Late Summer Harvest at Honeydew Farm
- Honeydew Farm
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
There comes a point every summer when the farm begins to prepare for two seasons at once. Our late summer harvest is filling baskets with fresh vegetables and flowers while we also begin preserving food for the colder months ahead.
The gardens are still overflowing with fresh vegetables, the flower fields seem more colorful than ever, and harvest baskets continue filling each day. But behind the scenes, another season has quietly begun as we're preserving everything this year's hard work has produced for the months ahead.
This week brought new vegetables to market, the completion of our garlic harvest, colorful bouquets filled with late-summer blooms, and one very adventurous cat who reminded us that life on the farm is never quite predictable.
Here's what life looked like around Honeydew Farm this week.
Fresh From the Fields
This week's late summer harvest is bringing some exciting additions to our market stand. Along with pickling cucumbers, zucchini, jalapeños, Hungarian Hot Wax peppers, and fresh flower bouquets, we're excited to offer our French fingerling potatoes, crisp green beans, bell peppers, and sweet Sugar Rush Peach peppers.
Our bouquets are also beginning to reflect the changing season, now featuring cheerful sunflowers, delicate cosmos, and colorful zinnias mixed with the flowers you've come to expect from Honeydew Farm.
Every week brings something a little different, and that's one of our favorite parts of growing with the seasons.
Garlic Harvest Is Complete
One of the biggest milestones of the summer happened this week as we finished harvesting our garlic.
After months of growing beneath the soil, every bulb has now been dug and is hanging to cure. Although the harvest is complete, the work isn't over just yet. The garlic will continue curing before it's stored and planted again this September.
Watching rows of freshly harvested garlic hanging to dry is a satisfying reminder that good things often require both patience and preparation.
Preserving the Harvest
Harvest season isn't only about enjoying fresh food today—it's also about preparing for tomorrow.
This week we've started putting food away for the winter by dehydrating fresh sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil. Before long, our paste tomatoes will be ready for canning salsa and spaghetti sauce, and we'll also begin preserving green beans and making dilly beans.
We've also been gathering chokecherries while they're at their peak. For now they'll head into the freezer until winter, when slower days give us time to turn them into homemade chokecherry jelly.
One season has a way of providing for the next, and preserving the harvest is one of our favorite traditions each year.
Cosmo's Big Adventure
Not every farm story grows in the garden.
This week our cat, Cosmo, disappeared for nearly a week. After searching everywhere, we honestly weren't sure we'd ever see her again.
Then someone shared a photo on a local community Facebook page asking if anyone recognized the friendly visitor.
It turns out Cosmo had wandered more than a mile away and made herself completely at home with another family, happily playing with their grandson and enjoying a few extra meals.
We brought her home...
Only for her to return to visit them the very next day.
She's back at the farm for now, but it looks like Cosmo may have decided she's happiest with two families looking after her.
Join Us for Our Pop-Up Floral Experience
We're looking forward to another evening surrounded by flowers on Tuesday, August 11.
Our Pop-Up Floral Experience is a chance to slow down, enjoy the beauty of the season, and create your own hand-tied bouquet using flowers grown right here at Honeydew Farm.
Whether you've arranged flowers before or are simply looking for a creative evening out, we'd love to have you join us.
From the Honeydew Farm Table
Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Fresh green beans are one of summer's simplest pleasures, and this easy side dish lets their natural flavor shine. Finished with garlic and Parmesan, they're the perfect addition to grilled meats, roasted potatoes, or a simple weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes, until they're bright green and tender-crisp.
Drain immediately and rinse briefly with cold water to stop the cooking.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant.
Add the green beans and toss to coat with the garlic butter.
Season with salt and black pepper.
Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Serve immediately while warm.
Honeydew Farm Tip
For the best flavor and texture, cook fresh green beans just until they're tender-crisp. Overcooking can cause them to lose both their bright color and natural sweetness, so keep an eye on them and enjoy them while they're still vibrant.
What's Available This Week
This week you'll find:
Fresh flower bouquets featuring sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, lilies, snapdragons, and seasonal blooms
French fingerling potatoes
Green beans
Pickling cucumbers
Zucchini
Jalapeño peppers
Hungarian Hot Wax peppers
Bell peppers
Sugar Rush Peach peppers
Honeydew Farm merchandise
Because farming is seasonal, our market offerings change from week to week based on what's ready to harvest and what's blooming at its peak.
Looking Ahead
Our late summer harvest continues to change from week to week.
The flower fields continue producing beautiful bouquets, vegetables are reaching their peak one crop at a time, and preserving the harvest has only just begun. Before long we'll be canning tomatoes, green beans, and homemade sauces while continuing to enjoy the abundance that August brings.
The seasons never stand still on the farm, and we look forward to sharing each new chapter with you.
Visit Us This Week
Thursday | 9 AM–1 PM
Saturday | 9 AM–1 PM
Near the music tent, across from Thielen Motors.
Thank you for supporting local farms, local food, and local flowers.
We hope to see you at market.
Alex & AmberHoneydew Farm
Want to Know More About How We Grow?
Visit the Farm Journal for seasonal updates, harvest news, recipes, and life on the farm.
Bring a Little Honeydew Home
The farm doesn't stop at the market table.
Our collection of Honeydew Farm apparel, tote bags, mugs, home goods, seasonal products, and workshops celebrates the beauty of rural life and the changing seasons. While we bring a small selection to market each week, our full collection is always available online.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift, every purchase helps support what we're building here at Honeydew Farm.
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