A Krautfest Rhyme.
Once upon a time
in a neighborhood by a lake,
a group of friends gathered.
There was saurkraut to make.
500 pounds of cabbage
was cleaned and quartered and chopped.
Then young and old, expert and new,
sliced it down – they couldn’t be stopped.
Once sliced it went
to the station to be weighed.
Salt was added.
It’s how you make homemade.
Into crocks and buckets
it went to be pound.
It starts the fermentation
and keeps it safe and sound.
No krautfest could ever
be quite complete
without hugs and laughs and games
and plenty of treats to eat.
There was a tub of apples
waiting for kids to bob.
While others were pressed into juice,
which many found to be a fun job.
After working and eating and drinking
away the day,
evening arrived,
and instruments were brought out to play.
Singing with friends,
(only some truly in tune)
is surely the best way
to end a krautfest afternoon.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Thanks so much and mostest
to our amazing hosts and hostesses.
Love you Joyce and Rob and Nikole and Michael
for continuing the annual krautfest cycle!
If you would like to see previous years’ Krautfests, feel free to click HERE and HERE and HERE.
Love these kind of traditional festivals especially in the fall. Lots of fun and it brings everyone together in harmony (young and old) working on one major goal that all can feel a part of..
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Yesss! ☺️👍❤️🍂🍁
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how fun and special is that!! The best of life!!!
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So fun and special!!
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What a cheerful event the krautfest is! I like your pictures showing in detail the process of making sauerkraut, Jodi.
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It is something I truly look forward to every year!!
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Who knew that making slaw could be so much fun. Great pictures.
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We can make anything fun! LOL! 🙂
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What a great day at the lake! Thanks for posting all the photos!
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A great day indeed!
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Looks like such a fun day with family and friends! Loved the rhyming poem!
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Thanks PJ! So much Fun!!
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It looks like a lot of fun!! 😜❤️🤓
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What a great annual tradition to bring friends, family and neighbors together!
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It really really is 🙂
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It looked like it was a fun, fun, fun day!
Will, there be any Kraut left for New Years Day or will it just be ready then?
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It will be PERFECT for New Years! 🙂
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And way better on your hot dogs than the bottled brand I buy to have our annual Good Luck dinner on New Year’s Day.
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Yes! Wish I could share with you.
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Wow wonderful Jodi!
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Sooo much Fun and LOVE!
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Such fun and food, Jodi! Who eats five hundred pounds of cabbage? Are there Germans in attendance? 😎🙏🏻❤️
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LOL! Lots of people take bucketsful home and then let it ferment and eat throughout the year and give to friends, etc. It’s wonderful. Plenty of Italians and Polish and Germans and everything else 🙂 All having fun and bonding ❤
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That’s so cool. I recall you doing this last year too I think. I don’t like the stuff, too sour. Love your art and blog Jodi! ❤️
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Thanks John!!
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Looks very fun 🙂
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It really is – and full of love and rich in tradition – and old and young learn and come together 🙂
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Oh, what a wonderful tradition & event! Young & old, it looks like a fabulous way to spend the day!
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SOOO Much FUN!!
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You are the poet laureate of the cabbage kingdom, a title of which there is no equal! The making of sauerkraut was a time honored tradition in southeastern Pennsylvania when I was a child. The Pennsylvania Dutch loved their pork and sauerkraut, it was the traditional New Year’s Day feast…no turkey or ham appeared on that day. Though I was never a part of something as fine as your Krautfest, my Gram had a day of sauerkraut making with family and neighbors when the cabbages were ready for picking. I remember the old wood cabbage cutters and stompers, the layers of cabbage & salt in huge heavy crocks, cheesecloth & plate & heavy rock on top. It took several weeks to ferment and then it was jarred. Gram used to tell us that this was a tradition that bound the past, present and future together. Now, I did not recall a post about a Krautfest last year. So, I checked the 3 previous year posts…2014, 2015, 2016 and no 2017 there. Then, I went to the archives for October 2017 and while it was a lovely visit (especially the 10th)…no Krautfest. I knew that I would have remembered a celebration of the noble cabbage being krauted. I’m also craving a pumpkin snickerdoodle too. Thank-you!
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Yesssss! You totally get it! Oh how you would enjoy! And I snitch tastes almost daily as it is fermenting !! 😉👍🍁🍂❤️
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And what will become of this kraut made with such festivity???
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Everyone takes a crock or bucket home and let’s it ferment, then cans or freezes it for the whole year to eat and shre with others 🙂
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Beautiful. Just beautiful.
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Wow enjoyed seeing your photos Jodi, thanks for sharing. 😀 So wonderful!
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Glad you enjoyed Snehal. We sure enjoyed the day!! 🙂
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Looks so much fun! I’ve never heard of this. I have never tried sauerkraut.
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I’m always sooo surprised to hear people say they never tried saurkraut!!
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I don’t particularly like pickled items except pickles. I guess I should try it and let you know.
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What fun, Jodi!!!
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Thanks – it really was!
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That is a lot of cabbage! That Festival look like so much fun, Jodi! I have a Smiles on my face after reading your post. Thank you! 😁
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Now thats something I’ve never seen..;)
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oh george – it is a wonderful event!
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Looks like a fun day had by all! 😃 Love your poem, Jodi – so creative! 👍
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thanks Jill – it is one of my favorite days of the year!
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Love your cute poem, you’ve filmed the story, then told the story & filmed, and retold the story & filmed. The only way to go creative was to poem & film the story. But then you added a bonus video for sound. Feel like I was there. Went back to view them all, Loved the food, the activities for kids in both learning the tradition of kraut & apple cider making, but also the old fashion games of pickup sticks & lawn bowling. Your documentation is wonderful, loved seeing the antique (modern) versions of the apple press & the graters. The children will remember the event and tell stories of the music & and the fun & the hard work. Who know Jodie it may be an inspiration for a new childrens book for you. Filled with watercolor moments showing painted pumpkins, kids swinging, and dessert tables & antique machines. Loved that you shared this beautiful event.
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hmmmm… that is an interesting though for a children’s book idea! oh dena – you would love this event so much! full of tradition and unity and all ages sharing in the same activity and making something from scratch and just so much! it truly is one of my favorite days of the year!!
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What fun! Don’t see this type of neighborhood festivals much anymore! 🙂
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I know… a sad thing…..
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Yes, very sad…I’ve been to a few – but many years ago…I’ve been in my present neighborhood over 14 years and only know one other couple socially – pretty surprising…no one even goes outside anymore!
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Seems the way it is so often. Maybe you could start something different. ☺️
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What a wonderful neighborhood tradition!
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It really is. ☺️
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As the Beach Boys would say–“fun fun fun!” I love sauerkraut too. Fun and delicious as well! (K)
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👍😉🍁🍂
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This is delightful. I love this peak into your hometown life.
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Thanks so much Shelly. It is an amazing celebration.
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