For many of us it is that time of the year! Fresh produce and gardens are every where. I love it. Things seem to be moving a little slower than normal here - but they are moving in the right direction.
I have zucchini out the wazoo - but that is OK. I could sure have worse problem! LOL. I won't go hungry and I am working on gifting and using.
I know many can not have gardens. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy fresh goodies. Weekend farm markets seem to abound. There are farm stands and farmers that can be visited. Think about your local orchards - they most often carry all kinds of garden produce as well. I know ours does.
We also have a place that is big and not far from my home called Waterman's Farm Market. They grow fields of goodies and buy from others and they have a nice stand (building) that you can visit most of the year. They also sell jams, jellies, salsa, and other goodies. Check your area for different options.
Fresh is so good and yummy.
IF you possible can - put some back for the winter months. Can or freeze anything and everything you can find.
Start watching around your neighborhoods for fruit trees, wild grapes and walnut trees. There is one in our alley and it is loaded! Barter with others or just say a little prayer that family and friends SHARE with you!
These charts have been printed here before, but I think they may help someone again. Always good info to know.
These charts help figure out how much you need for your family. How much for canning.
I hope this helps someone.
I love this time of the year and all the options we have.
I have heard a lot about shortages and such because of weather. SHOP LOCAL when possible. I just heard on our local news yesterday that corn and soy bean crops in our area at producing at 90%+. This is being considered an excellent year here, despite the cool weather we had, the rain and now the heat. We are fortunate - I know not all areas are.
Get what you can fresh and local. It is by far the best!!!
Enjoy your garden yummies!!!
This is one of the things I am so thankful for. Growing up, my grandparents had a small farm and kept a garden strictly to provide fresh produce for their family. But, they had friends that had larger farms and could get reasonably priced bushels of whatever and we'd have canning sessions at their house. While I learned the basics when I was a kid, I picked it back up as an adult. I've lived in the City for 40+ years now and those roots now carry me back every summer. I put up probably 20 pints of tomatoes -- crushed or whole, around 18 pints of spaghetti sauce, regular tomato sauce, various pickles, a couple of savory jams, as well as regular jams, and both grape and cranberry juice. I use pints and smaller, rather than quarts, because it's just me. When it comes to my budget, it is so much cheaper to grab a pint or two of home-canned tomatoes for a batch of chili, rather than have to buy it at the grocery store. AND, I know what's in it (and can pronounce everything that would be on the label). And, it's kind of fun to take a back roads drive on a Saturday or Sunday in farm country and stop at all of the roadside stands, knowing that you're getting something freshly picked and also supporting an independent small farmer. I'm now in a townhome and can only container garden. That's where I grow my produce and for daily consumption and herbs for drying. It all works out.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years back, I asked a classmate that is still in my hometown area if he could recommend someone who had juice grapes available for the public (most grape farms in my hometown area are contracted to Welch's and can't sell ANYTHING to the public), and he referred me to someone he knows (my friend repairs tractors and other farm equipment), with a "tell her I said hello." I've gone back there numerous times for apples, grapes, and other fruit and vegetables, and she always asks me about HIM, wanting to know if he is still single. Ha ha!!!! Trying to fix us up ... But I always get a good deal from her and will continue to stop there. So, talk with friends who live in the country and get recommendations on who has what, who uses the best practices, who NEEDS your business ... and explore your community.
It is neat how our backgrounds come back to us in some way as we get older and lessons taught were well learned!
DeleteI love having my 'own'. Nothing tastes fresher - even if home canned. You are so right - you know what is in it.
If we just ask questions of family, friends, neighbors we can gain powerful knowledge. It is nice to know that others have small farms that help us all. I love that.
Out Saturday markets at the park are just small local famers selling their goods. Picked that morning! Sure not like the stores.
I love my garden as you know. I love going out and picking dinner. One time when my mom and dad were still alive, I went out and picked dinner and they were so surprised. They did not garden.. We had purple potatoes, fresh sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, cucumber salad. Then a small piece of meat, I think they were impressed!
ReplyDeleteIt is just the coolest thing ever to walk out and pick groceries. Glad your Mom and Dad got to see that!!!
DeletePicked my first cherry tomatoes this week. Ate them still hot from the garden. So good!!
ReplyDeleteGot my first 2 as well!!!!! Yum is all I can say!!!!!
DeleteWe have been getting cherry tomatoes every day and enjoying them immensely.
ReplyDeleteYAY - lucky you!!! Bites of veggie candy!
DeleteWe are growing squirrel kibble here this year. They have gotten almost all the tomatoes. Stopped at a local stand today and got SC peaches. YUM!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. That is why I keep food and WATER out for the squirrels. They are after the water in tomatoes.
DeleteSo far so good.
Peaches sound good - keep thinking about going to the orchard.
We do too and it has not slowed them down a bit.
DeleteSorry!!!!!!
DeleteI THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR YOU TO MAKE SOME OF YOUR CANNED GOODS TO SELL AT THE LOCAL MARKETS. I LIKE YOU ON A FIXED INCOME. YOU HAVE THE SKILLS OTHER PEOPLE WILL PAY FOR. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR BLESSINGS
ReplyDeleteThank you. I could do that - but I think it would take the fun out of it. I like to can for myself and my family, that is enough for me!
DeleteFresh produce from your own backyard is the best. For those who garden, there are some veg that can still be planted in August and have a harvest before frost.
ReplyDeleteI went out to let the dogs in and it is like an oven out there. The rain seemed to stay north of us. We will use the rain barrels to water in the morning.
Backyard food is the best! I may plant some lettuce soon.
DeleteIt is glorious this morning - what a cool down and change over night.
While I love this time of year, I am also glad when all is harvested, processed and I can sit back and look at my results and just say another good year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I agree. It is nice to have all the fresh - but it is work. Yes it is nice to sit back and enjoy the 'fruits' of your labors.
DeleteI gave up after one season of feeding squirrels, bunnies, and chipmunks or whatever ate every single thing I planted except two grape tomatoes and two tiny squash!
ReplyDeleteOh no!!! That is a shame. Hoping you can still get fresh goodies at the farm markets.
DeleteMy small garden gave & is giving me enough to eat fresh. The heat and bugs have gotten the cucumbers and squash and pumpkins. The salsa peppers and tomatoes are just coming on. I've had tomatoes in my salads but will have to "beg" for canning tomatoes. I don't mind the lack as we are eating from the pantry and I want to keep the home-canned goods in rotation. I did buy 2 lugs of Colorado peaches yesterday and will be canning & freezing those for this winter.
ReplyDeleteI keep telling my kids to stock up and they poo-poo me. I will continue to tell them as I can't feed all of us for very long even with my deep pantry.