When Audra Lawlor and her husband, Gerry, left New York City in 2011 for five acres on Washington's San Juan Islands, she wasn't sure how they were going to pay the mortgage. "But when I saw the property, with its raisedbed gardens and a stand of orchard trees, I just knew we needed to be here," says Audra.
The first summer, just one tree alone-a shiro plum-yielded 150 pounds of fruit. Audra bought a copper pot and started making jam infused with the garden's abundant mint. Friends urged her to sell it, but she resisted until she learned a key bit of history: In the late-1800s, the islands were a major fruit-producing region.
This story is from the June - July 2023 edition of Country Living.
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This story is from the June - July 2023 edition of Country Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FARM and AWAY
When your country cabin is in a place called Summertown, you better believe there's plenty of fresh-air fun to be had
Homegrown Branching Out
A cross-country move to Washington's San Juan Islands prompted Audra Query Lawlor to begin preserving the region's heritage, one jam jar at a time
Picnics & Parties Just Add Saltwater
At her 1930s converted fish camp in Savannah, designer Elizabeth Demos keeps it casual for a come-as-you-are evening down by the dock
In With the Old Swing Your Partner
Sashay your way to a striking display with colorful Western square dance memorabilia
Across the Pond - All Hands on Deck
When a family of creative spirits sets out to restore a centuries-old English boathouse, the result is a jaunty seaside sanctuary
Country Comeback Quilty Pleasures
Equally timeless and trendy, pieced and patchwork quilts are comfort food in coverlet form
Currently Craving A Party-Ready Outdoor Kitchen
Mallorie and Jim Rasberry of HGTV's Home Town serve up ample Southern style at their family cabin outside of Laurel, Mississippi
Perfectly Imperfect Creaky Screen Doors
Nothing complements the come-and-go casualness of summer like this mesh mainstay
No Place Like Home
A worn and weathered set of skeleton keys represents a rich life under one roof.
Hide-and-Seek
Patience proves paramount when author Tove Danovich's feisty flock of backyard hens sends her on an unconventional egg hunt.
