Well, the front porch and entryway are loaded with buckets of dry beans, dry corn, and other various produce, from tomatoes to watermelons. For what we thought was our very worst gardening year ever, I’m totally amazed and very thankful for this extremely bountiful harvest! We had a light frost the night before last, but it only burned some of the pumpkin, squash, cucumber, and pepper leaves. It really didn’t hurt anything.
Due to our heavy tomato harvest, I’ve been canning tomato recipes like mad. On Tuesday, I ran the Goat’s Bag tomatoes and a few Bill Beans through the Victorio tomato strainer to remove the seeds (which we’re saving for Lynn and Jesse) and peels. Then, yesterday, I put together a big batch of chili. We are out of ground beef, so I took a few older roasts out of the freezer and thawed, then ground them. I added about 3 pounds of various dry beans we’d raised, onions, garlic, and dry chili powder and made a big roasting pan full of chili. (Yes, I did soak the beans overnight.) I ended up with 14 quarts and three pints of chili! Every jar sealed.
Then, today, I am canning up the leftover beans, which I’d added tomato sauce, brown sugar, onions, and molasses to, making baked beans, which we can always use. They’re nearly finished right now. Meanwhile, Will went out to the Central Garden and picked the Bear Island Chippewa corn, then our two small patches of Damaun super sweet corn as the birds were getting into it pretty bad. This morning, I was sitting on the front porch, shucking the Bear Island. Even though it was very weedy and nearly got drowned, then dried up, it has produced very well. I have a full crate of shucked corn and a whole crate to do in a few minutes.
Once that is done, I will shuck the Damaun then get on to peeling and cutting up some tomatoes to can, which I add to my chili and also other recipes. IF I get done, I want to run some unpeeled tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeños, and onions through the electric meat grinder to make more salsa. I also use my pints of salsa for adding to other recipes. It’s very versatile.
Will got his new air bag on the big round baler and fixed the part that cuts the twine when the bale is full and tied off. Before this, he had to jump down, cut the twine, then climb back up when each bale was tied. It was a very tiring operation! Hopefully, now it will cut as it is supposed to. It took him quite a while to figure out that it was missing a spring.
Just a tip: If you have the ability to can up some food, please do that. I have a very bad feeling about the future. No, I’m not paranoid. Just a bit cautious, given the situation of things happening, from weather to the price of diesel and gas. Remember, too much food is much better than not enough. — Jackie
Thanks, again, Jackie for the heads-up to be constantly prepared. I know we can’t be in fear; it paralyzes. But, we have to be self-reliant, and God-dependent. Their are scriptures that command us to be prepped; remember the story of the ant, and other proverbs. So it’s a relevant subject.
Yep, even as a child, the story of the ant and grasshopper was one of my favorites. “Helping” Mom and Grandma can and dig root crops ensured that we were the ants. We don’t live in fear, either. No sense to that at all. We just try to take as much responsibility for ourselves that we can and let God do the rest.
Everything of in my garden just burned up -since Tuesday 97° temperature and heat index 105°
Today it’s 97° heat index of 102°
I’m watering the cucumbers and squash but I don’t think they will make.
Monday it’s supposed to be in the high 80’s.
I’m going to just buy at the grocery store.
Farmers market is the same price per pound – yeah I know, you should help the farmers market but I can find better deals at one grocery store that I go to.
To bad I can’t eat grass and weeds! :).
That’s the only thing that keeps growing.
You really had a good bountiful harvest. Thank God for that.
Take care ❤️
I’m so sorry your garden burned up. It’s especially hard when it’s your first year garden in that spot. That, alone, is a huge challenge. But plan for next year and pray it’s a better growing year.
Are there any Amish anywhere around you? They often sell produce at a good price; better than farmer’s markets. There is also sometimes a produce auction where you can buy very reasonable, bulk produce.
We are so thankful for our abundant harvest, despite a horrible growing year and weeds so high I need to use the chainsaw to cut them down. Really!
That is very smart Jackie. Yes can up or stock up the best you can. But only with foods that you like to eat. I have that gut feeling too about gas and diesel alone. Might be time to stay home and get lots of projects done. I love that corn you showed. ITs so pretty! What do you use it for?
