What's in Season: Thankfulness

Thankfulness and Thanksgiving in New England

November in Franklin County, Massachusetts, marks the close of the harvest season. The fields and orchards show the year’s last effort, and local farms gather what remains before winter settles in. It’s a time of quiet thankfulness—rooted in the same landscape and traditions that helped shape New England’s enduring connection to Thanksgiving.

November’s Harvest: Local Foods and Where to Find Them

The November harvest brings together a flavorful array of foods ideal for holiday tables. Many local farms and orchards offer seasonal foods to help complete your autumn meals and Thanksgiving celebrations:

• Turkeys: Diemand Farm in Wendell is renowned for its pasture-raised turkeys, available fresh for Thanksgiving. These turkeys are raised free-range and hormone- and antibiotic-free, supporting both tradition and local agriculture.Their preorders for Thanksgiving have closed but they plan to have extras available for walk-ins during Thanksgiving week. ​

• Root Vegetables: Red Fire Farm offers a rainbow of certified organic root vegetables for the season, including carrots, beets, potatoes, winter squash, parsnips, and sweet potatoes—perfect for roasting or hearty stews. You can find them, along with other local farms selling their harvest at the Greenfield Farmers Market. 

• Fresh Herbs: Essential stuffing herbs—sage, rosemary, and thyme—are grown by local farms like Just Roots, which also supplies other farm-fresh herbs and vegetables for all your cooking needs.​

• Orchard Bounty & Fruit Pies: Pine Hill Orchards in Colrain and other area orchards offer fresh apples and cider, while local farm stands feature holiday pies, winter squash, and other fall treats. Pies are a highlight of many local orchards. Go to Apex Orchards in Shelburne Falls for delicious fresh-baked baked pies.
   

Thanksgiving Prepared Foods & Catering

Whether you're looking to supplement your Thanksgiving feast or order catering for the holiday, Franklin County offers a variety of spots featuring fresh, local fare and convenient prepared options.

• Hager's Farm Market in Shelburne Falls specializes in homemade sides, baked goods, and prepared foods—perfect for complementing your Thanksgiving spread. Their market offers seasonal treats and farm-made specialties with easy pick-up.
   
• Millstone Farm Market in Sunderland features prepared foods, bakery items, and locally-sourced grocery staples, making it a great stop for freshly made side dishes or dessert for your Thanksgiving meal.
   
• Wells Provisions in Charlemont offers both catering and frozen homemade meals tailored for Thanksgiving, with sides and dishes prepped for easy pick-up. Their catering menu ranges from classic American to creative Southern-inspired dishes and can be customized for gatherings of various sizes.
   
• Green Fields Market in Greenfield is a natural foods co-op with an extensive prepared food section, including deli items, salads, soups, and hot bar options. Their grab-and-go meals, vegan choices, and bakery goods are ideal for holiday takeout.
   

Simple Practices of Gratitude in November

Beyond the feast, the spirit of Thanksgiving is woven into the ways we connect and express gratitude each day. A few simple ideas for this season:

• Take a gratitude walk in a local conservation area or along back roads lined with fading leaves.

• Visit a farm stand and chat with growers about the harvest—they often have stories threaded with both challenge and joy.

• Keep a “thankfulness journal” for the month, noting small things each day that spark appreciation.

• Volunteer with local food pantries or community meals, sharing the abundance with neighbors in need.

• Gather friends or family to prepare a meal using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, deepening the connection between table and community.
  

By turning to the region’s fields and orchards, supporting small farms and markets, and practicing mindful gratitude, November transforms into a season of thankfulness—rooted in both the land and the hearts of Franklin County.

Check out my other What's in Season blog posts here.

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