SEPTEMBER AT THE SHED AT PATINA MEADOW

Last month marked the first full month of events at the Shed, our gathering space here at Patina Meadow. This milestone has been on our minds since we moved here two years ago, and I’m so pleased to share that it exceeded our expectations in every way.

Image by Lisa Romerein

With the help of Chelsea J. O’Leary from Wiley Canning Company, as well as Claire Papevies and Steven Abernathy from Greenwood Honey Company, we hosted two educational and enriching events for our community.

Chelsea kicked off the month with her workshop, “In Depth: Jams and Marmalades.”

When attendees arrived, they were greeted by a gorgeous array of bites arranged by Chef Amanda Lee, as well as wine from Ryan Darrall Wine in California.

After mingling, Chelsea began her instruction. If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a Wiley Workshop or meeting Chelsea, you’re truly missing out on her warmth, passion, and deep knowledge.

As she explained the intricacies of food preservation, she remained committed to making this sometimes-overwhelming practice accessible to everyone, regardless of experience level.

Once all the preliminary questions were answered, the interactive portion of the evening began. Guests gathered in the Shed kitchen and watched closely as Chelsea crafted a blueberry sage jam and an orange thyme marmalade. As attendees chimed in with questions or stepped forward to help stir the mixtures, you could see their confidence growing.

Participants left with not only a jar of jam or marmalade as a sweet reminder of the evening, but also a greater sense of confidence in crafting their own preserves.

A couple of weeks later, the Shed was filled once again with eager students as Steven Abernathy and Claire Papevies of Greenwood Honey Co. hosted a honey tasting.

When guests arrived at their seats, they were met with six different single-source honeys from trusted beekeepers across the country, along with tasting cards and information to guide them through the experience.

One by one, the jars were opened, and each sample was smelled, tasted, and analyzed. With Claire and Steven's expert guidance, we identified the delicious nuances in each jar.

From the nearly crystal-clear honey harvested from hives feeding on Fireweed blossoms in the Pacific Northwest to our very own honey from Patina Meadow, each taste held a delightful discovery.

After the tasting, guests dined on stunning and scrumptious honey-infused bites, paired with Patina Meadow produce, prepared by Bekah Diehm of Bezoe, and once again sipped on wine from Ryan Darrall Wines.

While each event was special in its own way, both had one thing in common – we all left with greater knowledge and stronger bonds.

It has truly been such a pleasure to begin this journey with all of you. We can't wait to see what the future holds for us. If these first events are any indication, we're all in for a treat!

See you soon at the Shed.

xx

Brooke