My garden is to big

[Mahonri]

In the small farm town where I came from, you learned that when you went to church, you locked your car doors, because if you didn't it would be full of produce when you came out.

When I was little I heard someone tell me that if you see someone buying zucchini in the summer, you need to be their friend, because obviously they don't have any.

 

[MamaDragon]

If you're wanting to preserve as much of your garden produce as you can...

Canning is NOT your only option. You can dry/dehydrate your peas, greenbeans, onions, carrots, tomatoes and squash.
You can freeze the cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts, spinach, corn(on or off the cob), and squash.
Cabbage keeps pretty well in a root cellar, same as the squash (like MissPrissy suggested). You can even use a cool closet or under the beds if your rooms stay cool in the winter.
Pull up your onions when you're ready to harvest them, turn them over and leave on the ground upside down for a week or so to dry, and then braid the tops, making a rope of them. Then you can hang the rope in your garage or other outbuilding.

I'm at a loss for how to preserve your lettuce, egglpant and okra (don't eat okra or eggplant, eat lettuce too fast to have any to store)

Your best resource will be a cookbook printed BEFORE WWII !! Second best is one no older than the mid-nineteen sixties. It will tell you the best ways to preserve /store your bounty, and the step-by-step to do it, if you're unfamiliar with the processes.

There are dozens on the internet for free! If you can't find one, or need ahy help with locating them, give me a holler, and I'll be glad to lend a hand.

Good Luck!
Kathy

 

[sundance]

My garden this year didn't produce hardly enough for me and DH to eat, but if you have to much I'm sure the local senior center would love to have it.If you have an abused women's shelter in your area they could probably use a lot of it to.God's blessings on you for wanting to share your abundance with others. marrie

 

[lilshadow]

I know what ya mean. I have gotten a few here and there, but not alot until I went out yesterday, and picked three bags full. They decided to start turning now. I am running out of canning jars...lol. I always over do it on the tomatoes

 

[lilshadow]

Trust me, I have been sharing with everyone. I tell them not to go buy vegies it is in the garden. I have a couple coming tomorrow to pick, and I do take a bunch to work for the ladies there. I have been canning/freezing as much as I can, I am just running out of freezer space. I am still trying to talk my DH into a food dehydrator. I will can as much as possible so that I won't have to go to the grocery store as much for vegies.

 

[redoak]

I hope I have this problem next year. It's a good problem to have

 

[lilshadow]

Yes it is, especially with the prices in grocery stores. Today I bought 1 loaf of bread, two bags of chips, cheese(2), 2 soda's and cereal and it was 28 dollars and some change. So I am thankful that I can have a garden.

 

[lorieMN]

Quote:
chips are crazy on price,I dont eat them anymore but no way would I pay $4.00 for one bag..

 

[MamaDragon]

You can rig up a dehydrator fairly simply if you want to try your hand at making one.....Mother Earth News has plans for several in their online archives, as well as other places on the internet.

OR

set your sliced food in your oven, on cookie sheets or small grilling racks, at about 125 degrees, remember to turn every few hours. If you have slices of 1/4 inch or less thickness, they should dry in 12 - 24 hours. I made jerky this way for over 15 years.

Another way is to take a small box fan, set it at lowest speed, lay your sliced stuff in the air flow, cover with cheesecloth if you want, turn it often, and let it dry. If you can, raise it above the counter level so air can get beneath it as well as over the top.

Doesn't heat up the house as much as the oven, but doesn't work well for jerky, or other meats.

Some veggies can be "strung up" - run a doubled piece of white sewing thread thru one end, (like making popcorn garlands for a xmas tree), and hang up where it can get a strong breeze. They used to rig a drying line in kitchens up near the ceiling from the chimney across to a rafter beam, and hang onions, garlic, "leatherbritches" (beans in the pods), and herbs and flowers to preserve for winter. My grandmother even had one in her kitchen in California until she passed in the early 70's. Works real good for peas in the pod, greenbeans, pumpkin chunks, carrots, etc.

Kathy

P.S. - I've got recipes for fruit leathers if you're interested. I've heard they can be used with tomatoe pulp as well.

 

[mgibbzzz]

Tell your DH that a dehydrator is a wonderful investment. I use it for a lot of things from my garden. My favorite is onions. I slice them and when they are done break them into pieces. Put them in a jar or baggie and use them in recipes for diced onions. No more crying when cooking! Great for any veggies you use in soups like carrots, celery, potaoes, beans, etc. Slice potatoes and make your own scalloped potatoes. Much easier for quick cooking and healthier than the store bought stuff. We also dry some of our fruit for quick baking or a healthy snack. Love fruit leathers. Your local food pantry or shelter will love you for your donation and it can be tax deductible.

Michelle

DMK Ranch