Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Home Canning & Garden Plans

12:32, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 .. Posted in Gardening .. 2 comments .. Link

Over the past weekend, we started using a pressure canner that I recently got through Freecycle. It is one of the newer types that has no pressure gauge. I am so happy to be able to put up some homemade soups and stews for his meals away from home.

I have been looking online for recipes and resources. What an amazing variety of recipes out there! I am starting to write them down in a little "Canning Notebook" for future use. I remember helping my mom with her pressure canning when I was growing up. She mainly did the vegetables from the garden, as many do. With the upcoming gardening season, I am looking forward to doing the same in addition to canning meats and the soups & stews.

I am also going to can little half-pint jars of veggies and meals for Abbie. It will be so nice to not have to buy jars of baby food for using when we are away from home. I found out through talking with a baby food company's customer service employee that the squash used in baby food is actually a Butternut Squash.

I have been planning out our garden for spring. I am finding that I am enjoying the process of planning it out according to the idea of being able to can what we produce. I can't wait to see our pantry filled with the jars full of the season's harvest!

In looking through the seeds I saved from last year, I noticed that I will need to start the seeds indoors beginning the end of February. The only exception being the onion sets which can be started anytime. The onions will be fun to start from seed. For those who have never done it, you thinly plant the seeds. As the leaves emerge from the soil, you trim them back. As you continue to do this, the cutting of the leaves forces the bulb to grow. It is a constant process, but alot of fun to watch the bulbs grow larger. Then, as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, you plant the onion bulbs (sets) as you would the store bought sets. If you are interested in trying this, I get my seeds through Heirloom Acres Seeds.com They are a Christian family business who sells only organic and heirloom seeds.

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Baby food tip

01:52, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 .. Posted by maa
You are wise in doing the baby food canning. It will be nice to know what you are feeding your baby.
I have a friend that freezes what she wants to feed her baby, in ice cube trays. After the food is frozen she puts the cubes of food into a container, puts it back into the freezer untill close to feeding time. They don't take much time to thaw.
maa's mom

Untitled Comment

01:54, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 .. Posted by kimmie
I would love to have a canner!

maybe someday!

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