Comments on: Preserving the Harvest http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:56:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steph @ Greening Families http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134688 Steph @ Greening Families Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:12:52 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134688 We found a great recipe for <a HREF="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1065500" rel="nofollow">simple pickling in Cooking Light</a>. Now our kids cheer when they see okra in our CSA box! We found a great recipe for simple pickling in Cooking Light. Now our kids cheer when they see okra in our CSA box!

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134592 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:26:44 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134592 Great tips! Don't want to lose the fruits of my labors . . . Great tips! Don’t want to lose the fruits of my labors . . .

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134534 Kathryn Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:19:55 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134534 So many wonderful ideas here! I'd love to point out something about the food dehydrator, though. While it's true that it requires an initially high investment, I've found that it's a product that really saves you money over time. This is true of a lot of these other methods as well, of course, since they let you buy in bulk and preserve foods but for me the dehydrator has really provided a range of food options that some of the other methods have not. I've even used it to make money by sellign dried goods which are really popular around here! So many wonderful ideas here! I’d love to point out something about the food dehydrator, though. While it’s true that it requires an initially high investment, I’ve found that it’s a product that really saves you money over time. This is true of a lot of these other methods as well, of course, since they let you buy in bulk and preserve foods but for me the dehydrator has really provided a range of food options that some of the other methods have not. I’ve even used it to make money by sellign dried goods which are really popular around here!

]]> By: E. L. http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134295 E. L. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:47:26 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134295 I've been canning & preserving for about 50 years. The first 20 years most of my produce was purchased at the farmers market or from the field where we picked our own. We raised our own beef, pork & poultry for the freezer, milked our own cow & always had fresh eggs. I churned and cooked & baked from scratch & still do. When I remarried my husband had & still has about a 1/2 acre in garden (He is 75 years old & still works part time, also). I can tomatoes, juice, sauce, make sauerkraut. can corn, beets, carrots, beans, peas, make pickles, can & freeze pears & peaches (when someone doesn't come in at night & clean out our tree). I freeze wild dewberries, make mustang grape juice & jelly, wild plum juice & jelly & freeze figs & make fig preserves. We have our own onions & potatoes each year until almost time to harvest again. I also dry onions & cabbage. When I catch a good sale I dry celery,mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower & am willing to try dehydrating almost anything that we enjoy. We don't care for the taste of home canned potatoes and I've had no luck with getting a decent dried product from them. I do dry squash, green peppers and fruits also. Canning your own beef, pork, poultry,soups, stews, & chili for quick meals is time consuming, but oh so worth it. Recipes for these things are in your Ball Blue Book of canning & preserving or go to the University of Georgia site for USDA approved canning information. Just be sure you follow the guidelines for SAFE canning. Botulism has no smell or tast, but is deadly. A person can get almost all of the equipment needed for any type of food preservation at thrift stores, garage sales & estate sales for very reasonable prices or check your local ReUseIt group for free items. Research what is needed & know what to buy & what you're buying. You may get stuck with things that don't work occasionaly, but you can still come out ahead if you always check out the item carefully, including plugging in those electrical appliances to check them out before you buy. Sorry to get so wound up, but I am very passionate about this subject and firmly believe that everyone should be as self sufficent as possible (I'm almost 70 years old & still work part time). This allows you to be in charge of your own health & works wonders for your financial health. I’ve been canning & preserving for about 50 years. The first 20 years most of my produce was purchased at the farmers market or from the field where we picked our own. We raised our own beef, pork & poultry for the freezer, milked our own cow & always had fresh eggs. I churned and cooked & baked from scratch & still do.

When I remarried my husband had & still has about a 1/2 acre in garden (He is 75 years old & still works part time, also). I can tomatoes, juice, sauce, make sauerkraut. can corn, beets, carrots, beans, peas, make pickles, can & freeze pears & peaches (when someone doesn’t come in at night & clean out our tree). I freeze wild dewberries, make mustang grape juice & jelly, wild plum juice & jelly & freeze figs & make fig preserves. We have our own onions & potatoes each year until almost time to harvest again. I also dry onions & cabbage. When I catch a good sale I dry celery,mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower & am willing to try dehydrating almost anything that we enjoy. We don’t care for the taste of home canned potatoes and I’ve had no luck with getting a decent dried product from them. I do dry squash, green peppers and fruits also. Canning your own beef, pork, poultry,soups, stews, & chili for quick meals is time consuming, but oh so worth it. Recipes for these things are in your Ball Blue Book of canning & preserving or go to the University of Georgia site for USDA approved canning information. Just be sure you follow the guidelines for SAFE canning. Botulism has no smell or tast, but is deadly.
A person can get almost all of the equipment needed for any type of food preservation at thrift stores, garage sales & estate sales for very reasonable prices or check your local ReUseIt group for free items. Research what is needed & know what to buy & what you’re buying. You may get stuck with things that don’t work occasionaly, but you can still come out ahead if you always check out the item carefully, including plugging in those electrical appliances to check them out before you buy.

Sorry to get so wound up, but I am very passionate about this subject and firmly believe that everyone should be as self sufficent as possible (I’m almost 70 years old & still work part time). This allows you to be in charge of your own health & works wonders for your financial health.

]]> By: Michael http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134290 Michael Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:49:23 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134290 Pickles can't be that hard. We were successful last year, and they were the first thing we had ever canned ourselves. We did 2 kinds of dill, one batch of bread-and-butter and 1 batch of sweet relish. All were done with the water bath canning. Pickles can’t be that hard. We were successful last year, and they were the first thing we had ever canned ourselves.

