The Homestead Way of Life

Autumn Revisited

I used up the last of the apples I had stored in the shed today.  I keep my "live storage" crops in a shed on the northeast corner of our property.  It is under a big Pepperwood tree and shady and cool all of the time.   I kept the apples in a large covered bucket.  Since they tend to like the damp air, I didn't need to do much more to preserve them.   I put them through the juicer and we all enjoyed that sweet, fresh cider.  What a treat in the midst of winter!

I have metal trash cans, lined with plastic trash bags in there.  In some I keep my bags of wheat berries, rolled oats, rice and other such sundries.  I stored the pumpkin and potatoes we picked at the u-pick farm in one.  They kept beautifully.  I cooked up the pumpkins for pie, which was delicious.  I brought in a few potatoes for dinner while I was at it.

I can't explain why it is so nourishing to my soul to walk out to my little "storehouse" and come back in the kitchen with fresh produce for my family, but I know these are the Lord's ways, the way He meant for us to interact with His creation, and so it is very good.  I hope you will see that these are not difficult things to accomplish, no matter where you live. 

Blessings!

Lisa

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01:19, 2007-Jan-23 .. Posted by BlueApple

Sounds wonderful to me too! I don't have a root cellar and was wondering about storing potatoes out in a shed. Should I put them in a garbage type can - air tight or not? I imagine if you get one bad potato it will make them all go bad?
J

Great idea

07:33, 2007-Jan-25 .. Posted by blessingsbaound

We are very limited on space up at our property, my Joe has been talking of building a root cellar for me but perhaps the shed outback would work just fine. We will have to consider this. Have a wonderful week Lisa!!

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12:17, 2007-Jan-25 .. Posted by southernbelle

That does sound wonderfully satisfying! I thought you had to live where it's pretty cold in order to store things outside. I'd love it if I could do the same.

Thanks to you...

09:51, 2007-Jan-27 .. Posted by PattyMarie

I'm now a blogger here. I don't remember how I found your website last summer, but I subscribed and now I think I have all the issues. My daughter and I pour over them often. I just got time to print the latest and soon as my grandson is asleep, I'm making a pot of tea and sitting down to read it.

On the subject of storage...we have a basement under 2/3 of our house. We had to get a dehumidifier, but I'm looking forward to having it ready to receive this year's harvest. I've gotten a bunch of seeds for long-storing vegetables and am in the process of locating local sources for apples. We want to put in some trees this spring, but we won't see the "fruits" of our labors for a few years.