That’s Bear Island Chippewa. I grind it for the best cornmeal every. The cornmeal is very pretty, too. Not plain yellow.
Wow, are you busy! So much work to do and so little time to get it done before things start turning. The reward is a full pantry, which is always comforting. It would be nice if one of your granddaughters or daughter in laws were close and could help you some. I learned so much from my grandmother and I treasure that time I had with her. Your corn looks so pretty. I dont even try to grow corn anymore. The coons come up from the creek and destroy it before it is even done putting on ears. They are a pain! Sure glad Will got his baler fixed. That would be a lot of extra work getting off every time you need to tie a bale. Does he carry a fire extinguisher on the tractor? A neighbor lost a tractor and baler from a fire in the baler. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Unfortunately, my daughters and daughter-in-laws aren’t too interested in canning, nor are the grandkids. It’s just not their thing.
I’m sorry about the coons getting the corn. When we lived where there were raccoons, I used an electric fence to keep them out; it’s the only thing that worked.
Yes, Will carries a fire extinguisher on the tractor. We’ve heard of that happening too and don’t want to chance it. Two years ago, he had a wiring fire on his Oliver tractor but was able to get it out with little damage. Whew!! Thank you for your prayers!
Jackie, I’ve got numerous canning supplies in storage should my girls decide to enter the real world of home making. Right now all they think about is raising their children; they are over whelmed to say the least, let alone thinking about keeping the house, and preserving foods, or prepping. Unfortunately our world has changed, the world of home making; crowded with frustrations and distractions of world issues.
Words to the wise, stocking up while you can. Hit the farmers markets if you can’t have a garden or even if you did, supplementing doesn’t hurt.
Another tip: If you live where an Amish community is, see if there is a produce auction nearby, or not so nearby, as bulk produce often goes very reasonably; it’s where some stores buy theirs.
Always enjoy your updates. My garden was just not much. 4 weeks of triple digits heat and most everything shut down. But have an abundant pantry.
A word for anyone looking at the price of corn products. Cornmeal, corn chips , animal feed whatever. The harvest is in full swing here in cenral Kansas. Bushels per acre return is down by about 1/3. Dry land and irrigated acres with same low yields Probably due to the Extreme Heat for extended periods. Do your purchases before that end of month and/or quarterly reports shout it out to the world.
That’s good information Thank you
We kind of figured that, due to the heat and drought in many areas of the country which raise corn and small grains. Ouch!! I think prices are going to skyrocket.
I smiled when I saw your Victorio strainer – I inherited my aunt’s and it has to be at least 30 years old. I came upon another one that was incomplete once and scavenged spare parts and the grape spiral and screen, so I have a complete set. I finally learned to dry the screens well and hit them with a little oil before storage so I wasn’t always dealing with the rust.
Thankfully I’m about done with tomatoes for the year. I’m eyeing the Canada Crookneck squash grown from seeds I bought from you last year – they are huge! I think I only got one squash per vine, but they are at least 2 feet long! Except one of them which doesn’t have a neck and instead looks like a snowman. Wouldn’t surprise me if it weighs 10 pounds.
That’s cool about your Victorio strainer and Canada Crookneck squash!! I’m right in the middle of tomatoes and we just harvested our Hopi Pale Grey squash. They are huge this year. They liked all that rotted manure will put around the plants!
Each yr is so different-one yr a bounty of beans etc the next year not so. Canning excess and this year’s needs covers the leaner times. There is no doubt prices will go up. Shipping expenses will go through the roof. Harvest fuel expenses for farmers will be brutal. I’ll store up some more essentials. There is no harm in being prepared. The old saying failure to prepare is preparation for failing.
We were so fortunate, as we bought our bulk diesel and gas before the prices went up so much. We were watching the world events and decided they were going to get worse before better. Now, it’s so much worse!!
I’m canning every day and harvesting when I’m “resting”. Yesterday, our friends Sherri and Dara came over, and we spent the day harvesting Hopis and beans. Then son, David, and his family, came and we all harvested a huge bunch of tomatoes for them. Elizabeth’s mom, Karla, is going to help them can up spaghetti sauce, salsa and more today. Whew!!
