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Farm Kitchen:  Best way to preserve.  |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 27 2020 : 10:46:04 AM
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With everything that has been going on, I have been throwing out ideas to my hubby on how we can have a temporary garden this year just so I can grow us some food. My may thing is I really want to work on preserving things from my garden so that in the future I can rely heavily on my garden and know what I’m doing. So basically my question is... what is the best and easiest way to preserve each food? I don’t know how to can, but I’m willing to learn. I would just love to create a stockpile for my family and this year would be a great time to practice.
Krista |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7115 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7115 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2020 : 11:04:07 AM
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Krista, for this season why not do this:
Choose your families favorite produce.
What grows best in your zone and soil.
Either by books or on-line you need a chart that will tell you how much to plant for the yield you want.
Also using books or on-line you can learn what is the best method for each food. You can also ask us.
While your garden grows gather the canning supplies you will need. Jars, rings, lids, - you get the idea. Also decide if you will be doing mostly water bath or pressure canner canning. Best method to can a veg/fruit will tell you which to use.
This is not all you will need to know but I hope it gives you some idea of how to get started or what questions to ask.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4317 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4317 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2020 : 6:49:36 PM
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If you have a freezer, you can freeze veggies easily. Water bath canning is a simple way to learn how to can. Doing a few things at first, and then expanding as you feel comfortable. The old stand by, the Ball Canning book is a good source to go by. They have different methods, from canning, dehydrating, freezing. And of course family and friends!! All depends on what you like and your interests, and time available. Good luck
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2020 : 10:34:32 AM
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Freezing most fresh veggies is the easiest and best (in my opinion) way to preserve. You just need containers or plastic bags and a pot to blanch them in. It retains the flavor the best. Water bath canning is best for tomatoes and fruit. You would need jars and rings and a big pot to process the jars, Drying is also an option. Need a dehydrator but I have used the inside of a car parked in the sun. There are good instructions online if you don't have access to a good book right now.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Julie
Medina
ND
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2020 : 1:46:33 PM
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My canning bible is the Ball Blue Book. It will help you get started the right way. From water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing and dehydrating it is all in there. If you start collecting jars now you will be ready by canning season.
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2020 : 10:37:19 PM
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Krista, I’m curious about why it would be a temporary garden?
Yellow Rose Sara has given you some great advice. And as her posts will prove, she also regularly purchases foods to preserve, so you don’t have to rely on a productive garden to be prepared for an emergency. Just be sure to preserve foods that your family members like and want to consume. |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2020 : 10:39:12 PM
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| Judith, I LOVE your parked car dehydrator!!! |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2020 : 12:15:47 AM
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I have my mother's tattered Ball Blue Book, World War II vintage. It even tells you how to can with the zinc and glass lidded jars.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7115 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7115 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2020 : 05:56:59 AM
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Judith how cool you have your mother's vintage Ball Blue Book. I'm a teensy bit jealous. I have searched out and collected zinc lids for years. I use them on jars that store pasta and dried beans. I even have a few wide mouth zinc freezer lids. I don't use them in the freezer - just on storage jars.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Edited by - YellowRose on Mar 29 2020 05:57:46 AM |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7115 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7115 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2020 : 05:59:09 AM
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Thanks Sara for your sweet words.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2020 : 09:43:17 AM
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Sara -- I keep beans and such in my old jars too. You are lucky to have wide mouth zinc lids. I have some regular ones but I've never seen a wide mouth lid.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7115 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7115 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2020 : 09:52:11 AM
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Judith, The wide mouth freezer zinc lids don't have the glass insert. They are rare around here. I have less than 1/2 dozen. For me there's nothing prettier in my kitchen than mason jars with zinc lids.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2020 : 1:43:31 PM
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Sara, it would be a small and temporary one for this year because we just moved and our land is completely tore up. We are in the process of bringing in fill dirt and creating a layout of what will go where, so my future garden space will not be ready in time, where a temporary above ground one will be.
Thank you all for the tips on where to start. Do any of you have a freeze dryer? Do they work well for this same thing? I do have boxes full of canning jars that I have inherited from my mother, so that’s one step closer. In the past I chopped up my green onions and froze them. Is that correct or do they need to be blanched as well? How about Zucchini? How to you prepare them for freezing? Zucchini is one of the main veggies I get so much of.
Krista |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2020 : 5:40:47 PM
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Krista -- I just slice zucchini and dry it. I haven't dried onions but I wouldn't blanch it either. I always dried zucchini so I can put it into minestrone soup in the winter, but now it seems some stores carry imported zucchini so you can find it whatever the season.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2020 : 12:57:01 PM
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Judith what do you mean by dry it?
Krista |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4317 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4317 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2020 : 04:33:42 AM
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I shred and freeze zucchini. I mostly just use it in quick bread. I do not blanch it or anything. It does help to freeze the bag flat. easier to store. Put in the amount you need for a recipe.
Farming in WI
Michele
FGOTM June2019
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2020 : 3:11:12 PM
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Krista -- I slice the zucchini and put the slices on trays in my dehydrator. No dehydrator? Put the slices on clean screens and put in a hot parked car. I dry until they break with a snap.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2020 : 11:56:01 AM
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Michele I have done that before for zucchini bread.
Judith, I have a dehydrator. How do you store them once they are done? Do you only use them in soups?
Krista |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2385 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2385 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2020 : 8:16:05 PM
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Krista -- I put them in a plastic bag in the freezer. I use them mostly in soup, out of habit mostly now that zucchini is available year-round.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2020 : 1:14:17 PM
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I was just thinking I bet they make yummy zucchini chips! Thank you for all your help Judith!
Krista |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2916 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2916 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2020 : 1:35:17 PM
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| They do Krista! I've done them with different seasonings and they make a great healthy snack! |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7248 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7248 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2020 : 11:56:39 AM
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Lisa, what seasonings do you do? Which one is your favorite?
Krista |
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Farm Kitchen: Best way to preserve. |
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Best way to preserve.
