Production Paused
The pear jam is made. Much of the fig jam is made. What to do while waiting for the next harvest? Remodel your kitchen! After much research, we finally contracted with a local company to remodel our kitchen. The project began on July 24th and in just a few days, our kitchen was completely gutted. We decided to keep our appliances and our funky old wallpaper, but everything else had to go. All production ceased in the Single Tree kitchen for a while. Our new cabinets have since been installed, but we are now in a holding pattern as we await the new countertop that could not be ordered until the cabinets were in place.
Have you ever lived without a kitchen for a month? We thought we had planned for it, but life is not much like we expected it to be. Our refrigerator is in the family room and our microwave is in the dining room perched atop our disconnected range. But by running a long extension cord to a functioning electrical outlet, we were able to get it working. For several weeks now, our meals have been prepared mostly on our little gas grill. I have learned how to prepare a meal such as grilled pork chops, roasted potatoes, and a steamed vegetable all at once on the grill. Man, I’m grateful for that little grill. And we seem to eat out a little more than we used to.
Having no kitchen is fine when you have plenty of jam in stock and you are waiting for the next harvest. But what about granola production? Unlike jam where I can make a lot of it and seal it up for long term storage, I make granola fresh as needed. Whenever I go to the market or someone places an order, I need to make more fresh granola. Fortunately we have been greatly blessed to live next to two wonderful neighbors who are graciously allowing me to use their kitchen for granola making. It worked out well for both of us, as they were about to go on vacation for a month themselves.
Using their kitchen, I have had to alter my processes a bit. I started out by hauling all my ingredients next store for each batch and then hauling them all back home afterwards. Then I figured out that it was much easier if I mix all the dry ingredients at my house, take them over, and add the wet ingredients there. That worked out a lot better. And I had to get used to a different oven. My first batch in the neighbor’s oven turned out to be a little toastier than I expected, so I have had to alter the baking times. But we got that squared away and I am now able to produce fresh, delicious Single Tree granola as needed.
I’m glad things are working out, but we can’t wait to get back into our own kitchen. Food production is only half of it. The other half is the cleanup. I am currently washing dishes in a plastic washtub from Walmart that I use in the bathtub. It works, but it not like having a working dishwasher. But it’s all worth it! Single Tree production must continue!
In Other News…
- In case you haven’t heard, the great Single Tree August Giveaway is underway! For every purchase made at our website, you are automatically entered to win one free product of your choice. Don’t miss out! {;ace your order today. The winner will be announced in September.
- Haven’t tried Single Tree granola yet? We’ve sold nearly 200 bags this year so far! That’s more than jars of jam sold. We have a number of re[eat granola customers visiting the Single Tree tent at the market and placing orders online.
- We have lots of pear and fig jam but we are running low on kumquat marmalade, and we only have one jar of Valencia Orange jam left in stock. If you like either of those, now is the time to order. We won’t have more orange or kumquat until this winter.
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