The Peach Truck - The Peach Truck Blog

Why peaches and why now?

2014-11-12T11:35:00-06:00

Why peaches? Why now? It's simple, really. The state of Georgia, especially Peach County, is the perfect growing land for Fresh Georgia Peaches. There are several factors that feed into this.

The soil is perfect. If you've heard of Georgia Red Clay, then you know. It's a mud like texture that holds water and nutrients just below the surface to feed the tree roots perfectly.

The weather is perfect. Hot, dreadful, muggy summers and cold, wet winters are the perfect combination for fruitful (no pun intended) crops. Peach County Georgia has the best growing conditions on the planet. This is the literal truth. There's no better place on earth to grow a peach.

The farmers are unparalleled. Who are the best guitar players you know? Who are the best architects you know? Most of them probably had parents in the field who taught them what they knew. From there, they were able to extrapolate the good things they had to teach and continue with their own innovations, thoughts, and ideas. So that brings us to a 5th Generation Peach Farm in Peach County, GA. Every generation has brought new ideas, new innovations, along with the time tested, classic techniques from years past. The skills that Pearson Farm has in their blood are not replaceable by someone who starts farming now. These skills are at their cellular level.

If you want the best peach this world has to offer, it's going to come from Peach County, Georgia. We're fortunate to be the vehicle that brings so many of them to our neighbors around the country.

Florence Evergreen

2014-11-10T15:21:00-06:00

It's not quite Thanksgiving, but Jessica and I have quite a bit to be grateful for in life right now. Just a few short days ago, Jessica gave birth to our very first child. A perfect little girl named Florence Evergreen.

As any other new parent, we're the kings of trial and error right now. Figuring out what to do, when to do it, how to feed, how to change diapers, and figure how to do anything other than stare at this beautiful creature 24 hours a day. We're head over heels in love

If you're a parent, we're so excited to be a part of this club. As our friend Cindy Wall so eloquently described it: “Wait! Are all these parents in this club too? The club where you suddenly realize you’d leap off a cliff, endure tongues of fire, throw yourself in front of a speeding train…all that and more…to protect this tiny little wrinkling mysterious creature? Why didn’t someone tell me about this club?”

So. To put it mildly, we're ecstatic to be a part of the club, and can't wait for everyone to meet our little mascot this summer! For now, we'll be trying to get something done outside of staring Florence all day.

Dad.

2014-06-10T10:27:00-05:00

If your dad's anything like mine, he doesn't need a whole lot to be content. If his Father's Day consisted of playing with trains with his grandson, conducting a puppet show for his granddaughter, and falling asleep on the couch to the Braves game (a 3-2 win with the starter going 7 strong), he'd be the happiest man on earth.

My dad inspires me every day. We all know folks who get older and in turn get more stuck in their ways. That's not Greg Rose. He continues to grow and learn and engage culture and form his perspective on life. To see a 61 year old man continue to get better, and not regress, will stay with me for my entire life.

My dad's the guy who picked up 2 kids on the way to baseball practice because they didn't have rides. He's the guy who sees the good in everyone (this is literally the truth). He's the guy who stops and helps when folks are broken down on the side of the road. He's the guy who always takes the road less traveled, even if we'll end up lost at sundown in the middle of the woods (hence my aversion to hiking to this day).

If ever I remind someone of my dad, I know I'm living life the right way.

All of that to say, with a dad like that, I didn't see a reason to add anything to the simple beauty of a box of 13 peaches for Father's Day. While my dad (and I'm assuming your dad) would appreciate something extra, the peaches themselves are all he needs.

So Happy Father's Day, Dad. Go ahead and add a couple peaches to that perfect day.

Order by 6am Central time June 11 to guarantee delivery by Father's Day. Include your note on the "Order Notes" section of the checkout and we'll make sure and include it in the box.

A new harvest.

2014-05-15T08:14:00-05:00

Here we are. Under a week from our 3rd Peach Season in Nashville! We’re that nervous excited you get when you’ve prepared a long time for something and it’s finally here. We’ve done all the legwork we can, and now it’s time for harvest. We. Can. Not. Wait.

If you’ve been following along with our newsletters, blogs, and tweets, you know that we lost about 90% of our early peach crop. It’s one of the most challenging things for our farm to go through, short of losing an entire crop. When you lose that much of your product, you have to make some tough decisions.

In order to help with our costs increasing with this harvest, we have to raise the price of our bags of peaches here in Nashville. It’s not ideal, but it’s the position we’re in.

This season, we expect the price of our bags to remain consistent at $8, and 2 for $14. Yes, that’s just a dollar increase on our bags, but we felt like it was only right to fully disclose our reasoning for the bump.

We can’t wait to see all of you next week! Right now, we’re shooting for the 21st to be our first day selling. But I’ve never been right on a prediction before, so just keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook! Also, our schedule always stays up to date here.

Thank you for your understanding. We can’t wait to see all you peach lovers!

Stephen & Jessica

Season Number 3

2014-05-05T15:53:02-05:00

Good things come in threes, they say. Well, here we are! Upon our 3rd season of peaches.

I'm so new to this, I still get worried that for some strange reason peaches won't show up on the trees in the spring. Every morning I check the weather in Fort Valley, just hoping the forecast is looking positive.

It's an amazing thing to watch Uncle Bill as he gets older. Maybe it's maturity. Maybe it's getting towards retirement. Perhaps it's just trusting that everything will work out just fine. But I noticed that as we had late freeze warnings, I was much more worried than he was. Any time I got super concerned, I just called Uncle Bill to hear him say "It'll all be fine."

It feels like this is all we've ever done in some ways, and so brand new in other ways. I'll tell you this much: it's a blast to do what we do. It's a blast to serve the community in this way. Our work is so life giving. We get to share a family heirloom with our customers. Something that's so near and dear to us.

Building a business around our life has been a blast. It's something I've heard Billy Reid say often. "Build your work around your life. Not your life around your work." That's a huge focus of ours outside of peach season. During peach season, we lose our lives, and we're okay with that. As long as it means all of Nashville gets to taste this beautiful gift of nature.

So here we go! Season 3 is upon us in about two weeks. We shall see you very soon.

90%.

2014-04-17T12:52:46-05:00

If you've been following along on Facebook and Twitter, you've probably noticed a lot of weather watching on our end.

Late March through Mid April is always a scary time. It's when the peach buds have bloomed, and they're most vulnerable to a late frost killing the crop. We've had nights where I literally woke up every hour checking the weather in Peach County. There are factors like how cold it is, how much rain we've gotten recently, what the wind looks like, how the humidity looks, and on and on it goes.

We got a frost a couple weeks ago that clipped us quite a bit more than we initially thought. At first glance, we thought we pulled through with very few issues. Then, as we continued to scout and inspect, it was apparent that we got hurt pretty bad. As in, 90% of our May and early June peaches were killed.

Can you imagine? You have an incredible winter. The best in years. You do your pruning perfectly. You invest a lot of money in new equipment and paying your team. And one morning 90% of your crop gets taken out. Ouch.

What's interesting is from Mid-June on, we have a 100% crop. It's bountiful. It's really going to feel like two separate seasons for us.

We are still planning to have peaches in Nashville on May 18th. The farm loves what we do and are going to make sure that whatever peaches are picked make it up to Nashville.

And what we know about these peaches that have made it through is that they'll be incredible. That cold winter provides great sugar levels, making for a sweet, sweet Georgia Peach.

It just means you'll have to get up a little earlier and be one of the first ones out to our booths. Sell outs will probably be the norm for the first half of our season, so plan accordingly!