I’m doing sweet corn as Will and I went down and picked two crates heaping full, so the Sandhill Cranes didn’t get it. They’re such hogs but we love them.
Jackie, What an incredible community of like-minded beautiful people! You’re one of the few to have that.
Your bountiful harvest is amazing! My little garden did fair inspite of the season. Greens, peas & broccoli enough for the table. Summer squash was good, winter squash failed. Snap & dry beans good. Peppers poor. Tomatoes ok, fair crop. I freeze extras. Sweet potatoes did great. Last year I bought a pressure canner, used it twice per usda directions, not sure what I did wrong. Once with potatoes, once with chicken broth & meat. Both looked dark and tasted like waayy overcooked. I’m nervous about trying again and wasting food. It’s a weighted canner and I’m at 1400ft altitude. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Hey Vicki, I don’t like to promote my stuff, but please get my canning book, Growing and Canning Your Own Food. Your foods should not be dark nor nasty tasting! If you’re nervous about trying again, email me at jackieclay2007@yahoo.com and I’ll give you my phone number. If you’re leery of canning again, call me and I’ll walk you through it.
Thanks for the advice and offer of help! I do have your book, it’s a great one. I’ll re-read it and when I find something inexpensive to can I’ll try again. God bless you & family!
Stock up on feed and or any type of grain you may need. Now is the time. I do believe the bible and I see many things lining up as written. 💚🌷 💚🌷 💚
Yes, it is a lot like what it tells us in the Bible, isn’t it? I, also, believe we’d better stock up on feed, dog and cat food, plus people supplies and food. It doesn’t hurt to have a lot, but it does hurt to not have enough. Covid was just a trial run, I think.
Judy and Jackie, I agree wholeheartedly with you. The Bible predicted, Covid was a lesson, and we all should be looking upward more so than at the white house.
My shelves are also filling up with salsa, tomato sauce, and beans. I look at what seems like a huge surplus for just two people but then like you say, too much isn’t a problem, especially with the unknown future. I love reading your updates and seeing your pictures. Maybe it sounds a little out there but I like to imagine my grandmother would share similar stories if she were around still. She would be 110 today if still alive! Unfortunately I was pretty young when they had to move off their farm. Her knowledge and experience got lost in that generation as my parents didn’t carry on many of the traditions, practices, or stories. You are a wealth of knowledge and thank you for continuing to share what it’s like to really live!
What do you use the Bear Island Chippewa corn for? I grow sweet corn and fail to use it fresh and don’t have time right now to can.
I use the Bear Island Chippewa to make the best cornmeal you’ve ever tasted. If you don’t have time to can, consider drying or freezing it. I don’t have a lot of time, either, but seem to switch things around so I can get it done, even if I’m so tired I go to bed at 8 o’clock!
Your comment in a previous blog post got me to thinking about preppers. IMHO, there are two kinds – doomsday preppers who, again IMHO, bring bad publicity. Y2K era: people who lived in a high rise, in FL buying a wood stove. A couple who had all their teeth pulled and got dentures. Nat Geo had a show called doomsday preppers – and honestly if you have stores of goods for whatever reason, why do you want to advertise it? Rhetorical question of course as the answer is money.
What we on this blog do is ensure we have sufficient stores in case times get rough – economy wise.
I am going to check out finding a Victorio tomato strainer. I can understand removing seeds but if ground properly, I wouldn’t think you’d need to peel unless it affects processing time. After all does anyone peel a tomato before slicing for BLTs (which we’re having for lunch on Saturday). I could eat them every day during harvest but then again, I don’t have a Y chromosome.
Thank-you for taking the time during your busy season to post your blog.
Yep, the Doomsday Preppers wanted Will and I to do a show with them. Our answer was a “*ell” no! Who knows what the editing would do to us, making us look like crazy people! We don’t prepare for the zombie apocalypse or the end of civilization. We simply stock up to make sure we can take care of ourselves the best we can, no matter what happens. Yes, we do worry about “advertising” our preps through the articles I write, the blog, and speaking engagements. But that’s the only way we can help encourage people to do what we do to the best of their ability.