Between Planting and Picking

Snead’s Farm, Hoop House, Spring 2026

I learned to love these kind of photographs from Sandi Haber Fifield and her book, Between Planting and Picking, c. 2011. (You can still find used copies of her book on ebay for reasonable prices).

“Her gaze pauses on the simple things: the quality of light as it filters through a greenhouse wall or the accidental beauty of boxes heaped high in a corner. In doing so, Haber Fifield encourages us to ponder a rich middle ground: what happens in the time and space before the produce arrives at the stand and on our tables.”

We signed up for a small share CSA box from Snead’s Farm this year. It’s worth the entire price to be able to roam the farm and take pictures from spring through fall.

This is Good!

Hot Coffee and Banana Pudding, Carved Wood Painting by Harry, Garnett’s Cafe, Richmond, Virginia

I am telling myself a story. Harry loves (or maybe loved) this little neighborhood cafe with only a few tables, situated on the corner. I’m guessing that he really liked pie since he added the words “delicious tomato pie” to his artwork. Harry and I have very similar tastes in both food loves and color palettes. In a world of fast food, it’s actually very hard to find a good homemade banana pudding. It’s also pretty hard to find a good cup of coffee, served plain and hot and smooth. Looks like Harry found this favorite spot. Maybe he decided to honor the place and its legacy of kind service, good food, and community by carving and painting this picture. The owners must have felt grateful and proud because they hung the little painting in a prominent spot in the cafe and left it there.

We sat on stools at the counter, just like these ladies. We shared a BLT and a big slice of strawberry pie with a cup of coffee for dessert. Honestly, in that moment, I couldn’t have been happier. My eyes lingered over this simple carved wood painting; I’m so happy I took a photo because it was only when I was able to study the picture that I discovered Harry had signed his name on his work. I am a total sucker for anything handmade, and the signature felt like an introduction to a new friend.