Harvest

Last night, I saw the first group of geese heading out, seeking warmer climates for the winter.  There will be many more to follow.  At the same time, I noticed that the sidewalk was covered in crab apples that had ripened and fallen from a nearby tree.  A couple of days ago, I noticed some orange and yellow starting to peek out from around the edges of a couple of trees.  I thought to myself that it won't be long until we are awash in color.  It's that time of year already.

A community garden not far from me is full of plants that are loaded with produce waiting to be picked.  It's time to harvest, as indicated by the recently ended state fair.  Long before rides and attractions, fairs were places where farmers could show off their crops and livestock to each other and the community.  At the same time, their wives were proudly displaying their recipes and handiwork to each other.  This in turn was an outgrowth of ancient harvest celebrations, when towns and communities welcomed the arrival of fall and prepared for the lean months of winter by bringing in and storing the crops.

Harvest means "to gather in" and those who do the gathering are called "harvesters."  While we usually think of these words in the context of agriculture, they have other contexts as well.  Consider, if you will, the idea of a store full of different vendors selling their wares--wares that they have spent much time gathering from all kinds of places.  Suppose those wares were special items, maybe vintage things or collectibles or just plain unique things.  Couldn't that store be considered to be a barn or storehouse for those items?  Couldn't those vendors who gather and bring those items in be called "harvesters"?  I think it's an apt description.

From time to time here on the YesterNook blog, we have featured some of those vendors, to give our friends a chance to get to know some of the people behind the booths.  This fall, look for those spotlights to return.  Our vendors work very hard in their gathering and harvesting, and we want to recognize them and their work.  They often fade into the background, in order to let their merchandise take the spotlight, so you don't get to see them for the special people that they are.  Look for the first spotlights to begin in a couple of weeks.  We hope you enjoy them.