Summer's coming. Can't wait to see all of you.

This little guy can't wait to grow up and be eaten in late May!

Back and Forth. Back and Forth.

2014-03-27T14:06:08-05:00

So here's the latest. I feel like we've been going back and forth the last couple of days. We had a cold, cold night two nights ago. From what they saw yesterday morning, it was looking like we'd be just fine. As they started cutting the buds more to check for life this morning, it's looking like we got hit pretty hard by the frost. As in, having peaches in May could be tough. However, the peaches we'll have Mid-June on are pretty well perfect. No damage whatsoever.

As of now, we still feel like we'll have peaches in Nashville starting Mid-May. The farm wants so badly to get them up here for y'all, and they're going to do everything they can to make that happen.

We as consumers take so much for granted, don't we? If the Southeast gets hit hard by a freeze, California or Chile peaches show up in the grocery store. And we don't really have to think twice about it.

That's one our biggest passions here at The Peach Truck. We want to connect people with their farmer. It's not been an easy couple of days for peach farmers in the Southeast. Many have decided to pack it in for the summer. Uncle Bill and Uncle Al are trudging forward and they're gonna do everything in their power to make sure we have a wonderful crop this summer.

If Pearson Farm does not have peaches, The Peach Truck does not have peaches. Couldn't we go partner up with some other farm out west and bring their peaches to Nashville? Sure, but that's not what we're about. We feel the ebbs and flows of farm life just like Pearson Farm has for 5 Generations. We're not a grocery store. We're an art project that believes deeply that people, when given the opportunity, will choose quality over the cheapest price. People will choose to support a regional farmer over someone they have no connection to. People will drive across town for the best peach on the planet. People will take the extra step to support something they believe in.

So we move forward, grateful for each and every peach we get to share with our neighbors in Nashville and beyond this summer. We're grateful for the opportunity to serve once again.

I know this much: the peaches that have fought through the cold are going to be amazing. They've been through a lot to get where they are, and it won't be for naught.

Get your napkins ready. Peaches are coming before you know it.

Dependance

2014-03-12T09:45:48-05:00

March 12 and March 13, 2014 (tonight and tomorrow night) are very important days in the life of The Peach Truck. They’re also very important int he life of my Aunt and Uncle’s farm, Pearson Farm. Looking at the 15 day forecast, these days are when we’re most susceptible to a late freeze.

A late freeze is not a good thing, as you can imagine. This has been a spectacular Winter for us thus far. We’ve gotten more than enough chill hours (number of hours under 45 degrees. Those allow the trees to “sleep”). We’re set up for an incredible crop this summer. As in, better peaches than we’ve ever had. As long as we make it through the next two nights. Since most of the trees have now bloomed those beautiful flowers, the trees are ready for warm weather. A frost can kill those blooms, in turn killing the peaches we would bring you this summer.

So here we are. Dependance. On God. On Mother Nature. On the weather. It’s completely out of our control. It doesn’t matter how good a farmer you are. This is always a possibility (A 100% crop loss has happened 3 times in Uncle Bill’s lifetime. About once every 23 years or so).

It’s scary as can be, but there’s something in it that feels right at the same time. It feels good to look at the weather each morning with hope and wonder. It feels good to know that the taste of our peaches is largely dependent on what the weather does. That’s how produce is supposed to work. The weather should impact the way our food tastes.

A cold winter and a hot summer and the best peach farmers in the world provide an amazing crop of peaches. If we’re missing a piece of that equation, they won’t be as good.

We’re learning to love the art of dependance. We’re learning to appreciate not having control of every variable. It means we’re part of something that’s bigger than ourselves, and that just feels right.

We’ll keep you updated on Twitter and Facebook, but right now, things are looking pretty good for the next couple of days. We’re just about 2 months away from Peach Season 2014. It’s been a long, bleak winter, and we’re ready for those Fresh Georgia Peaches as much as you are.

5 Generations of Sustainability

2014-02-12T13:29:41-06:00

There aren’t many 5th Generation farms around these days. Farming’s hard work. It’s unpredictable. It’s often not very profitable. And there are many reasons why Pearson Farm has thrived through the last hundred plus years.

For 5 Generations, Pearson Farm has lived in a balance. How do I grow the best peaches and pecans possible to sustain my family, while keeping the next generation in mind?

Soil only has so many nutrients. And if you suck the life out of it, you ruin the opportunity to grow future crops. If any of the previous 4 generations had chosen to get every little bit of life out of a plot of land (which is not an uncommon practice), we wouldn’t have the farm we do today. Each generation has chosen to farm in a sustainable manner. Each generation has chosen to replenish the soil rather than take from it.

That’s why we’re so grateful for the tradition we get to be a part of. There aren’t many businesses that have a history like Pearson Farm. There’s story after story after story of times when it would have been very reasonable to pack it in and quit. But day after day, our family chooses to come back and get after it again.

We’re grateful to be a small part of this vast, rich, sustainable history that is Pearson Farm.

Starting clean

2014-02-04T10:38:23-06:00

Yesterday was our first day back in the office. Our small team sat together and began to dream about what the summer of 2014 will look like. We talked about what was right about 2013. We talked about what was wrong about 2013. We decided what we'll keep doing and what we'll stop doing. We started to put the pieces of our framework together to make 2014 the best year we've had.

Seasonal business is something we're growing in to. And it's not for everybody. It can be an emotional roller coaster to be working non-stop for a season, then to just end all of a sudden. It's a weird feeling. Something Jessica and I noticed as we were traveling, though, is that seasonal business is not that uncommon around the world. There were many, many restaurants that had "Closed for the season" signs in their windows. They, at some point, decided it made more sense to close for the slow season than it did to stay open and have virtually no business.

This might sound cheesy, but something struck me while we were down on the farm this weekend. Nature ebbs and flows with the seasons. Right now, the peach trees are completely bare. No fruit. No leaves. Nothing. They're resting. They're getting cold hours. Come spring they'll bloom and in the summer they'll harvest beautiful, tasty peaches. But not before they rest.

For us, we love it. We love the flow of dreaming about a season, implementing those dreams during the summer, then taking time to reflect afterwards. Not many businesses get that luxury. Not many get to take the time to examine what happened and be still and just ponder on what it is you're doing. We feel so fortunate to have that opportunity.

So here we go! We're gearing up. We're making plans. Some will do great and some will flop. And that's the beauty of it all. We get to start clean. Another season of peaches will be here before we know it, and there's one thing you must know: we'll be ready.

5 Months Abroad: How We Did It | Money

2014-01-27T06:30:01-06:00

If you missed it, start with 5 Months Abroad: Why We Did It.

Money. Such a loaded topic, but it’s important.

Saving for a trip

“Wow, must’ve been a great peach season!” We heard that quite a bit before we left, and obviously we understand the sentiment. And yes, it was an amazing season. But this trip wasn’t about this peach season. Jessica and I have been living simply for years. We’ve been saving our money for years. Staying out of debt and keeping a long term view with our savings have allowed us to make this decision to travel.

Here’s the bottom line: we spent less money on the road than we would have if we stayed at home. Flights included.

When we left, our lease on our home ended, so we didn’t have any monthly expenses to worry about. That was a huge relief, and I understand it’s not a realistic proposition for everyone. But for us, it worked out perfectly. We also sold our car so it wouldn’t just be sitting for all that time.

We just bought a house in Nashville, so in the future we’ll look at house swap opportunities abroad. There’s always a way if you look hard enough.

