If there was one word to describe the change of seasons, as we leave the long days of summer behind and settle into the darker days of fall, it might be “warmth.” Thick sweaters, blazing fires and turning back the clocks go hand in hand with all things cozy . . . including cocktails.

Down a long, bumpy, Chilmark road Truman French and Tucker Pforzheimer are at work on a small-scale, massively ambitious venture to cultivate, harvest, sell and promote one of the world’s healthiest foods.

In a restaurant, plating is the last step for the kitchen and the first impression for the customer. All the planning, ordering, prepping, cooking and executing culminates in a few final moments when the meat is seared and set, the veggies are ready, the sauce is up and there is nothing left for a chef to do except arrange the food on the plate and summon the server.

On an island with a strong and vibrant do-it-yourself ethos, it’s no surprise to discover that the grow-your-own food movement has expanded into the beverage world, with a small group of home brew enthusiasts experimenting with their own, varied beer-brewing interests and specialties.

Last summer my husband and I wanted to try a new Island restaurant, but unpredictable work schedules are not conducive to well-planned date nights. It was the middle of the week, albeit in August, and we were just hoping for a quick dinner before a movie. Without time to make a reservation, we took our walk-in chances.

One person’s indulgence is another’s convenience and, after all, Martha’s Vineyard is no stranger to excess in the summertime. But more visitors looking to spend more money in the name of creating a memorable vacation is excellent news for Island workers, who also have an agenda during the on-season.

On Martha’s Vineyard, where the grocery stores proudly sell Island-grown meat and kids plant veggies at school, growing one’s own food is hardly breaking news. But some Islanders have taken this Do-It-Yourself impulse a step further by designing and building their own kitchen equipment, from solar ovens to industrial smokers. And while they’re hard at work pumping out great meals, (in most cases using only the freshest, most-local ingredients), these homegrown slow cookers are also busy building another Island-inspired tradition: community.

Salted lamb, Hanukkah prayers, scary jello rings — many holiday traditions are handed down through generations but for some young Island families, new ones take their place.