Big Harvest Potluck: Quietly Refreshed

September was nothing short of a whirlwind. Upheaval, change, stretching and growing and running in a thousand different directions. And it was slowly eating away at me.

In the midst of all of this churn, I headed to the The Big Harvest Potluck in Pennsylvania. Big Harvest Potluck is the older, east coast sister of the The Big Traveling Potluck. I had set my heart on going after the end of the Traveling Potluck, craving more of the magic and lightening I had just felt.

This Potluck, though, I was not hit with lightening. Much like the fall trees, the magic and inspiration slowly and quietly spread across me. Everything shared was stacking on top of all of the goodness from before, reinforcing the need in me to keep going, to be patient, to connect with myself, to keep working on my writing, to stay on my path and not let anyone and whatever they’re doing deter me.

I heard wonderful people (and a good friend) speak on the truth about American pig production, how to continue to grow your roots and stay grounded, on how to do things your own way regardless of what others are doing, how to cultivate your point of view, and how to create your own culinary legacy.

I was surrounded by wondrously beautiful farmlands, forests, and secret gardens. I shared good food made by great people and used my phone to light the way to the dessert table. I caught up with old friends and made new ones I can’t wait to reconnect with.

The following Monday, my body was back at the office, but my mind was still steeped in the fall leaves, vibrantly crisp apples, wonderful friends, and the quietly strong inspiration of that weekend and the other Potluck weekends before them.

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Thank you to the speakers for sharing their wisdom and their stories: Barry Estabrook of Politics of the Plate and Tomatoland, Cheryl Sternman Rule of 5 Second Rule, Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer of The Canal House, and Karen Thornton of Chasing Hannah.

Thank you to everyone who made The Big Harvest Potluck possible and kept it running throughout the weekend: Maggy, Pam and Sharon of Three Many Cooks, Erika of The Ivory Hut, Chris and Karen of The Peche and Chasing Hannah, Brian of A Thought for Food, Brooke of Food Woolf, Sabrina of The Tomato Tart, Deb and Rod of Smith Bites and Kathi Johnson.

Thank you to the sponsors who also helped make the weekend so delicious: Gourmet Garden, Sabra, Burpee, KitchenAid, OXO, Terra Chips, Kerrygold and Analon.