Flights

People travel the world for next to nothing, and there are plenty of blogs about “Travel Hacking” as they call it. We’re in no way experts in the field, but employed several of the tactics these travel hackers recommend. Here are a couple of our favorite blogs on the subject. Read these. They’ll save you a boatload on flights.

Chris Guillebeau

The Points Guy

Million Mile Secrets

Housing

Every place is different. In Thailand, we stayed in great hotel rooms for $15/night. In Europe, you’re lucky to find a shoebox to stay in for $15/night. We used several websites to find housing.

I like to start with TripAdvisor and see what is the highest rated guesthouse in the area. Then I go right to price. Kayak, HostelWorld, and AirBNB are lifesavers. In Europe especially, we’ve used AirBNB a ton. Since you pay per person at hostels, it ends up being as cheap to get our own room in someone’s house, or even our own flat. And, besides, the bunk beds in a room with 8 other people got old after a little bit :).

Do the math on your rent or mortgage. What do you pay per night to live in your house? For us, our rent was $900, which comes out to about $30/night. I knew that if our lodging was under $30/night, we were ahead of the game with what we would have spent in Nashville.

Cash

Cash. Every country has their own version of it. Fun.

We left the US with no cash. That’s not what we recommend, but it’s what we did.

For personal banking, we use Charles Schwab Bank. If you’re going to travel, we really recommend them because they charge 0 foreign transaction fees and refund all ATM fees worldwide.

We landed in Thailand and got Thai Baht out of the ATM. We didn’t have to worry if the exchange office was ripping us off, as the bank gives us the actual exchange rate. We went to the ATM every two days so we didn’t carry more cash than we’d feel comfortable with.

Gone are the days of travelers checks or carrying $10k in US Dollars to exchange money as you go. Use a bank that doesn’t charge you money to use your card abroad, and get cash as you need it. ATMs are everywhere.

There are several currency converter apps for your phone. Get one and put it to use until you can do the conversion in your head.

Day to day

Travel can be stressful, and adding extra stress over small decisions will not be beneficial over time. Chris Guillebeau recommends setting a dollar amount (for him it’s $10) that you don’t worry about for small expenses. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

We set a budget before we left, and have stuck to it like a dream. We use Mint.com to keep track of what we’re spending, and just create a new budget for each country we’re in. It’s worked perfectly for us.

Where you go

Europe is expensive. Which is one reason we spent the bulk of our trip in places that aren’t expensive. You can have an incredible Thai meal for under $2. In India, meals are usually under $5. Where you go will definitely dictate how long you can stay.

Europe lives up to the hype for us. Especially Italy and France. But we can’t wait to explore Central and South America one day. Travel does not have to be very expensive.

I met one travel hacker in Nepal who said “I can’t afford not to travel.” It’s cheaper for him to be abroad than at home in the States. Amazing.

The world is waiting for you! Don’t let money keep you from living your dreams. Set a savings goal and add something to it every single month.

5 Months Abroad: How We Did It | Philosophy

2014-01-23T07:44:52-06:00

If you missed them, start with 5 Months Abroad: Why We Did It and 5 Months Abroad: How We Did It | Planning and Packing.

This has been our first trip of this kind, but we’re not planning on it being our last. As we’ve traveled, our philosophy for how we want to take trips in the future has grown. This isn’t a closed list, but a growing and changing one. But for now, our philosophy that guided us on this journey.

Tourists vs. Travelers

The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. -G.K. Chesterton

If there’s been a guiding quote for us along the way, this has been it. We’ve all been on vacations where there’s this huge checklist of things you have to see, places you need to go, and by the end of it all you’re just exhausted and aren’t exactly sure what it is you’ve seen. We weren’t on a sight seeing vacation. We were on a trip. And there’s a big difference.

That’s not to say we’re what Rolf Potts refers to as the “anti-tourist.” We’ve seen plenty of famous buildings, monuments, and so-called tourist traps. But our reason for going to a place (other than the trek to the Taj Majal) was never just to see one particular thing. In Rome, we saw incredible ruins because it was interesting to us. But we made sure we were never driven by sightseeing.

Because the most incredible sights we saw were when we got off the beaten path and enjoyed the cities we were in for what they are. But you have to be present for this to happen. I’m as addicted to checking my phone as anyone, so being forced to keep my phone on Airplane Mode while abroad created a forced presentness, which turned into a presentness I loved.

You do have to pace yourself on longer term trips. It may sound ridiculous, but traveling is a job in and of itself. If you try to go too hard, you’ll burn yourself out. Take it slow, take it all in, and take the time to process what it is you’ve taken in.

We want to take trips, or go on journeys, not take vacations. We feel like if we live a life we don’t want to escape from, there’s no need to vacation from it. And that’s the goal, isn’t it?

Purpose - Learn, Serve, Play

We knew we couldn’t take a 5 month leisure trip. After a few days on the beaches in Thailand, we got a little stir crazy. You do need purpose in your travel, especially if it’s long term.

So for us, we decided on our trip we wanted to accomplish three things: learn, serve, and play. We feel we've succeeded at all three.

You can only sit on the beach so long. You can only relax for so long before you start questioning your purpose in life (we may be a little dramatic :))

Balance is important.

We’re going home feeling very satisfied with how we spent the last 5 months. We don’t feel like we’ll have to “flip a switch” to get back to work, because we never stopped engaging.

People are kind

“In India, there’s an old parable about a wise king who sent two of his court officers away to explore faraway lands. One of the courtiers, the king had observed, was arrogant and self absorbed; the other was generous and open-minded. After many months of travel and exploration, both men returned home to report their findings. When the king questioned the men about the cities they visited, the generous courtier said that he found the people of foreign lands to be hospitable, generally kindhearted, and not much different from the people one met at home. On hearing this, the arrogant officer scoffed with envy, because the cities he’d visited were full of scheming liars, cheats, and wicked barbarians. Listening to these reports, the king laughed to himself—for he had sent both men to the same places.” - Rolf Potts, Vagabonding

Thailand, India, Nepal, Israel, Jordan, and Europe. All had one thing in common: people are kind. They’re excited you’ve chosen to take time to visit their country. They want to help you get where you’re going. They want to share stories about growing up in their land.

So often, you get what you give. And when you exude kindness, kindness returns to you. Of course, you have to use common sense. There are exceptions to every rule. But in the vast majority of our experiences, people are kind and want to help.

For what it’s worth, we never felt unsafe while abroad. Not once. Of course, we used common sense and didn’t put ourselves into compromising positions. But that doesn’t mean we were locked in our rooms at sundown either. The news can provide sensationalistic fear if we let it. Be wise, and be aware of what’s happening in the region you’re heading to, but most of the time fear is unfounded.

We had a few days and were thinking of going to Egypt when we saw a news flash about a riot in Cairo. So we decided to stay in Israel. A day later we met a girl who just came from Egypt. She wasn’t in Cairo and it was completely safe. Yes, avoid areas where it’s unsafe, but don’t write off the entire country. Lesson learned!

We have so much to learn from those around us. If you miss out on this, you’ll miss out on an amazing gift. I learned amazing business practices from a guesthouse owner in Leh, India. I learned about contentment from refugees in Jordan. I learned about hospitality from more people than I can count.

We believe in the goodness of those around us. We believe people are good. And, for us, they have been.

Low Season

It wasn’t intentional, but we ended up in so many places during their low season. As in, every place. We walked the towns of Cinque Terre and Venice and Tuscany and felt like we had the towns to ourselves at times. We absolutely loved it. At times, many restaurants would be closed for the low season, but someone was always willing to feed us :).

