June 19, 2017
Usually by mid June I am having a full counter with vegetables but this year its slower and I really have no idea, well besides I did not plant many different vegetables.
I have gotten a few ripe tomatoes as well as bell peppers from the plants I raised all Winter ( Winter in Alabama is from January through March, those are the cold months) The cucumbers have fallen over and have began to run. I am sure I seen a bloom on the squash and the okra is growing but I know not to expect okra till more toward the end of summer.
I read up on "Ginger" and I re-potted it a few days ago, I am glad I did my homework because I was not aware it liked more shade than sun, so I will keep it in the house and see how that goes, this is the second year but this year it has many more shoots and has grown. I did not mean to but one shoot broke :(
What I have been blessed with is blackberries, I live closer to the woods than to the city and I have a long drive way onto this property and it has plenty of blackberry bushes as well as the one side that separates the land. Over they years I have picked these bushes and if I could not home can at the time I would freeze the berries and do them later. Since I am headed off the grid and I need to reduce the power bill I am trying my best to can more than freeze, and sooner than later give up the deep freezer. The past weekend I cleaned out the blackberry shelf in the deep freezer and home canned all of last years and this years blackberries, saving only a couple quarts to trade/barter with.
We enjoy a blackberry pie or cobbler from time to time or just the berries in a home made milk shake, there are so many desserts to make with blackberries and the medicinal properties are awesome, a little juice will help an upset stomach! I home canned 15 pints and 1 half pint of blackberries in light syrup. Two quarts of juice.
I also made 20 half pints of the blackberry jelly "no seed". I have found that many people love the taste of the berry but cannot digest the seeds due to health problems so I always make a couple cases of no seed jelly, I will share with the elderly in the Winter, or as a Christmas gift.
For more on how to make blackberry jelly click here : Making Blackberry Jelly
I did trade one quart of blackberries already, for a basket of strawberries, no trade was needed but I always feel like I should also have something in season to share, plus when you trade you will know that one does not walk away empty handed. I think that is that wee bit of American Indian I have in me.
For more on how to make Strawberry pie filling click here : Easy Strawberry pie filling
While going through the deep freezer I also noticed blueberries and mango, I think you know what I will be doing this week :)
How is your garden growing? Any home canning or freezing going on?
By Andria Perry
Photos by Andria Perry
Wow, it always amazes me, all the things that you do. I would have to go to a farmers market to get fruit to can and make jellies. I did it a lot with my mother when I was younger. I remember want to teach my son how to can and I had to go to a yard sale to find the jars.
ReplyDeleteThere were coupons in last weeks newspaper $2.00 off, so I got a case for $5.00. Another thing I do is I will use the $5 off $25 dollar general coupon and just buy jars that week.
DeleteI thank you for the compliment but I am taking getting off the grid serious, I want to use my money for things like travel and not the power bill.
Geez, my blackberry plants are only 3" high!
ReplyDeleteWell! You do live across the country from me, I am in zone 8, nearly 9. I am sure in a couple months yu will have berries.
DeleteWow you have been a busy bee all jars of jam...I love blackberries but can only get frozen ones here..sometimes..My mum used to make apple and blackberry jam it was lovely :)
ReplyDeleteI have never tried apple mixed with blackberry, something to look into!
DeleteYou are always busy doing good and yummy food Angie. I envy your energy. I used to make strawberry jam before when I was a full time homemaker. Have a nice day. J
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes I try to make good of the free foods. I traded for strawberries and made pie filling. I work and do this on the side.
DeleteMy sunflowers, watermelon and spinach has sprouted. I may get something yet. If this rain keeps up I won't have to water them.
ReplyDeleteI know same here! The watermelons LOVE rain so good for those.
DeleteIt's very slow here too this year. Even our CSA farm is apologizing for the shares being so heavy on the greens, as they don't have a lot else ready to harvest.
ReplyDeleteWith the warm Winter you would think it would all grow faster, but it may be bugs causing the problem :/
DeleteIt is a good idea to grow your own food and can what you can. I think you and your family will be healthier. Enjoyed your article G+
ReplyDeleteRaspberries are ripening...I wanted to take fresh picked to market this morning, and it was raining. They would've rotted on the way if picked. Boohoohoo! Gate City's loss may be Big Stone Gap's gain.
ReplyDeleteThe rain had been hell here for days, I reckon what was left of blackberries was beat off.
ReplyDelete