When the Garden is bursting with produce

It’s that time of year in the Pacific Northwest when backyard gardens are bursting with produce, blackberries are ripe in every patch of greenery, and ambitious gardeners have so many boxes of zucchinis and cucumbers that it’s difficult to give them away! 

The end of summer and beginning of fall is a perfect time for a celebratory harvest party with friends and family. You can savor what you grew this season (or the amazing produce you can find at local farmer’s markets) and spend a few more precious hours eating outside in the sun. 

I organized a harvest party with friends last week, and compiled all my best suggestions for planning a successful event. 

1. Choose your location

A backyard is the perfect location, ideally next to a garden! It’s still so beautiful out, and it’s a shame to not eat outside when the weather is nice. If you don’t have a big yard, see if a friend will collaborate with you. I asked a friend if she wanted to co-host the party, and we used her beautiful yard and I supplied most of the glasses and tableware. Just make sure everyone is clear on the set up, and that you help clean up!

2. Curate your invite list and create your invitations

Dial in your invite list – choose friends who are excited about gardening or eating local. You should also set the logistics of your party, such as start time and whether friends should bring a dish to share. I recommend Canva or a similar platform for making a beautiful invite that is sure to create a celebratory feeling around the event. 

3. Decide on your outfit

You want clothing that can transition from warmer temperatures, and keeps you warm when the sun dips below the horizon. I wore the wool& Cara Fitted Tee paired with the Francis Jersey Skirt, and the Florence Shirt Tunic for some added warmth. The outfit adapted well as the temperatures changed, and I felt both comfortable and festive. If your party starts early in the day, don’t forget about sunscreen!

4. Select Your Dishes

Utilize this harvest party to use up the most prolific ingredients of the season, and celebrate this special time of year! I wanted to celebrate berries, so I made a blackberry arugula salad with avocado and lime dressing, as well as huckleberry galettes from wild huckleberries we harvested in the mountains near where I live. I also made goat cheese logs with edible flowers and herbs – just press edible greens and petals into a log of goat cheese, wrap it in wax paper to even out the texture, and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. It’s a very easy show-stopper that easily features whatever you grew in your garden.

5. Don’t forget about the drinks

We love cocktails, so we brought out the shaker and made a cucumber honeydew martini and a blackberry moscow mule. I also made a punch with blackberry simple syrup, lemon juice, and edible flowers. Drinks are a great way to use those beautiful garnishes from the garden while they are plentiful – mint, basil, berries, and edible flowers are all fantastic additions to even the simplest drinks. 

6. Set the table and dig in

Now you just need to get the table set and wait for your guests to arrive! You can make this as creative and detailed as you like, or keep it simple. We opted for some fresh flowers in mason jars and thrifted dishes, and really let the beautiful food shine. Pay attention to the flow of the party – for example, you might want to put hors devours in a different place than main dishes, so people know what they can dig into before everyone sits down to dinner. 

My friends and I had a wonderful celebration of the bounty of this time of year, and I hope you can as well! The most important piece is to have fun and really appreciate the delicious food that abounds in late summer. Whether you throw a large party, have a picnic, or just simply eat a meal outside, take advantage of the last rays of summer as we transition into fall.

You can find Charlotte on Instagram as she shares her life and adventures.