Low season travel had many benefits. Rooms were a lot cheaper. No crowds. More locals out enjoying the city. As we plan future trips, this will be a priority. We’ve fallen in love with low season travel.

What philosophies have you developed while traveling?

5 Months Abroad: How We Did It | Planning and Packing

2014-01-21T06:00:01-06:00

If you missed it, start with 5 Months Abroad: Why We Did It.

Since we’ve covered why we decided going on a 5 month adventure was important to us, let’s get into how we did it. This will be broken into several posts, including planning (this post), philosophy, and money.

Planning

We hear the questions often: How do you go about planning 5 months abroad? Didn’t that take a ton of time?

We did very little planning before leaving for our trip. We planned the shell of our trip, which were our main flights.

Nashville to Seattle

Seattle to Phuket, Thailand

Phuket to Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand to Kolkata, India

New Delhi, India to Tel Aviv, Israel

Amman, Jordan to Athens, Greece

Paris, France to Nashville, TN

And our first night’s hostel was booked. A place near the airport in Phuket, including a free transfer since we were getting in after midnight.

It didn’t even take a week before we regretted our 3rd flight: Phuket to Bangkok. This was a flight we didn’t initially have planned, but our inexperience got the best of us. We were in Seattle and panicked over how we would get to Bangkok from Phuket for our flight to Kolkata. We couldn’t get a clear answer online, and I found cheap flights, so we went ahead and booked them. It would leave us 3 days in Bangkok before flying to Kolkata.

Phuket is in southern Thailand, with beautiful beaches and amazing food. After a few days, we were getting the itch to explore more of Thailand. We wanted to go to Chang Mai and maybe over to Burma and Laos. But since that Phuket to Bangkok flight was booked already, we had to be in Phuket on that date no matter what. It wouldn’t have made sense to travel around very much, just to return to Phuket for our flight up to Bangkok.

Also, once we were on the ground, there were tons of travel agencies selling bus tickets to Bangkok for next to nothing. Fear of the unknown got us. This was our first lesson in proper traveling.

In the future, we plan to book our flight to where we’re going, and wait to make decisions about other flights (even the return flight home) once we’re on the ground.

The Internet’s an incredible tool to learn a ton about where you’re going before you even get there, but it only takes you so far. You can never fully know what you’ll want to experience (or not experience) and for how long until you’re on the ground.

When we got to Kolkata, we were initially thinking we’d be there for at least 3 weeks, then train over to New Delhi and fly out of there. After about a week and a half, we had met so many people who had loved other parts of the country, and we really wanted to get out and explore these regions we’d heard so much about. So we changed our plans, bought train tickets, and zig-zagged our way across the country to Delhi.

After what seemed like an eternity riding a bus up the mountains into Nepal (ask about that sometime…broken windshields, people throwing up next to us, the whole nine yards), we finally made it to the mountain town of Pokhara. We were so excited to breathe in the fresh air for a few days, then take a bus over to Kathmandu. Our first day, this couple walked up to us and asked if we were planning to go to Kathmandu. They had ridden their rented scooters over from Kathmandu, and ended up purchasing a motorcycle in Pokhara with no way to get their scooters back to Kathmandu.

“Would you be up for riding our scooters to Kathmandu for us?”

Jessica and I looked at each other. Two seconds later, Jessica said “Absolutely!”

There are countless stories we have like this. If you’re going to take a trip like this, don’t lock yourself in to an itinerary before you experience being on the ground. It also lessens the stress of a deadline. There’s nothing worse than being locked into a place you don’t like, having to move on from a place sooner than you wish, or missing out on the opportunity to ride scooters across Nepal.

Right now, we’re on a train to a town near the beaches of Normandy, France. We have no idea how we’ll get to the beach from the train station, but since it’s close, and it’s a popular destination, we’re confident there’ll be plenty of options once we arrive. This has been a great way of enjoying the journey and not worrying about the destination. “It’ll all work out” is a life motto I learned from my dad, and more times than not it absolutely does.

In our experience, people are friendly and want to help you get where you’re going. Just ask.

This isn’t to say we have no plans when we arrive places, because we definitely do. We almost always book our hostel our guesthouse a day or two in advance. And we use our journey to read up on the next city we’ll be in. We’re definitely finding the “must see” list is getting shorter and shorter, and our desire to experience the various cities and countries and their culture has taken a prominent position.

For us, Lonely Planet eBooks have been a great tool to get a rough overview of the city or country, as we haven’t wanted to pack books and carry them. Pulling the books up on our iPhones has worked perfectly. Also, TripAdvisor is perfect for finding a good meal and a clean room. Other than that, just use your intuition. As far as housing is concerned, a combination of HostelWorld, AirBNB, and Kayak were used.

Packing

The 2nd most popular question we get has to do with what we packed for our trip. In short: very little.

We brought 1 backpacker’s pack with all our clothes and toiletries in it. And one school size backpack for our laptop, camera, etc.

We each have 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, and a few undergarments. We also have down jackets that are stuffable along with a waterproof jacket in case of inclement weather. Ladies: Jessica brought one must have hair product, mascara, and blush.

And that’s it.

If you’ve never learned the art of doing laundry in the shower (I surely hadn’t), this sort of travel will make you very close with the concept. It just becomes a part of the process.

We have found that, for us, we packed the perfect amount of stuff. We heard from people over and over and over: don’t pack too much. You’ll wish you didn’t have so much stuff. DON’T DO IT!

Jessica and I only packed tennis shoes and flip flops. Perfect for the warm weather. Terrible for the cold here in Europe. We met a super friendly guy in India who was getting rid of his boots he had only worn once for a trek to Everest base camp. Lucky for me, we wear the same size! When we got to Bulgaria, it was just too cold and we found a pair of boots for Jessica. We have our tennis shoes tied to the back of our bag and wear our boots every day.

We packed light, and we haven’t found ourselves in any predicaments so far. Of course we’re both excited to see each other in different clothes, but it’s just one of the sacrifices you make.

Conclusion

If you’re going to plan an extended trip like this, keep your itinerary as open as possible. Keep you bags as light as possible. When it comes to planning, that’s our biggest advice! Trust the process and learn your own rhythm along the way. If Jessica, the prototypical over planner can do it, you can too. Trust the process! It’ll all work out (more on that in the next post).

If you have any questions, comment below!

Up next: 5 Months Abroad: How We Did It | Philosophy

5 Months Abroad: Why We Did It

2014-01-13T07:17:11-06:00

Right now Jessica and I are on a train from Cinque Terre, Italy up to Amsterdam. The countrysides of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and The Netherlands are stunning along the way. The mountains, the snow, the small villages. All of it.

We’re in the last week of 5 months abroad. It’s included the tropical beaches of Thailand, the desert of Jordan, the Himalayas and the Alps, the Mediterranean, Black, Red, Adriatic and Dead Seas, the Northern half of India, and a good bit of Eastern and Western Europe.

We’ve had amazing adventures of bungee jumping in Nepal, training across India (in 3rd class, no less…plenty of stories about those experiences :)) and Europe (if you’re over 26, they make you travel 1st class…the experience was just a tad different), and floating in the Dead Sea. Snorkeling in the waters of Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand and hearing the stories of Syria’s refugees in Jordan. Serving alongside the sisters at Mother Teresa’s charity in Calcutta and taking in some of the most amazing architecture this world has to offer.

5 months. Living out of 2 backpacks from hostel to hostel, usually not knowing where we’ll be the next day. (instagram.com/thepeachtruck has a great photo journal of our time).

