The Curated Harvest

Author: mellissahjade

  • Pumpkin Carving and Family Connection

    Pumpkin Carving and Family Connection

    🎃 Halloween with Mindful Purpose

    In our home, we celebrate Halloween. Naturally, with an American husband, it’s a tradition he grew up with. It’s one we like to bring into our lives here in Australia.

    Growing up, Halloween wasn’t really a thing for me, though we’d still give it a go. I mean, who wouldn’t want free lollies? However, I think I got told to “rack off” more times than I actually got lollies!

    The Great Pumpkin Lesson (Australian Edition)

    Fast-forward a few years, and Halloween looks very different in Australia. It’s far more celebrated now, but our seasons still make things… interesting.

    I’ll never forget carving pumpkins with the kids when we lived up North in Moranbah —mind you, it was almost 40°C (104°F). I proudly placed my beautifully carved pumpkin outside the front door. Within twelve hours, it had shriveled to the size of a tennis ball. It looked like a witch.

    A true lesson in celebrating an American tradition in the Australian heat! These days, I carve closer to Halloween and keep them indoors where they stand a fighting chance.

    Decorating with Purpose

    The shops are overflowing with Halloween décor. It’s plastic, cheap, and often broken before the night’s even over. So, I’ve made a habit of decorating with more intention.

    But be warned, people , pumpkins here in Australia are charged by the kilo! So, if you see a sign that says “$4 a pumpkin,” that’s per kilo, not for the whole pumpkin. I learned that one the hard way. I piled my trolley high, feeling very pleased with myself. I nearly fainted at the checkout when my “bargain pumpkins” cost a small fortune.

    Now, I choose just a few good ones and make them count. It’s simpler, less wasteful, and still feels festive without going overboard.

    Plus did you know that pumpkin seeds are a great natural worming and parasite deterrent for our chicken friends ? Yep , I googled that one myself.

    A Beautifully Screen-Free Activity

    Carving pumpkins has become one of my favorite Halloween traditions. It’s not just about decorating—it’s about slowing down, using your hands, and thinking creatively. It’s one of those rare, beautiful screen-free activities that brings everyone together.

    And yes, as tempting as it might be, try to avoid the Google templates (or asking ChatGPT for the perfect design 😉). Let the kids use what their brains are designed to do: imagine and create .

    Hand them a pencil and paper, and let their imagination go wild.

    A Little Tip for Busy Parents

    If you’re making dinner and need to keep little hands busy, ask the kids to start drawing their pumpkin faces. Silly, spooky, smiley—whatever comes to mind!

    When it’s time to carve, hand them the tools (safely, of course) and let them do it. It’s going to get messy, they’ll make mistakes, and that’s okay. That’s how they learn—through creativity, risk, and problem-solving. You don’t need to do it for them.

    Keeping It Simple, Meaningful, and Fun

    You don’t have to go over the top to bring Halloween spirit into your home. A mindful, purposeful approach can create just as much fun—and maybe even more calm and connection along the way.

    So this year, skip the plastic, grab a few pumpkins, and create something real, together. No screens required. 🎃

    The Curated Harvest x

  • A little Slice of Calm in Palmwoods

    A little Slice of Calm in Palmwoods

    The General Store Palmwoods

    Nestled in the beautiful little hinterland town of Palmwoods is where you’ll find one of my favourite stores — The General Store Palmwoods.

    It’s one of those places where, as soon as you walk in, your eyes don’t know where to look first. Every corner is filled with the most carefully selected homewares . From beautiful, scented candles to soft textiles and handmade clay pieces. The kind that tells a story and last a lifetime. The epitome of calm.

    You can tell the owner Katrina has created this space with heart and intention. Every piece has been chosen with care, crafted to a high standard, and made with quality. You can sense the love and thought that’s gone into curating it all .The kind of place where you slow down without even realising your doing it.

    a lady sitting in a moody room working with her hands making clay

    The General Store isn’t just about beautiful things (though, trust me, there are plenty). It’s about connection with creativity, with people, and with the simple pleasure of slowing down. A space not only to find stunning home decor but also to connect and create through workshops.

    One of my favorites is Hound and Clay. I had the joy of attending one of Annita’s workshops , and it was divine. Sitting in a space, phones down, connecting with those around you, moving slowly and intentionally with your hands . The way our bodies were truly designed to work. It reminded me how healing it can be to just be . To focus, create, and breathe.

    clay workshop

    I love finding fellow creatives. I also love discovering places that encourage you to slow down. These places allow you to truly connect with those around you. And this is one of those rare places that does exactly that.

    moody store filled with homewares
    a lady picking up baskets

    The General Store, Palmwoods, is more than just a shop. It’s a reminder to live slowly and create intentionally and fill your space with meaning.

    https://www.instagram.com/thegeneralstorepalmwoods?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXgwNTQ1amg0cDQ5Ng==

    The Curated Harvest

  • Batman Chickens

    Batman Chickens

    Bantam chicken being help by owner in a moody style photo
    All images taken by Melissah Yount .

