I was out of town last weekend, and blissfully so, but there was one local event I was sorry to miss: the Heritage Harvest Festival at Tufton Farm. This celebration of all things edible and local is put on by Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Monticello’s Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants. Fortunately, ABODE’s kitchen columnist Lisa Reeder was there, handing out local apples and taking in the scene. Here’s her report:
"The second annual Heritage Harvest Festival promised a day packed with themed tastings, children’s activities, workshops, herb walks, speakers, and plenty of plants and produce to take home. However, threats of Hurricane Hannah made for a wet morning. Many of the day’s activities were curtailed or cancelled due to weather woes, and other events were reduced in size and scope.
"On the bright side, the people that attended the festival were smiling and upbeat, undeterred by rain and dutifully toting seed cups, bags, cameras and rain gear. Vendors unloaded pounds and pounds of tomatoes, melons, apples and peppers for a day-long tasting of heirloom foods. [Editor’s note: /unintelligible moaning sounds tinged with envy/.]
"Even the overcast day didn’t dim the enthusiasm for glistening, ripe fruit. If anything, the wet weather fostered a sense of camaraderie as vendors and enthusiasts alike crowded under tents, awnings and sheltering boxwoods to swap stories, seeds, and planting tips. When early afternoon brought dappled sunlight and a light breeze, people emerged from various shelters and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon."
Sounds soggy but fun. Anybody else go up there to Tufton last Saturday? Did you bring home any notable goodies? Do tell! Next year, damn the hurricanes, I’m going no matter what.