And it’s been a dream.

Jessica’s always had the insatiable appetite for travel. For me, it’s been a dream that’s come more recently. I’ve always liked the idea, but my personality has usually led me to do the next right thing, which meant keeping the safe job and my 3 weeks of vacation time. 1 week at my in laws’ home in Seattle, 1 week around Christmas, and perhaps a week off to take a trip with Jessica somewhere. Or a staycation!

And I had no issue with that. I was “happy.”

Then these itches started happening. I read a lot of blogs and I came across way too many inspiring people who were working for themselves and traveling the world.

Our first summer of The Peach Truck, we were both working full time. We really thought we had a good idea on our hands, but wanted to see if we could make it work. An extremely hard, fulfilling summer and 10 tons of peaches later, we had a little business on our hands.

After a bit of hesitation and encouragement from those closest to us, Jessica and I left the safety net of our jobs January 31, 2013 and went full time into building The Peach Truck. Our dream was this: work extremely hard for 7 months, then travel for 5 months. We wrote it down on paper. We dreamed about sharing our family’s peaches with as many people as humanly possible. And we dreamed about freedom.

Freedom is something that has driven us as much as anything. Work/life balance is something we all believe in, yet so few get to enjoy. We are not afraid of ridiculously hard work. But we also are not afraid to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

We went to a dinner party at our friend Evie’s house about a year ago. A couple named Brad and Jen, who are incredible photographers, were there. They told us about a project they were working on where they asked people to define freedom for their lives. “What does freedom mean to you?” It really struck Jessica and me. We still don’t have it nailed down, but for us freedom included this life where we work on art projects (The Peach Truck, for instance) that matter to us, and see the world. For us, that sounds like freedom.

Every decision since has been through that filter. Does this help us achieve our goals? How can we get a step closer to freedom? It doesn’t happen overnight. And it takes an insane amount of work. But we feel like we’re living that freedom we dreamed about.

Peach season 2013 was insanity. Our amazing friend Bill served as our CEO and helped us put legs to The Peach Truck. No longer a hobby. It’s a real business. And it’s a true extension of our passions. And while 10 tons of peaches sold in 2012 was an amazing success for us, the 120 tons in 2013 was something we never could have hoped for. Our gratitude cannot be expressed enough.

And now, we come to the end of this journey around the world. And we’ve felt so free. It seems that at least daily, we look at each other with that “Can you believe we get to do this?” face. Traveling with the love of my life has been life altering for our relationship. Serving alongside her. Learning what issues in the world break both our hearts. Learning what adventures get us both excited. Learning how beautiful people are. As in, everyone.

So why travel the world for 5 months? Because for us, it’s what freedom looks like. And our definition is continuing to evolve and grow. Of course it will change over time. All we can hope for those around us is that they not only define freedom for themselves, but that they’ll also grow into said definition.

It definitely didn’t happen overnight for us. But once we set our eyes on the goal, we saw every decision as a step in the direction to freedom. Go and do the same! You won’t regret it.

Next week: 5 Months Abroad: How We Did It

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Belonging

2013-12-12T08:56:23-06:00

People have asked me along the way what I am learning being abroad. Where to start? Every day on the road, Stephen and I have experienced or observed things that would be the topic of conversations for weeks back home. Here on the road, though, it’s just one shocking moment after another. A cow walks into a train station alongside the humans, so what? I’m welcomed to an Israeli bachelor party...apparently I can hang with the boys! And of course, the immigration officer would help us in his underwear...it was 4am, after all. All of these situations are hilarious and we have laughed our way through so many awkward moments. If you want to feel foolish, travel.

But, I digress, back to what we’re learning.

It’s amazing how time reveals what has deeply stayed with me through all these moments. One of those major themes; people are very proud of who and where they come from. This has been such a beautiful pride to observe. No matter the place, people are honored that we came to experience their home. They are eager to share their land, history, culture, and traditions with us. They aren’t blind to the issues they face, but there is a deep sense of belonging and care for their history and their future. This is all tied up within the family unit and is a clear picture the deep roots people make.

I understand this rich pride of homeland so well being from the Northwest. I speak of Seattle as home so much and claim unashamedly that it is the most beautiful place on earth. Yes, you really should visit and stay at my parents' house (is that okay, Dad?)! Along this journey as people ask where we we're from, I noticed quickly that I was giving way more information that they were interested in. It went like this, “I’m originally from Seattle and Stephen is from Georgia and we now live in Nashville.” I could have just said "Nashville" and been done with it.

You know when you hear yourself and you start to cringe a little? That was me with every introduction. I realized how closely my identity was wrapped up in my home, my land, my people, my history. Seattle is a sacred place for me and I feel like I have been able to relate to people and understand more deeply their connection with the land we stood on.

I think this is such a beautiful thing in so many ways. I don’t really know how to wrap this “lesson” I learned up in a box but to say that as we have walked with people from many nations and tongues it has been a profound thing to celebrate the many differences between us and equally a profound thing to celebrate the common ground we share as humans. Sharing stories and values and blessings.

I will end with an update. I've stopped the mini monologue and now go with, “I’m from Nashville.” My heart and passion for this gem of the South grows every day. Seattle will always have my heart, but love doesn't divide...it multiplies.

In Israel at the Garden of Gethsemane. Now this guy really has my heart. Home base.

Happy Thanksgiving Peach Lovers!

2013-11-26T22:00:00-06:00

We hope this time of year finds you well and enjoying the fullness of the season. For Stephen and I, this time of year is so rich. We love Autumn and all the warmth of the homestead, a hearty meal and the love shared with friends and family that it embodies.

As you may know, we have been abroad since the end of peach season and will continue to be until the New Year. This “offseason adventure” we are on has been a dream come true for us. Thanks to advice from backpacker experts and the freedom we have built into The Peach Truck, we have been able to freely explore the world.

Our hope before departing was to serve, learn, and play while abroad. I can already say that we will return having had these experiences, but the "common" moments in between will linger in our hearts above all. So today we pause and are thankful for the common miracles.

Common miracles are too easily missed. I miss them all the time longing for something more profound or thinking about the next item on the to do list. We’ve discovered how hard it is to just be present. One of these times was in Kolkata, India with my in-laws and parents volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Missions of Charity. Yea it was like a little family mission trip of sorts…we had the best time! We spent some time being with men and women in a home for those that were sick and dying. There was very little to do outside of feeding and basic care for these beautiful people. Mother Teresa’s vision for this home was to give people a place to die with respect and dignity. This is a basic, simple, and powerful vision. So we sat with beautiful people and held their hands, gave head massages, and listened to their stories (even though we couldn’t understand them). We were with each other and we simply were together.

In his book Vagabonding, my friend Rolf Potts wrote about Peter Matthiessen’s exploration to see a snow leopard in the Himalayas. He never ended up seeing a snow leopard, but as Matthiessen later shared in The Snow Leopard, all was not lost. In fact, much was gained.

The gift of being. Being present for what he calls “the common miracles.”

Matthiessen writes: “The common miracles- the murmur of my friends at evening, the clay fires of smudgy juniper, the coarse, dull food, the hardship and simplicity, the contentment of doing one thing at a time: when I take my blue tin cup into my hand, that is all I do.”

And I will add, touching a hand that has lived a lifetime. Holding it and acknowledging its imperfections, wrinkles, scars, labor, and years. And seeing the miracle in that moment.

So this beautiful day rich with thanksgiving full of its tradition and expectation and love and sorrow, be. Be with someone. Be present cleaning those dishes. Be eating those mashed potatoes with gravy. Be pulling that peach cobbler out of the oven (see what I did there). Be present and we will try and do the same.

