By Ashlie Miller

Two free weekends in a row in the fall are a rare treat for most families these days, and ours is no exception. As I mentioned last week, we love a good day trip at this time of year because it is usually not too hot to be in a car for a few hours. Last weekend, after reading an article in Our State magazine, we followed suggestions to partake of several apple treats at four different stops in Hendersonville. What a delight — apple fritters, apple cider donut ice-cream sandwiches, cold cider with ice cream topped by apple cookies, warm apple cider donuts. We can talk about our collective sugar crash later, but the experience of sampling several delectables and supporting local farmers was a win-win for us.

Of course, we ended our time by picking apples as well, along with many, many other families. While each orchard had its unique personality, one thing was for sure — they were all bustling with people. Have you been apple-picking this season, or will you be picking out a perfect pumpkin later? What is it about these seasonal fruits and gourds that get us excited? There must be something to it. Agritourism has become a booming business here in North Carolina. Even trips to an AirBnB have options for local farms, vineyards and orchards. I wonder if the old-timers ever dreamed that people would pay to come harvest their crops.

I remember growing up, we never talked about going to pick apples or pumpkins as a family event. I do not recall hearing many other families make such plans each fall. However, we highly anticipated Thanksgiving and suppers from the year’s growth. Nothing could beat canned veggies from a grandparent’s garden served up with love and care. We certainly have an affinity for harvests, don’t we? It may be the fruit of our labor, partaking delights made by those who cultivate the ground, or even the mass market treats made available only during a couple of months in the year.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a segment on a podcast related to gleaners — those who volunteer to help local farmers harvest their produce. It benefits the farmers, the local economy and even the volunteers. People don’t mind getting their hands dirty after a fruitful season.

The Bible also speaks of harvests and gleaning. Special laws benefited the foreigners and the poor, allowing them to gather from the edges of the fields. Another passage encourages us not to grow weary in our well-doing because perseverance leads to reaping in the right season. We reap what we sow (that is not always a good thing). Sleeping in harvest is shameful. Most Sundays, my husband ends our church service as he sends out the congregation — “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” — Matthew 9:37-38. We hope to make meaningful connections with our neighbors and coworkers that lead to eternal transformations — eternal life. These are but a few of the lessons from agriculture.

As you look at orchards bursting with fruit beckoning you to pick, fields of corn (many designed for corn mazes), and acres sprawling across with perfect pumpkins, take time to reflect on the Lord of the harvest. Is God reminding you of a harvest that will come in due season, a lesson on caring for others from the bounty of your blessing, the importance of rightly sowing and working in the proper seasons, or urging you to action for the glory of His kingdom? Lessons are there. Let’s get to work. Winter and rest will be here soon enough.

Ashlie Miller isn’t really sure what to do with all her apples. Have an easy recipe? Email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.