Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Preserving Frenzy

Lately there has been little time left for anything, but weeding, picking, and preserving.  Which I am SO thankful for!

 

                                                                                                                                corn roma

tomato

lima beans

 

In the beginning of the summer I wondered how much canning and freezing we really would be able to do.  The drought, rabbits, bugs, heat,  all took their toll on our garden.  Then when it looked like all the green goodness might rally, the raccoons moved in, stripping corn down and having nightly feasts.  Now with a 20 mile fencer (yeah, we go big!)  protecting our corn and some sweet, glorious rain my garden is bouncing back.

 

veges

 

 

And it’s keeping me hopping.

 

sis

 

Thankfully I have a helper! (Or four… the boys have been issued rows of corn to weed.  No pictures of them since we all get busy, dirty and sweaty when its weeding time.)

So far we’ve canned Kosher Dill Pickles, Bread and Butter Pickles, Dill Relish, and Blackberry Jam.  Still to go… Garden Blend Tomato Juice, Tomato Sauce, Tomatoes, Dilly Beans, Peaches, Peach jam, Pears, and Applesauce.

 

relish-1

 

blackberry jam-1

I found these cute canning lid labels for free HERE.

 

On the freezing end I have done strawberries, blueberries, and a bit of corn.  Still to go…. Green beans, Lima beans, Pumpkin puree, and a whole lot more corn.  I normally would have my beans close to done, but for the first year ever I had rabbit trouble.  They kept mowing my beans down to just a few leaves.  After the third time and several failed attempts to keep them out of the beans, we put up a temporary fence.  Yesterday when I picked I got enough for three of us for dinner.  Not exactly a bumper crop, so we’ll see.  It may be a no bean-preserving year.

 

cucumbers

 

I’ve posted this photo before but, I thought if fit so nicely into this post and plus I love that quote!

 

Have a wonderful, bountiful, productive, God centered day!

11 comments:

  1. 20 miles of fence? What... just for sweet corn? Wowzers.

    You are a one-busy-bee up there.

    I'm loving those cute little jam jars. I've never seen them before (well, I think on a pic. somewhere) but not in real life.

    Thanking God, with you, for giving you so many blessings.


    Don't forget to take a moment to rest and enjoy a breather once in a while.
    ~B

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  2. My bean crop totally failed this year too, and I'm so disappointed! I loved having home canned green beans last year.

    I think we'll have enough corn to can, and I should have plenty of tomatoes for sauce.

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  3. Bevy, The 20 mile fencer is the strength or it's ability to protect that amount...if I have it correctly. We have metal posts all around the perimeter of the garden and the wire is wrapped around at 3 different heights. We have had the coons blow through our electric fencing before and so we now take no chances!!! :)

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  4. I wish i was having as much luck with my garden. It seems to have met it's match this year. I'm getting a few things here and there, but I don't think there will be any preserving for me this year :(

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  5. *LOVE* those eyelashes of your little miss! SO beautiful. :) Whew...you have been one busy gal...what a blessing to have all that produce to tuck away for the future...SO wonderful!!

    Love you!
    Camille

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  6. I wished to goodness we had that twenty mile fence this year.

    The squirrels {did I spell that right?} got every last ear of corn this year but the two I cooked for dinner tonight over black eyed peas and chicken casserole.

    So sad.

    Your jars of preserve speak hard work and homegrown goodness. They are all just perfect!

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  7. What a wonderful series of images!! I love all the green.
    It must be wonderful to be able to grown your own vegetables & fruit. I miss my vegetable garden.
    I love those jars of jam!!

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  8. Just so you know, I'd protect my corn the same way. :o) There is nothing better than fresh corn.

    It is a good thing you have so many helpers! With the amount of freezing and canning you guys do, it's more than a one-woman job!

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  9. never disappointed when I visit your post..beautiful living food..yum!

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  10. A beautiful bountiful harvest already! Congrats!

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  11. Beautiful Picture's... I love your blog! You have a beautiful family.......

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