Growing up in New England, I have always felt a special affinity with Thanksgiving. I can even claim ancestral connections with William Brewster, the minister on the Mayflower. Annual visits to Plimouth Plantation as a child, was a good way to create appreciation for the strength, courage and determination of the first settlers. The tiny drafty houses with cold dirt floors, always contained a kitchen garden just a few steps away from the door, enclosed by a low fence to create a boundary. Growing a garden has always been essential to our survival and we are reminded at Plimouth Plantation that getting it right was not a matter of choice.
We can all agree that there is a certain myth that surrounds this harvest holiday, yet it is one of the few that celebrates truly healthy, home grown food. It would be nice if we could come together around the table to honor our connections more than just once a year. Here are a few photos taken by photographer Ali Kaukas who created the photos for my book, The Complete Kitchen Garden that magnify the powerful beauty of food fresh from the garden. When you set your holiday table, why not create a centerpiece with a bowl of squash, onions and carrots in honor of food grown from the good earth.
