Since we live in a little house in the big woods, I can’t really have a proper vegetable garden. We bought this house many years before I got the urge to grow vegetables, and the time just hasn’t been right for us to move. (If we ever do move, then a house with a large sunny yard for gardening will be a priority.)

Thank goodness for vegetable stands, farmers’ markets, and orchards. Because of them, from July to December, I am able to buy a lot of local food. This year, before Stevenson’s Vegetable Stand on Route 202 in Winthrop closes on October 24th, I decided to stock up on crops that wouldn’t spoil quickly—squash, carrots, and potatoes. I also purchased a few things that I would need to use in the upcoming week, and also some sweet red peppers, which can be frozen if it looks as though they are starting to go.

When I got the vegetables home, I was struck by their beauty. My husband, Clif, and I arrayed them on a wicker chest in the spare bedroom, which also serves as a cold storage room if we keep the door closed.

As for next year, we are planning to buy a CSA share from Farmer Kev. We can’t decide whether we should start with a small share or go all out with a large one. But small or large, next summer much of what we eat will be coming from Farmer Kev’s garden.

In the meantime we’ll have carrot soup, and squash soup, muffins, and pies. Recipes will follow.