BACK TO SIMPLE THINGS

Harvest Season in Vermont

Meet the Homesteading Family, slow down for the season, and find a few good reasons to get outside.

October has a way of making Vermont slow down. Gardens are winding down, apples are filling farm stands, the mountains are showing off, and a cold evening stroll suddenly sounds a lot better than another night staring at the screen. It’s peak harvest season—a time to gather what the land has given us, put a little away for later, and enjoy what’s here right now.

To celebrate, we’re introducing you to the Homesteading Family and sharing a few of their practical homesteading tips, along with some very Vermont ways to make the most of October. Naturally, there’s flannel involved.

The Homesteading Family

Carolyn and Josh Thomas live on 40 acres in Idaho with their 11 children, where they grow, preserve, and prepare much of their family’s food right at home. After years of studying, experimenting, and plenty of trial and error, they built a more productive, old-fashioned way of life in the middle of a very modern world.

Today, the Homesteading Family shares what they’ve learned with people who want to grow their own food, preserve what they have, become more self-sufficient, and feel more connected to the land. Their approach is practical, thoughtful, and refreshingly down to earth.

Put a Little Summer Away

One of the best parts of homesteading is making the season last a little longer. October is a good time to preserve the last of the garden and foraged goods through canning, dehydrating, fermenting, and root cellaring.

The Homesteading Family has beginner-friendly resources for all of it:

Canning 101 — Learn the basics of preserving seasonal foods for the pantry.

Fermenting 101 — Explore one of the oldest ways to preserve vegetables.

Dehydrating Food — Turn seasonal produce into food that lasts well beyond the garden.

Root Cellaring — Get started with this traditional way to store root crops through winter.

There’s also still time to plant garlic and other fall crops, then put those vegetables to good use with a simple roasted fall vegetable dinner.

You don’t need a homestead to live a little closer to the land.

The Official Uniform: Flannel

Flannel has always made sense for working outside. Its brushed construction offers warmth, breathability, and durability, which comes in handy when an October day starts cold, warms up by noon, and gets chilly again before dinner.

Carolyn is a longtime Vermont Flannel wearer and (in her words) she loves it. She wears it all the time. We get it.

Reach for a lightweight flannel shirt on milder days, midweight or heavyweight flannel when temperatures drop, and flannel pants, hoodies, or blankets when it’s time to settle in. Good flannel works hard, feels better with time, and doesn’t need much introduction.

A Very Vermont October

You don’t have to live on a homestead to celebrate the season. Around here, October offers plenty of ways to get a little closer to the land.

Forage for mushrooms. October can be a great time to explore Vermont’s forests for late-season fungi. Just do your homework first—some mushrooms are not dinner.

Take the long way. Cruise the back roads for mountain views, farms, foliage, and plenty of reasons to pull over.

Go apple picking. From Shelburne Orchards to Burtt’s Apple Orchard in Cabot, there are plenty of sweet stops around the state. Cider doughnuts are, obviously, part of the experience.

Find a local celebration. Check out events like the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival or Billings Farm & Museum’s Harvest Celebration, or browse Vermont’s seasonal events calendar for more.

And bring layers. Vermont October can take you from warm sunshine to cold evening in one very convincing afternoon.

Back to Simple Things

There’s plenty to love about October in Vermont. Something simmering on the stove. Apples on the counter. A little dirt under your nails. A drive with no particular destination. A good flannel that somehow seems to get better every time you wear it.

You don’t need a homestead to find your way back to simple things. Start with one small project, one day outside, one meal made from what’s in season—or just one really good flannel shirt.