5 Simple Steps for a DIY Harvest Party

Fall is in the air, which means it's time to celebrate. At the ranch, our harvest gatherings always include friends, family, and food–with an emphasis on the food–as our prized Olio Nuovo makes it fleeting appearance, alongside a bounty of fresh, California produce, and our distinctive coastal California wines. Meanwhile, as the leaves start to turn, our homes and tables get a makeover, taking inspiration from the natural beauty of the season for effortless entertaining in our signature organic style. Planning a party can be daunting, but we’ve gathered our top tips for sticking with the season while wow-ing your guests with an unforgettable Harvest Party.

Get gourd-geous.

We have plenty of produce at McEvoy Ranch available at our San Francisco Ferry Building shop each week to arrange stunning autumn tablescapes like our favorite gooseneck gourds. If you aren't local, not to worry! You can still create a harvest vibe with whatever's growing near you this fall. Cluster grapes, tomatoes, squash, apples, basil, quince, pumpkins, or pomegranates together in your favorite wooden bowls. Or keep things minimal, but striking, with long cuttings of whole fruits on the branch, leaves and all.

Bloom where you are planted.

If you’re more of a flower lover, zinnia, marigolds, and sunflowers are in season now. Create bold arrangements with these bright blooms, or consider placing a flower at each setting to tie the theme together. As the saying goes, "if it grows together, it goes together," so have fun mixing and matching different shapes and colors from your garden or local farmers' market for a show-stopping centerpiece.

Don't forget the greens.

While we favor olive branches at the ranch, oak, bay, and even fresh herbs offer a lovely contrast to fruits and florals. Whatever natural materials you bring together, your HARVEST Olive Oil Candle from ODE is a must for any fall gathering. Its intoxicating aroma reflects our favorite parts of autumn in California–seasonal botanicals and the cool ocean breeze.

Savor the season.

Once you've set the scene, treat guests to some of our favorite autumn-inspired recipes.

Appetizers

Roasted red pepper soup warms the soul. To get that delicious charred flavor, blister peppers directly on the flame. A goat cheese salad with lavender honey combines one of our favorite summer blooms–lavender–with our fall harvest go-to: grapes.

Main Course

Stick with the lavender theme by choosing pork shoulder with lavender, honey, and bay or embrace the olive harvest with Andalusian chicken with green olives.

Dessert

Take a classic cookie and kick it up a notch with these chocolate olive oil cookies. For an easy, "set it and forget it" type of dessert our streusel top spiced pear cookie bars are always a winner. For our favorite kind of sweet ending, pair grilled peaches with ice cream. Serve caramelized fruit halves right off the grill while the peaches are still warm, and don't forget to finish it with a drizzle of dulce de leche or better yet, a thread of our early harvest extra virgin olive oil. Make it next-level with a few flakes of Maldon salt.

Gather and glow.

In case you haven't convinced guests that you're the host with the most, send them home with a gift to celebrate the season. It will surely remind them of your memorable party and the magic of fall, all season long.

1. Take a photo of your DIY Harvest party featuring with your favorite ODE or McEvoy Ranch products.
2. Post to Instagram or Facebook.
3. Tag @odenaturalbeauty (on Instagram or Facebook) and the hashtag #ODEtoHarvest so we see it!
4. Tip: more photos = more entries!