I loved the fresh veggies growing up but I hated weeding that %^$# garden! Ugh!! We had a large apple orchard next to the garden and the poor boys had to mow that sucker, (around all those trees) and us girls, had to weed the garden. Oh well, I guess it helped build character!
Last summer when I was home, first thing I would do every morning, is pour me a cup of coffee and head to the orchard to pick crab apples (for my consumption) and pick up a pail of apples that fell off the trees to feed to the horses. (They loved it and would wait next to the fence for me and my pail) I loved it too!
Putting up Staple Foods
- Kchurchill5
- Posts: 16044
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:55 am
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
Very cool Dis. We didn't have animals but we picked fruit at many of the orchards which was fun,then came home and made pies, jams, jellies, you name it.
I did get to feed my neighbors pig which was fun, and as a kid I helped out at my neighbors farm and fed horses, milked cows, fed chickens, gathered the eggs, etc. I think it is so cool to grow up with experiences like that. Great memories.
I did get to feed my neighbors pig which was fun, and as a kid I helped out at my neighbors farm and fed horses, milked cows, fed chickens, gathered the eggs, etc. I think it is so cool to grow up with experiences like that. Great memories.
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
Sorry Heather, we are getting way off topic here!
To keep this on topic, today I did make the dried beans, took longer than normal too, I guess they were getting old. I had 1 bag of pintos and one of kidney- beans. I turned some of them into chili, which is now simmering away...and the rest I put up in 2 cup increments for the freezer in plastic ziploc baggies. I need to get some dried black beans and navy beans to do the same thing. (If I remember to get them at the store). I always have good intentions to make life easier, doesn't always happen though.
Kim, we used to can and make so many jams and jellies growing up too. I "know" how to do these things, I just need to do them! As I was mowing the lawn today and mowed over where the garden was last year, I had a plan hatching to start planting....
To keep this on topic, today I did make the dried beans, took longer than normal too, I guess they were getting old. I had 1 bag of pintos and one of kidney- beans. I turned some of them into chili, which is now simmering away...and the rest I put up in 2 cup increments for the freezer in plastic ziploc baggies. I need to get some dried black beans and navy beans to do the same thing. (If I remember to get them at the store). I always have good intentions to make life easier, doesn't always happen though.
Kim, we used to can and make so many jams and jellies growing up too. I "know" how to do these things, I just need to do them! As I was mowing the lawn today and mowed over where the garden was last year, I had a plan hatching to start planting....
-
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:11 am
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
Over the past couple years I have come to hate weeding the garden, and I think it is starting to show because my harvest is smaller then when I was out there daily pulling every little weed. But I do get most of what I need for my family, I just wish I could have success with growing fruits, I spend so much on fruit every summer. I have tried the past 2-3 years to get strawberries, raspberries, blueberries to grow but no luck, all have died, well actually I did get a few handfuls of strawberries last year, my rhubarb has only grew a few inches tall last year after it's second year.
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
I use dried beans exclusively these days. No more canned beans for us. The price simply can't be beat and I can't tell the difference except for convenience and I'm not willing to pay for that. Luckily I have a lifestyle and a job that affords me time to do things like that.
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
I agree completely invictus. I haven't bought canned beans in quite a while. I just have to remember to think ahead and make them to put in the freezer, so I have the convenience when I need them. I use them for mainly for soups and homemade refried beans.
- HeatherFeather
- Posts: 2558
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:07 am
Re: Putting up Staple Foods
As soon as I use up all of my remaining canned beans, I also am planning to get on the dried bean bandwagon. I already have the dried beans sitting there, but want the canned stuff out of my pantry. I will likely still use them occasionally, especially if I want chickpeas for salad, but for hot meals calling for beans, I want the real thing.