Our Best Apple Harvest So Far

It was a late summer evening in September. The apple trees were full—more than in previous years. The apples felt cool in my hands. As I twisted one loose, a few others dropped to the ground. That was the sign: it was time to harvest.

It was the second year Amora helped us. What a difference. Last year, she mostly watched. This year, she was picking apples herself, placing each one carefully into the wooden crates.

As the season progressed, we noticed something different. There were more rotten apples than we were used to. We removed them as quickly as possible. If we left them hanging, they would affect the others.

For the first time, we also did an early thinning. Smaller apples that should have developed further were removed, allowing the trees to focus their energy on the fruit that was growing well.

While we harvested from below, Rockey reached the highest branches. A few apples were left behind—for the birds.

At one point, Amora took a bite of an apple. Just like that, in between helping. She chewed slowly, looking at what she held in her hands. Juice ran down her fingers. She clearly didn’t like that, so she placed the apple into one of the wooden crates. Rockey and I laughed softly, while continuing our work.

The crates grew fuller, heavier. And by the end of the evening, we had harvested everything.

In our community garden, a harvest is never just for ourselves. Part of what grows is always meant to be shared. So this harvest extended beyond our own kitchen. We gave apples away and baked apple pies, which found their way back into the community.

What this season taught me is that caring sometimes means removing.

Not waiting until things go wrong—but acting while you still can.

This season asked for awareness. Again and again. Each time we spotted a rotten apple, we removed it. If we didn’t, it would spread. It was striking how quickly it happened. One rotten apple left hanging can affect many others.

What made this year different wasn’t just the harvest—it was the attentiveness it required.

Not letting everything stay. Not waiting, but doing what needed to be done, when it needed to be done.

And that is what led to our best harvest so far.