    The Batman Chicken

    When we first moved to the farm, I had this romantic idea. I imagined our kids would grow up surrounded by animals. They would enjoy wide open spaces and the experiences you just can’t get from a screen. I wanted them to learn by doing. I wanted them to feel dirt under their nails. I wanted them to understand what it means to care for something living.

    So, before I’d even unpacked the boxes, I decided our first step toward “farm life” would be chickens.

    The only problem? I knew absolutely nothing about chickens.

    Naturally, I turned to the best source of advice (and sometimes chaos) Facebook. Someone there offered me a few Bantam chickens. But reading it super fast I thought it read ” Batman chickens for sale”.

    Off we went as a family, excited and slightly clueless. Our little “Batman” chickens were boxed up in the backseat after collection. We stopped at the local produce store in our new town. We needed to grab some feed and supplies.

    I asked the lady behind the counter if she had anything for baby chickens. She smiled and asked what breed I had.

    “Batman chickens,” I said proudly.

    She paused. “Sorry, what was that?”

    “Batman,” I repeated, completely confident.

    Trying to hold back her laughter, she asked if she could see one. So out I went to the car, came back holding my chicken, and that was it ,she lost it. Laughter, before she asked if she could take a photo of me and my chicken for their Facebook page. She then told me they were in fact Bantam chickens, not batman.

    Later that night, I checked Facebook… and there I was ,smiling, holding my chicken, under the caption:

    “Meet our newest local, who came in to buy supplies for her Batman chicken!”

    That was my warm (and humbling) welcome to our new local town and the start of our farm journey.

    two fresh eggs held in the hands

    Unfortunately, my “Batman” chickens didn’t last long. Lesson number one of farm life ….make sure your coop is snake-proof.

    Really snake proof! A snake got into ours one afternoon and took my daughter’s favourite chicken. It couldn’t get back out, so it regurgitated it and slithered away, leaving behind a heartbreaking mess and more .

    Our daughter was only eight at the time and absolutely devastated. So, naturally, we had our first farm funeral.

    Under the big white jacaranda tree, we dug a hole. I couldn’t bring myself to bury the poor chicken as our dogs would’ve dug it up. So after speaking to my sister on the phone she suggested I fill a box with rice. It was beautifully wrapped with a bow and dried flowers. I made it heavy enough to seem believable. The little chicken went into a Coles bag and in the bin. Sorry Chickie !

    As my husband said some sweet words about “Chickie,” our daughter threw strawberries and carrots into the grave onto the box. I suddenly thought about the fact that we were burying a box of rice. I burst out laughing.

    My daughter spun around, horrified, and glared at me through tears.

    I quickly composed myself and said, “I just get really emotional sometimes at these things.”

    That was the first of many moments that would teach us what life on land is really about. These moments are messy, funny, heartbreaking, and real.

    In a world that’s constantly chasing perfection and convenience, farm life has taught me the opposite. It’s about learning as you go. Find humour in the mistakes. Hold onto those imperfect, unforgettable memories. These become the heart of family life. I still laugh knowing that a box of rice is buried deep under that tree.

    The Curated Harvest x

  • The Dessert That Brought Two Countries Together.

    The Dessert That Brought Two Countries Together.

    Image taken by Melissah Yount

    There is something special about cooking in a farmhouse kitchen with family gathered close . The smells , the conversations and everyone learning ways from old traditions to new . That’s when food becomes more than just food , it becomes a memory, connection and tradition all in one.

    In today’s world , we’re all about convenience . Everything in packets , takeaways and Uber Eats straight to your door with a click of a button. So many families are losing the art of slowing down. They are not cooking together anymore. As a result, they are no longer passing those traditions and skills onto the next generations.

    The Yount Family Farm House in Indiana

    In this little farmhouse kitchen in December 2023 I got to bring a piece of my home land with me. How ?

    Through the art of food.

    • Sheppards Pie
    • Caramel Tart
    • Classic Meat Pie
    • Sausage Rolls

    And of course my father in-laws (Papaws) favourite .. the Pavlova !

    moody images of home made pies in a farmhouse kitchen

    In sunny Queensland Australia , we are spoiled with the abundance of seasonal fresh fruit all year long. From mangoes, to passionfruit , kiwi fruit, peaches , pears and pineapples like the list is endless . I grew up only knowing one way to top a Pavlova … fresh cream and sliced tropical fresh fruit . You can not have a Pavlova without the next toppings..