Cheers to opening our eyes to the common miracles.

Much love to each of you, as we The Peach Truck are grateful for you today!

Photo credit: Hart & Honey

With family in Kolkata

2013-11-07T03:18:16-06:00

If you aren't in our little world, you may not know that as a part of our offseason adventures, both my and Stephen's parents came to visit us in Kolkata, India. I spent time there ten years ago, and had always wanted to return with my mom. Stephen's mom had always wanted to go and volunteer with Missions of Charity (Mother Teresa's organization), so we all made plans and met up in India.

Any nerves I had were soon calmed, and we welcomed them to the wildly overwhelming and beautifully chaotic city of Kolkata to begin our weeklong adventure together.

We made many memories that week, but there was one I will always hold dear.

It was our second day of volunteering. The morning had gone well, and we decided to spend the evening at Kalighat. Kalighat is know as Mother Teresa's first love. The home for the sick and dying. She believed everyone deserved to die with dignity, and this home was created to give people that opportunity.

The light sprinkles of rain at the beginning of our walk turned into a never ending downpour. We had attempted the short walk to the house, but were stopped quickly by the rivers that were forming on the sidewalks. Soaking wet, we decided there was no way we could make it to Kalighat.

After 20 minutes of contemplating, we made a run for home. As we ran through the streets and sidewalks, I was taken aback by the joy of the moment. All of us were running through Kolkata in the monsoon rain laughing and sullying all the way. Vendors and bystanders began cheering us on! It was such a surreal moment that ended with the longest shower of my life. We had run through knee high street rivers in India! Can you imagine what is in that water? All I can say is I scrubbed my body hard. We didn't serve that evening, but we did have a great laugh.

The next day, with no monsoon in sight, we made our second attempt. When I was here a decade ago, Kalighat was where I would go every evening. The walk was always special to me. The quiet of the hour, the activities around the nearby temple, the open public square with its colorful figures, and the beautiful neighborhood all combined to make for a rich experience.

As we entered Kalighat, the familiar medicine smell overwhelmed me and sparked so many memories. To walk back through these doors with loved ones by my side was so surreal. The boys went to their side and us girls to ours. I jumped right in to sitting with the women. Soon after arriving I was motioned to a woman who needed the bathroom, so I took her. It was back to the basics. We served dinner. Dad and I helped clean the dishes at the end. But mostly we were simply there with these beautiful people. It was so special to be serving in this way with my family. I was so impressed by them all. So caring and vulnerable, willing to be a servant. What beauty I was seeing from these people I love so much.

Before we left for the night, I took them to the rooftop to look out on the square . This was a tradition when I was here before. To be still for a moment and think upon the precious hours, and to watch the sunset. Then we moved on.

Our hearts were moved. I am so grateful for times such as these.

Thailand Reflections

2013-11-01T10:52:31-05:00

Some thoughts for all interested in spending time in Thailand. First of all, go there! All of you. Single, married, with kids, retired....go!

Thailand has it all. Mountains, beaches, delicious food, and some of the greatest people. For Thailand, tourism is a hug part of their economy and they care deeply about making sure your time there is wonderful.

You could go to Thailand and stay at a nice resort and have a wonderful time, but we recommend a different direction for your stay. Thailand is a very warm and welcoming country and walking the streets and riding scooters down their streets helps you not miss all the life and joy this country has to offer.

Stephen and I had two weeks in the country and stayed primarily in the South around Phuket and Krabi, with a few days in Bangkok. This was great for really exploring areas, but if you wanted to do a week near the beach and a week up in Chang Mai, that would be doable as well.

We highly suggest Koh Phi Phi Island and the surrounding islands as a great stop to snorkel, sunbathe, and scuba. It is a very tourist focused island, but getting out on the water helps separate you from the crowds and there is plenty of beauty for all the experience. Longtail boats are the local taxis and every ride feels exciting and new.

We use TripAdvisor for many things. One of which is hotel recommendations. This service is amazing for many reasons, one being that you have many opinions given and you can filter to your specific price range and desires. One hotel that stuck out for its amazing service and amenities was Frutta Hotel in Patong. Patong itself is not my favorite city to visit. Very crowded, full of seediness, and the beach wasn’t that great. But Frutta is located perfectly outside the madness and has the best staff. Staying there was a delight and renting a scooter for the day to head south to the beautiful beaches of Karon was the best way to spend our days.

If we can encourage a few things to do in Thailand:

Rent a scooter and drive until you are lost. Exploring the coastline and inland villages is like a dream.
Eat street food like it’s your religion. It’s safe to eat, cheap and really good.
Get a message every night. Ask your hotel a good near by place and go. Again cheap, good and the only time you will probably every do this.
Play outside. Whatever is your preference do it. Swim, climb, dive, bike...do it.

Here’s the thing. Getting to Thailand can cost you a bit of money but once you are there, your money goes a long ways. $15-20 rooms, $3 meals, and $8 hour long massages.

This country is beautiful and has tons to offer.

See photos from our trip at instagram.com/thepeachtruck

Between the limestone mountains

2013-10-01T19:59:33-05:00

Jumping on the back of a motorbike with Stephen over the past few weeks with the open road in front of us has been a highlight for me. I'm filled with a sense of adventure. I'm alive. I'm seeing life at every turn and I'm learning about life. What a rush!

One day in Ao Nang we took an extra special ride.

The tank was full so we took some extra long roads. All of which I had to remember, otherwise we would be lost. We had no agenda and no time frame. As we rode, the landscape changed from a flat beach town to valleys squeezed between giant limestone towers. We passed hundreds of farms growing coconuts and rubber trees. The coconut trees were planted perfectly in line creating the most welcoming shaded fort below it's branches. I was tempted to take my afternoon nap under its peaceful umbrella.

As we ventured on, passing through one small village after the other, my mind was intrigued by the lives being lived in these sweet towns. What was the feel of this community? Were they in harmony? Is life enjoyable or difficult?

We ran into a dead end road at one point only to be greeted by chickens and toddlers who danced in the front of their huts. Mothers watching from shaded hammocks instructed their babies to wave as we turned around to head in yet another direction.

We drove and drove in search of life and we found it. With no destination to seek, every moment was our present to enjoy.

The beauty of the landscape was the icing on the cake for me. Every picture I took paled in comparison to the vastness and detail my eyes were experiencing. Three hundred feet up of pure limestone and lush green foliage would tower these tiny roads as pillars. Sometimes alone in a field or a part of a mountain, they were everywhere. A forty foot tall tree sprang out of one of its steep bluffs, simply magnifying the strength of these giants we would pass.

I thought of the cathedrals we would be seeing months from now all over Europe. How much man had worked at creating something we would be in awe over, and find holy and sacred. These towers speak to this awe. God's thumbs had dredged out these valleys we were riding through. His fingertips forming the rocks and trees.

During this ride I thought of CS Lewis and a motorcycle ride he took that changed his life. In Surprised by Joy, he shares about how during a motorcycle ride with his brother, his mind changed about his belief in God. Upon returning he would claim his belief in God. I understand more how powerful a motor bike ride in nature truly can be.

Longtail Boats & Blue Lagoons

2013-09-30T03:08:37-05:00

We've had a few of those “that's why we came here" days and we want to share them with you.

One of those days happened on Koh Phi Phi Island, Thailand.

