In 2022, I started a seasonal living club for women here in York, Pennsylvania. We gather together four times per year: at midwinter, mid-spring, midsummer and mid-autumn, to work on a project that connects us to earth and season. Each gathering is an invitation to pause and deepen into the season we’re in, try your hand at something new and come together with other like-minded folks. I’ve been longing for this type of community, so I decided to create it myself!

Our third gathering was held on Sunday, July 31st at a beautiful park in Yoe, Pennsylvania and it may have been my favorite one yet. We had an incredible evening learning how to quick pickle, sharing the bounty from our gardens and enjoying a simple, seasonally-inspired dinner to celebrate summer! Read on for the full recap!

Garden bounty share

Each person who attended the Midsummer Gathering brought along something to share from their own garden or their favorite local farmstand. The sharing table was absolutely packed of fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers — such a beautiful sight! At the end of the evening, we all “shopped” the table to take home a basket full of fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce. This was such a hit!

Quick Pickling workshop

Our main activity for this gathering was a Quick Pickling workshop. I gave some brief instructions and then we took turns moving through each of the stations in groups of 2-3. I brought along tons of different herbs, spices and a few different vinegars to choose from. I provided some flavor combination ideas to get everyone started and encouraged everyone to experiment with their own!

Simple seasonal dinner

Once we wrapped up the workshop portion, we gathered around the big table for a casual summer dinner. I had made a few different quiches and savory pies along with summery salads, beer bread and a wildberry peach cornmeal sheet cake for dessert! We sat around the table talking and enjoying the warm summer evening! This may have been my favorite gathering of the whole year!