We did 2 kinds of dill, one batch of bread-and-butter and 1 batch of sweet relish. All were done with the water bath canning.

]]> By: Denise@TogetherWeSave http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134288 Denise@TogetherWeSave Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:41:18 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134288 I missed the boat on my garden this year but I sure to have one next year. I missed the boat on my garden this year but I sure to have one next year.

]]> By: Peter http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134285 Peter Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:50:49 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134285 Gardens are great! This is the first year that my wife and I have expanded our meager garden to our entire back yard, save a little wiggle room. And what did it all cost? Well… let’s see: $200+ in landscape timbers (a garden should look good too); $400 for a chest freezer; unrecorded amounts for canning jars and miscellaneous whatever; $200 for a small tiller (actually bought that last year); $60 for a peach, plum and apple tree. We bought these last year too, but this year we realized that the apple and plum need another apple and plum before they’ll produce fruit. And what did I say about wiggle room? Well, maybe our neighbor would like tree or two? So all-in-all, there was a fair amount of money spent but the yield was fantastic not to mention the fun of toiling barefoot in the dirt in the hot summer sun. No, I am not being sarcastic; it is truly a great experience, one that I look forward to continuing. I mean it’s not just about the money savings, I don’t believe we've realized that part yet, it’s also about being at one with nature (that didn't sound corning did it?). Gardens are great! This is the first year that my wife and I have expanded our meager garden to our entire back yard, save a little wiggle room. And what did it all cost? Well… let’s see: $200+ in landscape timbers (a garden should look good too); $400 for a chest freezer; unrecorded amounts for canning jars and miscellaneous whatever; $200 for a small tiller (actually bought that last year); $60 for a peach, plum and apple tree. We bought these last year too, but this year we realized that the apple and plum need another apple and plum before they’ll produce fruit. And what did I say about wiggle room? Well, maybe our neighbor would like tree or two?

So all-in-all, there was a fair amount of money spent but the yield was fantastic not to mention the fun of toiling barefoot in the dirt in the hot summer sun. No, I am not being sarcastic; it is truly a great experience, one that I look forward to continuing. I mean it’s not just about the money savings, I don’t believe we’ve realized that part yet, it’s also about being at one with nature (that didn’t sound corning did it?).

]]> By: Amber http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134281 Amber Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:55:50 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134281 Lots of great information. I have been working at freezing and storing food for later dates. Thanks for all of your help here. ~Amber Lots of great information. I have been working at freezing and storing food for later dates. Thanks for all of your help here.

~Amber

]]> By: Thomas http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134280 Thomas Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:51:35 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134280 I wish this excess my issue. I spent $31 on potting soil, 2 tomato plants, organic bug spray and a couple hours. I got a free 1/2 barrel to plant in, put it in the sunniest part of our SMALL urban yard and it gets only 5 hours of sun. I watered every day that it didn't get significant rain. This year's yield: 1 tomato. It's my $31 tomato, is almost ripe and it better be the best tomato I've ever tasted. I wish this excess my issue. I spent $31 on potting soil, 2 tomato plants, organic bug spray and a couple hours. I got a free 1/2 barrel to plant in, put it in the sunniest part of our SMALL urban yard and it gets only 5 hours of sun. I watered every day that it didn’t get significant rain.

This year’s yield: 1 tomato. It’s my $31 tomato, is almost ripe and it better be the best tomato I’ve ever tasted.

]]> By: Rosa http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134279 Rosa Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:34:55 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134279 this is timely - i'm making pesto tonight to freeze, and the tomatos are just getting ripe here. Some homemade preserves are a lot cheaper than storebought stuff (pesto is definitely one - and basil is pretty forgiving). Some of it is just lots, lots better. I've cut back on my canning the last few years but there are a few things I just won't give up. this is timely – i’m making pesto tonight to freeze, and the tomatos are just getting ripe here.

Some homemade preserves are a lot cheaper than storebought stuff (pesto is definitely one – and basil is pretty forgiving). Some of it is just lots, lots better. I’ve cut back on my canning the last few years but there are a few things I just won’t give up.

]]> By: ebow http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134273 ebow Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:35:12 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134273 No dehydrator? Try Alton Brown's approach: a box fan and air filters! See this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5912487412723519389 Dip fruit in a lemon juice / water solution first to help preserve it, as described here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/dried-fruit-recipe/index.html No dehydrator? Try Alton Brown’s approach: a box fan and air filters! See this video: http://video.google.com/videop.....2723519389 Dip fruit in a lemon juice / water solution first to help preserve it, as described here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/rec.....index.html

]]> By: Susan Tiner http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/08/19/preserving-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-134267 Susan Tiner Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:44:50 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3513#comment-134267 For two years now, we've been canning California Peach Chutney using the peaches from my friend Jenny's peach tree in July. The peaches ripen all at once and are incredibly juicy and delicious. 2009 Peach Chutney yield: 35 ½ pts and 7 pts, for a total of 49 cups. Wonderful gifts. I posted a photo on facebook, but don't know how to share it in a comment. For two years now, we’ve been canning California Peach Chutney using the peaches from my friend Jenny’s peach tree in July. The peaches ripen all at once and are incredibly juicy and delicious. 2009 Peach Chutney yield: 35 ½ pts and 7 pts, for a total of 49 cups. Wonderful gifts. I posted a photo on facebook, but don’t know how to share it in a comment.

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