harvest time

It's that time of the year when the fruit of all the work we've put into our garden is coming in, and it's also when we start getting ready for a trip out West...

It’s harvest time.

A time of the year my family looks forward to every year.

Partly because the things from our garden begin to make their way not only onto our table, but also into our pantry. But also because it’s about that time to make another trip out West for an amazing event.

At the end of August, Rebecca, Indiana and I are going to be in Oregon again for Azure Standard’s Harvest Festival. This will be their second year putting it on, and our second to come take part.

To say that it’s an incredible weekend is a bit of an understatement.

So far, it’s my favorite Homesteading event I’ve ever been part of, which is saying a lot because we’ve been to lots of them and are known for hosting a pretty good one ourselves at our farm in Tennessee.

But this one is extra special for a number of reasons. First off, like ours, it’s held in the backyard of a working farm. But the scale and the scope of the farm of this festival is really something to behold. The location is literally ground-zero for everything Azure grows, sources, makes and distributes all around the country.

Set on a hill surrounded by Azure founder' David Stelzer’s gorgeous orchards and gardens, the whole event is not only picturesque, it’s video-esque. Which is how I came to film our Harvest Time music video when we were there for the festival last year.

If you’ve not seen it, it’s pretty much a five minute snapshot-set-to-music, of what the festival, the family who puts it on, the folks who attend, and the whole weekend is like….

My nephew Mikel made the trip out to Oregon with us last year, and he and I had a wonderful time and everyone was such a great sport and played along as we did our best to turn those three days into a sing-a-long garden anthem, and also a special memory for all of us to have for all time.

Since he was there, Mikel also followed us around, capturing lots of wonderful moments and made them into a much longer, documentary-like remembrance of our trip. Starting with he and I flying from Nashville to meet Rebe and Indy in Portland (they had been in Texas for a few days) where I met them there at the gate. It shares, in much more of a ‘slow TV’ form, what our experience and time together was like at the event last year.

Besides being something that our family is personally going to always treasure, I think it’s something everyone who was there, will be able look back and fondly remember what an amazing weekend, place and festival it was.

It’s been fun to watch both of these videos again and remember how special last year’s festival was. It makes us even more excited to be part of this one.

If you don’t have any big plans the last weekend of August - or you’re looking to make some - I hope you’ll consider making the trip to take part in this year’s Azure Harvest Festival on August 29-30 in the beautiful state of Oregon.

David and Kimberly, who started Azure a few decades ago, and all of their family work hard to get everything ready and put it on, and we want to honor them and everyone who takes to the time to attend the event.

So come join us, the Stelzer family, and lots of other folks who are going to be part of the 2nd Annual Azure Harvest Festival, you can get your tickets while they last at https://www.azureharvest.com or by clicking on the Button below…

THIS LIFE I LIVE © 2026 Red King Creative, LLC

---

SUPPORT RORY’S WRITING

Thank you for taking the time to read this story. If This Life I Live is an encouragement to you and the life that you are living, please consider supporting Rory’s writing and ministry by giving a financial donation of any amount…