I love this time of year. There are fruits and veggies everywhere. My kitchen table and counters are covered in the most beautiful things. I can go to the local farm and get their special baskets of fruits for canning, or pick my own straight from the bush or tree. The smells in my kitchen are intoxicating.
I start to feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder. The imagery in her books of food and food storage is inspiring. I always wanted to play in the attic with the pumpkins and hams, and braids of onions and garlic. It sounds like heaven to me. Increasingly, my summers are about storing things for the long winter. No longer do we run off to the grocery store whenever the mood strikes for raspberries in January. Now I try to plan for those things in August.
This week tomatoes are coming on strong in my garden. Once we got the taste for homegrown, home canned tomatoes, we just couldn't go back. Last year's tomato blight was devastating. We are determined never to eat another industrially canned food again. The beauties above will be enjoyed all year in our house. I can feel fall coming on and it makes me more determined to fill the pantry.
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12 comments:
Hi Heather what farm do you get your canning fruit from? I priced Wards Berry farm for blueberries and peaches, it was $35 for a box of peaches or 12 pints of blueberries. Have you found better prices?
We have gone completely organic with our diet. It's amazing how much better you feel. After only two weeks, my asthma seems to be gone. I no longer need my daily prevenative medicine. Previously, we didn't eat much processed or store boughten fruits & veggies. I guess there were just enough chemicals in the little we were eating to affect me.
Keep on canning and preserving!!
Kerry, I got them from CN Smith. They have 20 lb baskets of canning peaches for $12. They aren't perfect and pretty, but they cook up nicely. The blueberries were PYO at 3.20 a lb.
Robin, we don't eat all organic, but as much as possible. The farm I go to isn't organic, but don't seem to be using crazy amounts of chemicals either. Eventually, I hope to grow more here at home. Home is 100% organic.
Organic isn't always better b/c the "organic" chemicals aren't tested nor regulated as much as the other's are. "Natural" does not equal "Safe". You should look for a place that uses "Integrated Pest Management" practices. Yes, they may use regular chemicals but using IPM they use only as necessary and as little as possible.
My garden is organic solely b/c little boys can wander through it. The farm, is not.
Dh found a couple of ripe tomatoes in the patch in the field. So in a couple of weeks I should be canning. It's a lot of work, but I've missed having the jars in the basement.
I've been busy "squirreling" food away as well. This is a busy season indeed, but I love it.
-Brenda
farmwifetwo,
I think there's a difference between organic and "natural." Natural seems to be really misused as a claim. But organic has to meet pretty rigorous standards.
Organic is certainly over used. I think the point is to try to stay away from foods that are grown with fewer chemicals over all, no matter what the chemicals.
Farmwife, it won't be long until you're swimming in tomatoes!
Brenda, it is a wonderful, busy time of year. I love it!
Karen Anne, good point.
Great reminder to be thinking about winter while we enjoy the summer! Thanks for contributing to Simple Lives Thursday!
I love that feeling of having the garden provide almost more than I can keep up with. There really is not a better feeling than looking at jars of finished canned produce on the counter and in the pantry and a freezer full of good food.
I'm working on being a squirrel too. I think I'm going to be doing a much better job at it than last year.
Alicia, thanks!
Laura, I could sit and stare at my filled jars for hours. They are just so beautiful.
Daphne, last year was such a bust. I'm so happy to have such a wonderful year now. I'm socking away as much as possible.
Oh, how sweet it is to have your own garden:)
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