Garden to Jar
In April 2021, I settled into a small cottage on an organic working ranch in West Sonoma County surrounded by an heirloom apple orchard and a vineyard of pinot noir grapes. I live in the former residence of the ranch's orchard manager, but the more esoteric plantings had long since been neglected as a rental property when I moved in. As a professional horticulturist whose experience was rooted in the public gardens of NYC, I saw the weedy backyard as a canvas for experimentation.
The ranch and my garden are located within a short drive of the Pacific Coast in a region known as the Gold Ridge, highly coveted for its sandy loam soils that encourage perennial crops to develop deep root systems - a key aspect to both drought tolerance and access to mineral deposits that contribute to flavor and nutrition.
As I set to work cleaning up that first spring, I uncovered shrubs and trees from beneath wild blackberries that I had only dreamed of growing previously: a thorny finger lime, a barely-alive mystery citrus, a struggling lemon tree, a productive pear tree, a Santa Rosa plum, a mystery plum, and flavorful but tiny wild plums that had seeded themselves around the neighborhood.
I set to work weeding and mulching during one of the most severe droughts California had ever experienced. It was a Sisyphean attempt at reclamation, but after relocating from the urban jungle of Queens, NY, I was determined to commit to the uphill task and enjoy every moment of it.
Five years later, the soil is now teeming with organic matter that supports microbial life, plant growth, and water retention. I have a productive garden of drought-tolerant native plants and ground covers, tough heirloom roses, culinary and medicinal herbs, and thriving fruit trees.
My neighbor helped install a deer fence to protect new plantings with materials leftover from his construction jobs, and I have discovered which ends of the garden are most protected from sometimes fierce coastal winds. The abundance that has ensued from this deep relationship to place fills the freezer and stove pots without rest, a busy-ness that I describe to friends back east as "California problems".
Winters are overflowing with citrus, spring with berries, herbs, and greens, summers with stone fruit, and autumn with pome fruit and persimmons. It isn't uncommon for neighbors to show up with baskets of tomatoes or loquats, or to find mysterious sacks of produce on the front stoop, not unlike a mess of kittens left at the doorstep of the sentimental neighborhood softie.
Toast & Jam was published in 2017 and Heirloom in 2019 as follow-ups to my first book Sourdough. Each book is an ode to all things seasonal, with a deep dive into the natural pairing between my two loves (baking and preserving). To help navigate the overflowing harvests of my new garden, I began teaching online preserving courses in 2023 that reflected the ethos set forth in these titles, testing and locking-in even more recipes for shelf-stable treats. Ritual Fine Foods had previously offered a limited run of preserves when my production kitchen was located in Rockaway, NY but it was more out of a love for the craft than a business venture. I am deeply inspired by the experience and creativity of preservers such as June Taylor and V Smiley, who both have a steadfast commitment to making best use of what is abundant, and using minimal sweetener in their creations.
With more fruit at my disposal and a direct way to cultivate its flavor, I recently revisited the possibility of selling preserves as a small business venture. My hope is to keep the batches of preserves small and special, while providing ongoing support for this parcel of land that I've come to love so much.
After much consideration on streamlining production and distribution, I began working with a design team in early 2025. I wanted to capture the vibrancy and variety that inspires my aesthetic while providing a reusable and recyclable shipping option that would protect the jars of preserves. Finally, the beautiful shipping tubes have arrived, and I am ready to get these preserves out into the world!
As support for Garden to Jar grows, I want to continue stewarding this land in the most sustainable way possible, while also supporting other growers in the area with the same respect for soil and water health. This creative venture continues to be a reflection of the changing climate and its seasons, an opportunity to pass on a little California sunshine to those who appreciate its vibrancy.
Thank you for your interest in a gift set of seasonal preserves or an ongoing subscription!
xo
Sarah
