Mike has proved himself in his middle age to be quite the gardener. On our previous farm he grew a plot with our occasional assistance. Hey, I had the barn to contend with, you know? Here’s a photo of our garden a few years back –
Since I am currently unemployed, I’ve decided to take gardening more seriously this year. We’ve got 43 farmable acres and Mike already has a corn field plan as well as the two smaller garden plots we installed last year right outside the back doors. I’m also planting blueberry and raspberry bushes – of which we had a profuse thicket at our previous home.
The first garden here….
And so…I am going to teach myself the art of canning (jarring?) because I love eating it and we grow it, so why not make it last? This winter has been brutal and it would have been nice to be able to go into the pantry and bring out jars of produce from last summer’s crops. Our garden was sparce last year, having been thrown together as we were moving in… However.. yesterday, the man brought home $300 worth of seeds, yup – $300. Three-Hundred. Three zero zero. In seeds.
So. …There’ll be alot of this going on in the coming months…
I'll come and help you can! It's hard work but very rewarding. I've found the most reliable source to be the 'Ball Blue Book of Canning'. My mother used hers and I've used mine for years! It's been updated and the recipes are tried and true.
Wow, that's a lot of seeds! A couple of my husband's sisters can and we get some as gifts. I have never tried myself. I just love that shot of your house. I will come live with you and help you out!
Well, I'm not a gardener, but my daughter is and she also cans. My Husband likes gardening, but attempted it in Maryland and everything was eaten up by the wild critters. We have more property here in Roanoke, but he seems to have lost interest. I'm hoping when he retires in two years that he will once again take up gardening.
I am, however, a distant relative of the Ball family… Ball canning jars. Cool, eh.
Um. I'm tired just thinking of all the work. The gardening, and then the canning. Or maybe I'm just lazy. Yeah, that's it.
I used to jar preserves in my younger years, and I've also frozen vegetables and put up peaches. I guess I thought it would be more fun. But it wasn't for me ~ sorry!
Such an awesome photo of your house and garden; so beautiful!
The extent of my canning – one year, for Christmas gifts, strawberry preserves. Everyone passed out from surprise!
Wish I had the "gift" but that gene passed me by. 🙂
I'm sort of envious of people who can can (haha). No really. I'd love to be that person. That person that just opens the cellar door and finds all sorts of treasured delicatessen there instead of junk once dumped there to be forgotten. It could be my goal in life to become that person. Perhaps this year? You could be my guiding light 😉 Good luck!
Nice garden Karen.
In my former life I was quite the vegi gardener and canner. I much preferred canning to freezing. I made pickles, saurkraut (spelling??), zuke preserves, and all sorts of nummy stuff. It was fun! And hard work.
I LOVED pulling out all my canned stuff in the winter. It was all so pretty and I knew exactly what we were eating. It was great.
You'll have a blast!
I have one word for you! FREEZE!
(This from your friend who can't bear another thing on her "to do" list!!!!)
In all honesty though? I grew up on a family farm and my parents had at least a 1/2 acre garden that took every second of my mother's summer. She did some canning in the beginning years but the freezer was what we ate out of for my whole childhood. Our own farm raised beef and pork, produced milk, cream and butter and we ate from the garden all winter from the freezer. I think after all the experimentation, she canned pickles and green tomatoes only. But you'll have fun!
What a great idea! We've tried to grow veggies before with little success. Our tomatoes always get bottom rot, though we do good with peppers, but that's about it! Maybe I'll try again this year and hopefully with better results!
When my parents retired, they moved from Southern California to Oregon. They bought a farm and have both an orchard and an extensive garden. I don't know how to can anything, but my mom cans a lot of stuff and stores if for winter. She also gives a lot to the organizations in their area that help the homeless. They always grow way more food than they need so it's a nice way to keep it from going to waste.
I can teach you how to make a mean Cherry Vodka….does that count?? vbg!
300 seeds??? That is ALOT of seeds!!
It will be a very busy summer for you!! Years ago…before we bought the cottage…we had a huge garden and loved the fresh produce! The gardens have all grown over as we just aren't around enough to devote time to them. It was one or the other and the cottage won.
We do frequent our local Farmer's Markets though and totally enjoy all the fresh produce from them!!
Oh Karen, that basil, oh! I could sure make a bunch of Pesto with that and it freezes, I wonder if you are going to make Tomato preserves, yummy.
You can also piclle the little green tomatoes or better yet Fried green tomatoes..Maybe I'll do a small garden this spring. NOT 300 packs of seeds.
yvonne
been there, done that. you're nuts.
love ya though!!!!!
With $300 in seeds, you're definitely going to have to learn how to can! 🙂 I can't wait to see what you grow. I love gardens!!
Have a great day.
Pam
I am new to canning, but boy did I have fun. The dill pickles were the best I ever had. I also made pepper relish which we pour over cream cheese. Yum!!! Planning on doing peach salsa, blueberry jam and pickled beets this summer.
I learned canning from my husband and my mother in law. It's great to have someone who can show you first hand, but I agree that The Ball Blue Book is a must for beginners or experts. 🙂
Oh- the back of your house facing the gardens is lovely…lovely indeed! We gardened a lot when I was a kid and my mother canned everything. When I was gardening-I froze a lot of produce..and haven't canned anything in years. It is a wonderful feeling to see all those jars glistening and lined up and shining with the fruits of your labor in them. Have fun…I'll wait to see your Fall pictures~ xxoo Diana
Canning is a great way to extend the garden season. Mom taught me how to can forty-four years ago and I love putting up food, eating said food and giving it as gifts. There's nothing that beats a hand made basket filled with home made bread and a jar of jam with a tea cloth. Sometimes I embroider the tea cloth and that adds to the love mix.
Yes to the Ball Blue Book but once you've mastered the, relatively simple, act of canning, branch out to conserves, jams, etc. Those are delish!
I always loved to garden…but we don't any more! There's nothing better than fresh out of the garden! Sounds like you have a lot to look forward to! We can all come and help harvest! heehee! ♥
I am not a gardener, but since moving back south have had this urge to garden! I am going to try a bit this year and see how quickly I kill it! I have no idea in the world how to can. I am no help at all, but can't wait to see what you do! This will be an adventure!
The photo of your garden with the house in the background, blows me away. Looks like its straight out of Home and Garden, or House beautiful magazine.
$300 of seeds? Aren't they like 75 cents for a little envelope? Holy cow.
I did some gardening and canning when I was younger but gradually stopped…now I am down to a few tomatos and lots of herbs…I love the raised beds you used and I will happily watch and read about you doing all that work:)
It's hard to say "$300.00" worth of seeds.. whow!
What kind of seeds? you did say he would plant corn and then what.. food for yourselves or the farmers market? I'd love to have some of your fresh produce!
Good luck with your garden, I'm envious!
Sandy
I used to can and love to eat frest produce. I should start a garden and get back into it.
Just haven't done it since moving to this house.
You have the perfect yard and land to do it.
I hope you reap much from your efforts!
I am gardening & I have been known to can….(even have the fair first place ribbons!) 🙂 When oh when are we finally getting together????
As a matter of fact , I am planning out the new gardens tonight!
Canning jars full of summer are the prettiest sight! Here's some inspiration for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-0ZCqga48
Freezing is good, too. But if your power goes out for any length of time you might lose it without a back-up generator.