I’m grateful for all he gives the garden and for all the garden gives us.