Preserving Your Harvest

[Sally PB]

No way I'll show pictures! Mine are in boxes in my basement. The boxes are from where I worked and used to hold 12x18 sheets of paper for the printer I ran. They're white, so I can write what's in there, then cross that out the next year. Some of them are 5-6 years old, so they've held up.

I can fit 15 quart jars, and stack them, though I only go 3 high. I have them on styrofoam box inserts so they aren't right on the cement floor, in case there's water in the basement. (Which has happened...)

DH wants to build a pantry in a closet; that would be great, but I'd fill it up with what I have.

Not every thing is canned, ie, sealed; I also have many jars of dried fruit down there too.

 

[BReeder!]

No way I'll show pictures! Mine are in boxes in my basement. The boxes are from where I worked and used to hold 12x18 sheets of paper for the printer I ran. They're white, so I can write what's in there, then cross that out the next year. Some of them are 5-6 years old, so they've held up.

I can fit 15 quart jars, and stack them, though I only go 3 high. I have them on styrofoam box inserts so they aren't right on the cement floor, in case there's water in the basement. (Which has happened...)

DH wants to build a pantry in a closet; that would be great, but I'd fill it up with what I have.

Not every thing is canned, ie, sealed; I also have many jars of dried fruit down there too.

I'm happy you shared this still. I was considering using the basement. I was afraid humidity would be an issue though. I too get seepage occasionally but I have shelves in the basement I could use. I just wasn't sure about humidity and the preserved food... I do run a dehumidifier down there, but humidity still will jump after a storm if we get seepage. Should I not be worried? I guess the jars are sealed so the contents should be fine... I'm probably worried for no reason. It's just that we had a rubbermaid-type tote full of newspaper wrapped items that got moldy (the newspaper that is) because humidity got into the tote but couldn't escape the tote easily. That's had me paranoid ever since.

 

[WthrLady]

I'm happy you shared this still. I was considering using the basement. I was afraid humidity would be an issue though. I too get seepage occasionally but I have shelves in the basement I could use. I just wasn't sure about humidity and the preserved food... I do run a dehumidifier down there, but humidity still will jump after a storm if we get seepage. Should I not be worried? I guess the jars are sealed so the contents should be fine... I'm probably worried for no reason. It's just that we had a rubbermaid-type tote full of newspaper wrapped items that got moldy (the newspaper that is) because humidity got into the tote but couldn't escape the tote easily. That's had me paranoid ever since.

I built a slant shelf cabinet inspired by Old World Gardens, https://www.etsy.com/listing/121759...e=owgdiyplans&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api . I used scraps I had around here.
http://dunrovinstation.blogspot.com/2020/08/

 

[BReeder!]

I built a slant shelf cabinet inspired by Old World Gardens, https://www.etsy.com/listing/121759...e=owgdiyplans&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api . I used scraps I had around here.
http://dunrovinstation.blogspot.com/2020/08/

Great site! I'll check out your blog every now and then. The shelving idea is great. the jars never slide and pop over the front rail on you? I'd just be worried about a fully jar flipping over and crashing to the floor. I imagine I can adjust the rail height a bit if needed though. I think I'll check out my scrap pile of lumber in the garage and get working on something like this.

 

[Sally PB]

It's just that we had a rubbermaid-type tote full of newspaper wrapped items that got moldy (the newspaper that is) because humidity got into the tote but couldn't escape the tote easily.

Yeah, my basement is damp. I've found mold on the outside of jars and just rinsed it off before opening.

When canning, food does seep out of the jar while in the canner, so be sure to wipe that stuff off. I also wipe down the jars of canned stuff with rags dipped in white vinegar. That goes a long way toward inhibiting any mold from growing.

The nice thing about cardboard boxes is that they "breathe" better than a plastic tote.

 

[WthrLady]

Great site! I'll check out your blog every now and then. The shelving idea is great. the jars never slide and pop over the front rail on you? I'd just be worried about a fully jar flipping over and crashing to the floor. I imagine I can adjust the rail height a bit if needed though. I think I'll check out my scrap pile of lumber in the garage and get working on something like this.

Nope. The front rail is fairly high. It come to just below the lidline of a wide mouth half pint jar. My shelves are lined with that grip mat shelf liner stuff.
But if you build one you load new in the back and take from the front, you want them to slide a little. Mine is pushed up against a wall, so no loading from the back. I might move it next summer so I can access the back, when the food stuffs are almost gone.

 

[BReeder!]

Nope. The front rail is fairly high. It come to just below the lidline of a wide mouth half pint jar. My shelves are lined with that grip mat shelf liner stuff.
But if you build one you load new in the back and take from the front, you want them to slide a little. Mine is pushed up against a wall, so no loading from the back. I might move it next summer so I can access the back, when the food stuffs are almost gone.

Thinking I'll build it on wheels so I can pull it forward to load from the back and then push it back in place.

 

[WthrLady]

They are insanely heavy. Just fyi.

 

[WthrLady]

Mine weighs over 400 pounds loaded with jars, food, goods and lumber. Just FYI for the right casters and the smoothest floor available.

 

[wyoDreamer]

And make the base wider than the top so it is not tippy.