We had arrived a few days prior (we were set back a couple days by Stephen getting sick. Who orders nachos in Thailand?), and were eager to get out a see the island. So to maximize our day we hired a longtail boat for 6 hours to see as much of the islands around us as possible. With our iced thai teas in hand, we set off on the high seas! It felt so lavish of us to take a boat out by ourselves, we were free to stay and go as we pleased at whatever locations we choose. The American dollar goes so far here!

Our first stop was an inlet to the most beautiful lagoon I have ever seen (Pileh Lagoon). Before us sheets of limestone rock that vertically towered over us hundreds of feet high. As we passed through them the canal led us to utter magic. As the walls opened up our eyes took in images our minds truly couldn't process!

Before us was a quite lagoon, though busy with tourists. It was large enough and held such great awe that we all fell silent in its grip.

The walls were our protector, and the water our comforter. We were where the gods must take their baths. (Sounds dramatic, oh well :)

The water; warm and blue and clear. There is nothing like this type of playground. We splashed and played. Kissed and grinned ear to ear...and possibly squealed a time or two. To be in this place with my love was a breathtaking moment.

From there, the rest was gold. We snorkeled with schools of fish that encircled us so much I felt claustrophobic at times. They were all over us and right in our faces. We played in the waves at Maya Bay, which had the softest sand you can imagine. I felt like with every step my feet were getting a pedicure. We walked the beautiful Bamboo Island and visited with the monkeys at Monkey Beach. One monkey was hilariously drinking a Pepsi.

We returned home hungry and happy...and a little sunburnt. The day was a delight. We were true adventurers. Experiencing things we never had before and with each other. Is this really life?

Cake & Whiskey

2013-09-26T05:14:50-05:00

I had the honor of sharing our story in the upcoming Fall Issue of Cake & Whiskey. On stands the first of October or available to purchase online now!

Editor Megan Smith was a delight to work with, and has created a truly beautiful issue. Thanks for letting me have a small part of this beautiful piece of work Megan. Your are a very inspiring person and I'm in awe of everything you do. Much love friend.

What we did today in paradise

2013-09-24T05:42:32-05:00

It started off as a day of exploration! We were going to learn the island and decide what we wanted to do with our few days here. We walked the beach, took pictures and made our way up up up to the look out point. It was a hot, energy-zapping climb but well worth it.

At the top we enjoyed the view of both beautiful bays and partook in a much needed bottle of water. We ended up having a conversation with the mMuslim gardener of the property we looked out on, a self proclaimed rockstar named Pinoi. He came the the island 30 years ago as a fisherman and never left.

We had a great time with Pinoi. His English broken was surprisingly understandable. We chatted about the funny relationship between humans and monkeys on the island (each needing to respect each others space). We talked about the massacre in the DC Naval Yard that took 12 lives. Pinoi thought I was Ukrainian (that's a first).

Then Stephen asked about the Tsunami. Pinoi demeanor went from playful silly island man to slightly uninterested. I couldn't tell if he was just extremely sick of the question or if it was too painful. But with a body posture that screamed "change the subject!" we went on quickly chatting about tourism, Pinoi's lazy work ethic, and how the weather patterns are changing on the island .

After another few minutes he surprisingly jumped back to the 2004 Tsunami and shared his story.

That morning, no different from any other, he woke at 5:30am to do his gardening. Around 6:30 a black cat unknown to him approached him and began talking to him. He said, “Hello kitty. What are you saying?” Then, also apart of his morning tradition, he walked down the mountain to a pulley system that he bought food from and pulled up to lessen his heavy hike back up.

This man is a character. Born in inland Thailand and loving the freedom of life that the island provides, Pinoi is a free spirit. As he shared this deeply horrific story he talked with such lightheartedness. Itt was at points almost confusing if we were truly talking about the same thing. Okay, back to Pinoi's story.

As he was pulling up his groceries from the pulley he could hear the rumbling and soon saw roof tops sliding on top of each other in a sandwich like manner. The black water was rushing in just below him and the water was swirling violently. Pinoi was shocked at what he was seeing and so closely. “It was silent during this time. Because everyone was whomped out. They were all dead,” Pinoi said then smiles big and laughed like he made a joke.

Throughout the rest of the conversation bits and pieces of Pinoi's experience spilled out. After the Tsunami he was trapped for days without an idea what type of major disaster had hit. Later he learned that the mainland had been hit 45 minutes earlier than the island. With great sadness he stated how that would have been ample time to evacuate the lowlands and move everyone to safety. 20 mins is harder, but they had 45 minutes. Why weren't they warned? Pinoi shakes his head in frustration, then smiles. After sleeping on trains in India for months, he returned home. He is a self proclaimed rockstar. "People know me all over the world.” But he doesn't want it. Pinoi loves the island life.

Koh Phi Phi Don Island, Karbi Thailand

Our Last Week

2013-09-19T08:32:34-05:00

We've had about a month of space since the end of peach season, and now I want to go back and celebrate such a wonderful summer of Georgia peaches. This was such an all consuming time for us, and yet it feels like distant dream in this moment. We are grateful for the space to reflect and rest, but don't be misled...we will be ready soon enough to dream of all things peaches!

Such a cute guy!

Thank you!

2013-08-22T07:52:25-05:00

Sharing Memories

2013-08-14T07:20:58-05:00

There’s one thing I’ve discovered selling peaches this summer. Everyone has a personal story, an experience, an opinion, or memory surrounding peaches. Seriously. A peach can conjure up very really reactions from young and old. And I’ve made peach memories this summer too!

Right before my eyes people have experienced their very first taste of a peach. The reactions are priceless! I’ve heard stories from seasoned gentlemen that had their first job in the peach orchards. Hearing their deep appreciation for this fruit is so refreshing. I've heard the story of an old favorite childhood dog named peaches. Even Stephen will share his memories of getting peaches from Aunt Ann and having that famous peach ice cream every summer!

We all have our stories. So today I’m asking you for your stories. Whether it’s been with peaches from The Peach Truck or not, we want to hear from you. When I say “peaches” what comes to mind? This staple of summer...how has it weaved its way into your history?

Homemade Peach Truck Donuts!

2013-08-12T07:10:57-05:00

A few months back I was reading through some different blog posts and came upon one that to this day has stuck with me. It's weird how that happens at times. The blog post was about how to make grapefruit donuts...my thought, change the grapefruit to peach and now I'm really interested! So with that thought tucked away I figured someday I would get around to it. And here we are! The recipe comes from the blog A Beautiful Mess. These sisters are a powerhouse for great ideas. Thank you ladies for sharing your creativity with us, it's so fun to see what you will post next. So Peach Donuts, enjoy!

Peach Donuts

(makes 15-18, plus holes!)

1 cup milk
1/8 cup peach juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant dry yeast
2 eggs
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons butter
4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
*oil for frying Warm the milk and peach juice for about a minute in the microwave, stir in the sugar until it dissovles. Pour in the yeast, give it a stir (just one or two) and let this just sit and bubble for 5-8 minutes.

Melt the butter in the microwave until it's just nearly mealted. Stir in the eggs. Pour the egg mixture into the bowl and stir. Now begin adding the flour 1 cup at a time, then the salt. Now knead the dough for 8-10 minutes. It should form a loose dough and begin slapping the sides of the bowl when it's done. If your dough seems too liquidy then add another tablespoon of flour. Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning roll out the dough (while it's still cold) and cut out your donuts. You can use biscuit cutter, cookie cutters or the openings of jars/glasses. The dough should be 1/2-inch thick (or a little less is ok too). Lay the donuts on a baking sheet, cover with a towel and allow to rise in a warm place for one hour.

