The pear tree stood in the yard like a stately matron, bowed with age and careworn, but still sharing her abundance. For over 70 years she'd blessed the farmstead family with fruit, and they in turn had blessed friends, extended family, and neighbors.

We joined our neighbors in harvesting from this tree again this past week, as we have for many years. The neighbors are older now, married over 60 years, and the tree is tall, so a good portion of the work is best left to younger hands.

As we were gathering pears, the skies opened up in a downpour the likes of which we hadn't seen in months. I rushed to get harvested fruit under cover, while my sons kept picking up in the tractor bucket, reaching as high as they could with telescoping fruit pickers. They finally had to call it quits as the tractor bucket and fruit bins started filling with water.

We didn't gather all that we might have, had the storms held off until afternoon as the forecast indicated, but it was a good harvest.

As you may have guessed by this point, we're preserving pears this weekend. We left several five gallons buckets of pears at the neighbor's place for their use and to share, brought some home, and took some to another neighbor.

The pear tree was impacted by the drought, like everything else. We saw quite a number of pears that had browned and withered on the tree. Still, her deep roots had kept her going even when the rains failed.

The weather pendulum swung back to hot and humid earlier this week, making outside work less pleasant. Duncan got the onions harvested and set to cure in the attached greenhouse. Last year's harvest kept us in onions until this year's was ready. I'm hoping we'll achieve that again this year.

Here's an oddball thing you might not know. Our chilly lows last week were cold enough to switch off the tomato sweetness enzymes. As I mention in my article about ripening green tomatoes, once tomatoes drop below 55°F, they stop producing an enzyme that improves the tomato flavor – permanently.

Now, even though it's hot again, that flavor is not coming back, which is a bummer. Still, slow simmering for sauce or tomato soup makes the most of the flavor that is there. The duckies also appreciate the opportunity to help clean up any damaged tomatoes, even if they are less flavorful.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Put down deep roots. Strong relationships, useful skills, healthy soil, savings, and a well-stocked pantry are all easier to build a little at a time. Like that old pear tree, deep roots help us weather the dry years.
• Share the harvest. Abundance doesn't have to mean having more for ourselves. Sometimes it means having enough to pass a bucket of pears, a meal, a helping hand, or a useful bit of knowledge along to someone else.
• Let each generation contribute. Older hands bring experience and wisdom; younger hands may be better suited to climbing ladders and hauling heavy loads. Families and communities are stronger when we value both.
• Work with what the season gives you. The pears weren't perfect, the tomato flavor took a hit, and the rain arrived at an inconvenient time. We can spend our energy wishing things were different, or figure out the best use for what we have.
• Remember that today's work becomes tomorrow's security. Onions curing in the greenhouse and pears and tomatoes going into storage aren't just food preservation projects. They're meals already partly prepared for the months ahead.

A resilient life is a lot like that old pear tree — deeply rooted, able to adapt to difficult seasons, and still finding ways to bear fruit and share the abundance.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

Making the Most of What the Season Brings

Part of living with the seasons is making the best use of what shows up. Right now, that means buckets of pears around here — but the approach of fall also brings a few visitors we'd rather not share our abundance with.

Whether you're blessed with more pears than you know what to do with, looking for an excuse to bake a pie, or hearing suspicious scratching somewhere in the house, these articles should help.

So many pears, so many possibilities

When a pear tree decides to produce, you can end up with a lot of fruit in a hurry. Thankfully, pears are remarkably versatile. This collection includes a variety of ways to preserve and enjoy them, from canning and drying to sauces, spreads, and other tasty options.

Read: 9+ Ways to Preserve Pears, Plus Tips to Prevent Browning​

Because everyone likes pie

Okay, perhaps not everyone — but this pear custard pie is a particularly delicious way to put ripe pears to work. Tender fruit and creamy custard come together in an easy dessert that's equally at home at a family supper or fall gathering.

Read: Pear Custard Pie​

Some visitors don't get a share

Cooler nights don't just send us reaching for an extra blanket. They also encourage mice to start looking for warm winter quarters — and a well-stocked pantry makes your house even more appealing. Learn how to spot signs of mice, get rid of them, and, most importantly, make it harder for them to get inside in the first place.

Read: How to Get Rid of Mice and Keep Them Away​

Fall is a season for gathering in and sharing the harvest, but the mice need to prepare for winter outside the house.

The Resilient Living Summit Is Almost Here!

Before I go, a reminder that the 2026 Resilient Living Summit starts September 14 — less than 10 days from now!

Amber Bradshaw and I have brought together 20+ experienced teachers for six days of practical presentations on preparedness, growing and preserving food, homesteading, natural health, resilient homes, family and community, and more.

And you don't need to wait until September 14 to get started.

When you register, you'll receive our pre-Summit emails and activities to help you think about where you're already resilient, where you might have some gaps, and what you'd most like to learn during the event. We'll also make sure you have the schedule and everything you need when the presentations begin.

The Summit is 100% online and FREE to attend.

👉 [Register FREE for the Resilient Living Summit]​

If you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time. Come learn some useful skills, meet people who are actually putting them into practice, and find a few ideas you can use to make your own home and family a little more resilient.

There are only two more installments of the Stories from the Homestead series, so watch for those this week.

We're also having a special LIVE pre-summit kickoff on Sunday, September 13th.