    • cream
    • passion fruit pulp
    • pear
    • peaches
    • kiwi
    • strawberries
    • bananas
    Image taken by Melissah Yount

    However, in December in Indiana there isn’t a whole variety to choose from. While the kids and I waited patiently for snow flutters to fall, I reconsidered my toppings. I had to rely on what I collected from the local Walmart. Luckily, I found a small bunch of berries. They cost an arm and a leg with inflation and the conversion rate but worth every cent . I know some people maybe thinking what about fruit in a can? Yes we use fruit in a can in Australian but I found they are not the same. Ours are in juices and theirs are in a sugar syrup. Great for a peach cobbler not for a pavlova.

    So in the end, we went with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and fresh berries dusted in sugar. We added a little piece of rosemary for a pop of contrasting colour. It’s not the Pavlova I grew up making but it’s who I made it for and who I share it with .

    moody pictures of food .

    That’s the gift of food made whole for people you love. It adapts. It travels. It gathers everyone around the table. We need to slow down and start bringing our family and children back to the table. So traditions are not lost in the busyness of this ever growing convenient world .

    Melissah x

  • Transform Your Home With Free Styling Elements

    Transform Your Home With Free Styling Elements

    What do you envision when styling your home ? Do you imagine the piles of shopping bags or mounting boxes delivered straight to your door . Endlessly getting emails with 25% or 50% sales. The millions of junk emails you’re collecting from all the online receipts . Going to the busy shops with kids in tow . Or scrolling your phones and losing track of time . Suddenly, you realise three hours have passed while looking at social media for inspiration to style a room . Where did the time just go ? Or good old decision fatigue can be so overwhelming. You search for those perfect pieces in a world of millions of passing pictures. All it takes is a swift swipe of a finger , and no I’m not talking about Tinder .

    The most timeless styling elements don’t come from stores or online at all. They come from outside your door.

    The Most Underrated Styling Pieces are Free

    Branches , wildflowers , seed pods , herbs , grasses, or even fallen pieces of drift wood. Natures offerings , endlessly beautiful , and the best part its free . Let’s be honest the cost of styling homes has gone through the roof post COVID among other things . Prices for simple decor are often outrageous , while cheaper items lack longevity and quickly break . For me I would rather add in the variety of both found and brought . Forage on our property or wander through op shops.

    Those second hand treasures, like bowls, jugs, vessels, and baskets, often carry craftsmanship. This quality was once the normal. I combine what I gather from nature and then they become styling pieces with soul. They are not just things to be consumed and later on in land fill. They are bits and pieces saved from going in and given new life.

    For me, this practice involves wandering our property with snips in hand. I gather branches to place in jugs. I cut herbs from our veggie garden for the kitchen. I also collect citrus to style tables in summer.

    Styling with nature isn’t just about beauty , it’s about mindful consumption. It reminds us we don’t always need to buy something brand new .. just because we can. Instead we can forage , gather , and let our homes breathe with the landscape around us.

    The more we practice this, the less we crave constant consumption. Nature gives us what shops can’t … connection, presence, and the quiet beauty already all around us. That’s the real dopamine hit there .

    5 Ways to Style Your Home with Nature

    1. Gather branches and twigs that look unique and catch your eyes . Yes I have pulled my car over before on the side of the road for a good stick. Place them in jars, jugs, or vases. This creates an instant seasonal centerpiece. Alternatively, use them as features on walls like our bedroom in the image above. Just make sure you get all the spiders out first .
    2. Collect windflowers or garden blooms . Even the smallest bunch in a jar or mug can bring so much colour and life to a room .
    3. Herbs from your garden . Fresh herbs like thyme , lavender or rosemary are not just pretty but smell amazing. Hang them upside down with some twine to dry in the kitchen .They smell great but also give a whole gourmet vibe to your kitchen .
    4. Pine cones , seedpods, and dried grasses . Scattered in bowels or trays or tie into a simple garland .
    5. Second hand treasures . Hunt ops jobs locally for a natural curated look that last . Even better you’re supporting a charity when you do and they are never crowded .

    I hope this very first blog inspires you to pause. Notice the simple, organic materials that are all around you. The ones that ask for nothing, yet give so much in return. Moments in nature and the gentle reminder to look up again.

    ” ALWAYS BE INSPIRED BY THE BEAUTY JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR “

    The Curated Harvest x