Heat enough oil in a pot so that the donuts will have room to float. You want the oil to reach right around 375°F, a candy thermometer is very useful here. If you don't have one and are feeling stubborn about buying one, then you can always test your oil by using the donut holes as testers. The donuts should cook on each side for about 30-45 seconds each and then remove them to a bed of paper towels.

For the glaze (this is where most of the peach flavor is!) whisk together 1/2 cup peach juice and 2 3/4 cups powered sugar. Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze and set them on a rack above a baking sheet lined with wax paper or paper towels (for easy clean up). I like to dip mine two to three times, just so that peach taste comes through!

until next time ~

jessica

Enjoy Peaches all Year Long: A Guide to Canning & Freezing

2013-08-09T08:03:07-05:00

Start with a fresh Georgia Peaches that is soft and conditioned. A conditioned Georgia Peach will feel heavier than it looks. Near the stem, the skin gives a little, when you squeeze the peach it gives a little, and the aroma of peaches fills the air.

Take your peaches and cut a light X on the bottom.

You will want to peel your Georgia Peaches. To do so, fully submerge your peaches in boiling water for about a minute. Have a bowl of ice water ready to put the peaches in immediately.

Now it's time to peel the skin!

Now that they're pealed, slice your peaches and coat them in a solution of water and lemon juice to keep them from browning.

Drain any remaining water from the peaches before placing them in a freezer bag.

Adding a sprinkling sugar to your peaches is optional at this point.

Pack peaches in freezer bags about ¾ full.

Flatten bags, taking out all the air, and freeze.

Now you are ready to bless your taste buds mid winter!

Canning

Gena Knox has provided us with great canning instructions, so we figured it'd be best to pass those along!

Canned peaches are a wonderful way to enjoy Fresh Georgia Peaches year round. Once canned, they are excellent for baking or paired with yogurt and cereal for breakfast.

PREP TIME  15 minutes
COOK TIME  30 minutes
YIELDS  4 pint jars

1 ½ cups sugar

4 cups water

12 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced (about 4 pounds)

4 pint jars, lids, and rings, washed with warm soapy water

FIRST In a large saucepan, dissolve sugar and water over medium-high heat.

Bring water to a boil in a large stock pot. Using tongs, transfer lids, rings, and jars to water and boil for 5 minutes. Remove, using tongs, and let drain on towel.

NEXT While jars are still warm, fill each with sliced peaches and top with sugar syrup, leaving ½” headspace at the top of each jar. Remove air pockets by pressing peaches down with the end of a wooden spoon. Secure jars with lids until they are finger tight and process jars in boiling water for 25 minutes.

LAST Remove jars from pot using tongs or a jar lifter and lay on towel to cool. Once jars have cooled and lids have sealed, tighten lids and store in a cool, dark place for up to a year.

NOTE: To prevent peaches from turning brown, you can soak them in a solution of 1 teaspoon of citric acid or fruit fresh or 3000 mg Vitamin C per cup of water. Allow the sliced peaches to soak while sterilizing jars and making simple syrup.

Waiting On Peaches

2013-08-07T06:48:34-05:00

We have been asked quite often, “What are you all doing after peach season?” Great question. Stephen and I talk quite often about our lives, as couples do. Conversations about what we want from this one life we have, our personal values, and wildest dreams. The word freedom has always bubbled up in those moments. What is freedom? I think it can vary for each person and can change throughout one's life. Stephen and I have yet to put a solid definition on what that looks like for us, yet we are close and that feels amazing. As we started this little business of selling peaches, we knew it would be seasonal and that excited us. Could we possibly work really, really hard with The Peach Truck for 7 months, then take some time off? We believe we can, because we are putting our mind to it and creating the life we want full of freedom!

We are right in the middle of this little experiment. We choose each day what direction we want to go with life. Stephen and I often talk about how each purchase we make takes us somewhere. You get a new piece of furniture, and it leads to 4 more pieces to make sure they all match. You get some new pants, and all of the sudden you need some shoes to go with them. Every purchase takes you somewhere. So what if we work really, really hard for the months leading up to and during peach season all while living simply? Could we take some time to see the world? Could we spend time with my family and friends in Seattle? We think yes. So after some much needed recovery time with loved ones, Stephen and I will be leaving the country to serve and learn. This is freedom for us. We have a passion to share stories that inspire us. One of those being the story of our family's 5th Generation Peach Farm. Other stories will inevitably be learned and shared along our journey this fall.

And at the end of the day, my deepest heart's desire is that none of this would seem or feel unattainable to those we share our lives with. I desire that this will give others the inspiration to really go after their own dreams. We wouldn’t be doing this without the courage of those that have shown us it is possible. One of those heroes is an author and world traveler Chris Guillebeau. Check out his books and insights to living the life you’ve always wanted.

Some of what we'll be doing this offseason include playing in the Northwest with my family, serving in India, and visiting our friends in Jordan to learn about all that is happening with the civil war in Syria. Follow our friends, Collin and Mallory as they move there to live among these beautiful refugees, to serve them, and share their stories.

Be encouraged. It’s your life, and you get to live it. See you along the way.

until next time,

~ jessica

Twelve at the Table

2013-08-02T07:13:01-05:00

Several weeks ago, we had the privilege of being a part of one of those evenings you reminisce about for a long time. Family, friends, and peaches tend to be the perfect combo to create a magical night. Enjoy this glimpse our amazing friend Jordan Fatke put together!

The Peach Truck + Twelve At The Table from The Peach Truck on Vimeo.

A Happy Heart: Rick Haley and Christy Graham

2013-07-31T06:42:32-05:00

This peach season I have tried to stay as mindful of gratitude as possible. This life is just too good to be true, and the little day-to-day frustrations are not allowed to get in the way of all this goodness (even though, honestly sometime they totally do). We are growing this business and for all our high standards and goals, we are doing it and it’s working. What a miracle! So as I look back on this second season of peach slinging in Nashville, there are two names that race to my mind when I think of who I am so grateful for this year. Now, let me just say there are about 100 other names that I could easy list here. There is no way we could make this thing what it is becoming without an army of people that believe in it, and work tirelessly through hot long busy days to make it all happen. And when I say tirelessly, I mean the craziest, hardest work all of us I think have ever seen. And when I say hot long busy days, I mean HOT, LONG, BUSY days...one right after the other. It's only 13-15 weeks…that's not a long time right?!?! Okay I think you get it. Back to gratitude.

Today’s post is to honor Christy Graham (her husband Cary) and Rick Haley (and his wife Bonnie and their family). These beautiful people are those rare finds in this world…they are absolutely a dream! They have taken ownership of The Peach Truck as few have or will. Grateful only begins to describe our hearts for these people. Words can point to their vitality to The Peach Truck, but they won’t fully grasp…and I’ll have to be okay with that.

So today I am grateful for Rick and Bonnie. For an ever willing and flexible heart, mind, and hands to get the work done. For an optimistic attitude in all situations. There are few like them in the world. Their talents and gifts are great and seeing them in action has been rich.

Today I am also grateful for Christy and Cary. For jumping on the boat right as it was leaving the port and finding footing so quickly. What a gift to us! They always have a smile and a sweet spirit about them that calms all the madness. Their ability to believe in this process and never waver has been a foundation even I’ve looked to at times. Their presence during this season has literally changed the game in all the greatest ways.

Rick and Christy we have been grateful for you both from day one, hopefully this is just a confirmation of what you already now. But today we highlight you both and share our deepest gratitude for each of you.

To building something beautiful together!