We learned many things our first year on the farm, but few surprised us more than the season of Persephone. Based on the Greek mythology, Persephone spends a period of every year in Hades and thereby causes the temporary death of livings things. For us this translates into late fall and winter when the day length falls below ten hours. The persephone period, as it’s called, begins and ends on different days relative to latitude. Here on the 45th parallel, it begins on about November tenth and ends on February sixth. During this period living plants, if they’re protected from the elements, will stop growing, triggered by the lack of light. Then, almost miraculously restart their growth when the day clock hits ten hours again. We found that out the first winter when we tried to grow lettuce in a semi-heated greenhouse. 

To celebrate the return of Persephone and our Midwestern fortitude, we decided to throw a dinner party in the forest in February.  We were inspired a number of years ago by an article in Bon Appetit magazine, where intrepid diners in Norway hiked two miles into a remote location to be feasted fireside by an accomplished chef. To the best of our ability, we duplicated that culinary excursion beside our maple sugaring shack overlooking our happy little creek.

We lucked out with mild temperatures. Had we been hit with an Alberta clipper we would’ve moved the whole event inside. We’re hardy but not that hardy.

Our guests were treated to a rustic setting.

Dinner was heated on the sugar shack’s firebox, the evaporator pans replaced with steel plates to heat the meal’s various courses.

Home-cured pastrami waited to be heated for service.

Curry squash soup led the meal and warmed the guests with its spicyness.

But true warmth came from the laughter and enjoyment generated by good friends.

Even the youngest enjoyed the day.

As much as we could we incorporated homegrown ingredients including wood roasted venison procured on the property.

We enjoy many aspects of the farm life but our favorite is sharing it with friends through food and laughter.

And after a long day and a warm belly full of food, we were exhausted.