Harvest Season

So on Wilson's acres we have a walnut tree, persimon tree, and my in-laws have an apple tree. Now you may not think that sounds like too much, but both the trees on our property are 50-60 ft. tall. They drop fruit (or nuts) daily. Since we cannot possibly climb these trees, the best way to harvest is to wait untill they are ripe and they fall to the ground on thier own. Now this sounds good in theory, but it's a lot of work. You have to beat the animals to your food. There is plenty to share, by the way, so don't worry about that. We still have the fattest squirrels I've ever seen. Not to mention once you have picked them up, you have to do something with them. They have to be dehydrated, canned, sauced, pickled, shelled, and stored. So that's what we have been doing this weekend. That's ALL we've been doing this weekend. I'm trying to get 100 lbs of walnuts gathered to take to a shelling station, can applesauce, dehydrate apples, and freeze persimons. You should see my kitchen. Hell. But it's so much fun. AND we can make a little money off of this too. Steve would love to open a U-Pick place up here eventually, so our own property has become a test if this is possible at all. I would say that yes, it is possible. But we are going to need a lot more experience than we have at the moment. So I will continue to slave away in between football games in hopes that the harvest will be over soon. But not so soon that I don't have anything to show for it! Oh, I know. The country is getting to me. But it does feel good to know what we are eating we have grown ourselves and there is no kind of chemicals or toxins in them. I don't know that I've wished for winter before; but I'm a little anxious for it to get here so I can catch a little break from working!