Jars of Autumn – turning surplus fruits into homemade gifts

The 5th of October marked Harvest Festival, a time traditionally set aside to celebrate nature’s abundance and share food with others. For me, it couldn’t have come at a better time. My neighbour’s apple tree was heavy with fruit, and the sudden cold snap had split my late tomatoes still growing at the allotment, leaving me with a mountain of green ones that refused to ripen.

Rather than let them go to waste, I decided to roll up my sleeves and get creative in the kitchen. A quick recipe search later, I found myself making apple sauce and green tomato and apple chutney – the perfect way to turn surplus fruit into something delicious and long-lasting.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/green-tomato-chutney

I picked up some lovely jars from Hobbycraft (they had them on sale, which felt like fate!) and spent my Sunday stirring, simmering and mixing, filling the kitchen with the warm, spicy scent of vinegar, sugar and fruit. By the end of the day, I’d made over a dozen jars of apple sauce and chutney.

There’s something satisfying about lining up jars of homemade preserves, the colours glowing like autumn jewels, and even more satisfying knowing they’ll be shared. I’ve been giving them to friends, family and neighbours – offering a small taste of the harvest season to brighten the colder days ahead.

Harvest Festival might be just one day on the calendar, but it’s a lovely reminder to pause, give thanks and make the most of what we have – especially the food grown close to home.