Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences

CCMMagazine.com Forums on Faith Community Network

Forum Tools
Music Folder Forums \| Register \| Login \| My Profile \| Inbox \| Address Book \| My Subscription \| My Forums Photo Gallery \| Member List \| Search \| Calendars \| FAQ \| TOS \| Disclaimer \| Ticket List \| Log Out \|

Sponsor

Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Fun] >> Home & Garden >> Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/22/2008 11:30:15 AM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

I think we need a place to just chat about whats going on in our gardens and kitchens so this thread is pretty open to those subjects.

How is your harvest and food preservation going this year - and anything related.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 1

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/22/2008 11:39:07 AM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

I went out and picked most of the pears from my second pear tree this weekend. I couldn't believe I was in that tree over 3 hours!!! I did come in with over two bushels of pears. Many of them are ripening a bit more in my basement. Some of them I have canned. Some of them I gave to people at church to enjoy - along with a small box for our new pastor's wife to try her hand at canning.

Tammy, from what you said about canning pears in another thread causes me to not be able to help myself. I just have to say that I think we're both having a Peary Good Year!

I need to finishing digging the potatoes. I've been finding that anytime I get potatoes that are partially eaten that there is a big grub in the vicinity. That prompted me to always take a jar of soapy water with me so I can pop that critter in and eliminate one more (what I understand to be) June bug next year. The potatoes I've dug so far have either been eaten fresh as baked potatoes (YUM!!) or canned for later frying. I have found that canned fresh potatoes have a unique flavor that we really enjoy.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 2

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/22/2008 2:20:01 PM

Auben

Posts: 1611
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline

Not much canning going on here. I have been having sweet corn and melon Thursdays after the farmer's market. I process and freeze half the veggies I get.

Other then that I hope we get apples this year. And tomatoes are finally starting to come in a few a week.

Who knows, I could end up canning.

_____________________________

Tamara

~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~

Post #: 3

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 10:05:10 AM

Tea-Tea

Posts: 590
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Mr. Sippi
Status: offline

I ended up only freezing a small portion of the pear pie filling because I'm scared they won't be the same after thawing. So I'll see in a couple of months. I made two "pies" more like cobblers, really and I'll share the smaller of the two with my mom's office. I'd like to be able to can the pie filling in the future but honestly don't know if I can do that. Does anyone know? I use flour, a little sugar, and some cinnamon.

Has anyone had luck in freezing pears? Or potatoes? Joyfulmn, don't you have to have a pressure canner to can potatoes? I would assume so. I don't own a pressure canner but have a water bath canner.

_____________________________

~Tammy~

"If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love."
spoken by Betsie ten Boom in The Hiding Place

Post #: 4

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 11:00:06 AM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tea-Tea Has anyone had luck in freezing pears? Or potatoes? Joyfulmn, don't you have to have a pressure canner to can potatoes? I would assume so. I don't own a pressure canner but have a water bath canner.

Sorry, but yes, potatoes and all veggies (tomatoes are a fruit) have to be done in a pressure canner. I was just blessed to accomplish another 7 quarts last night. My potato bed has done pretty well this year. I'm expecting to total around 21 quarts from that bed.

As to freezing pears - my canning book says they retain better appearance and texture when canned. But they do give the directions to use ripe but firm (not hard) fruit and to cut them directly into a syrup made with a small amount of lemon juice or rose hips concentrate. So you would freeze and thaw them in a block of syrup.

I have enjoyed using a product called True Lemon instead of lemon juice. The package describes it as "The Original Crystallized Lemon Substitute". And it's manufactured in the States! It comes in individual packets. The package says it comes in jars but I have trouble enough finding the packets let alone jars.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 5

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 11:28:33 AM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

I was trying my canning book but haven't found anything on canning or freezing pie fillings. It would seem that canning, once again, would turn out the best consistency.

My canning book, StockingUp III from Rodale Press 1986, talks about mochiko rice flour as being a good thickener for frozen products because it doesn't break down like traditional thickeners. Not knowing where to get this particular flour I had successfully used brown rice flour (from my natural foods co-op) in my frozen Harvard Beets for years.

Since I get all of my beef, pork and chickens from the neighbor a year's worth at a time, I'm short on freezer space and have returned to canning most of my items. So I'm a bit out of practice with some of the freezer items.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 6

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 11:39:34 AM

Auben

Posts: 1611
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline

We're getting our pork and chickens on Saturday.

This is the first time I've done all beef, chicken, and pork. The last few years we've just done the beef.

We did get a big freezer this year though.

_____________________________

Tamara

~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~

Post #: 7

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 12:17:14 PM

Tea-Tea

Posts: 590
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Mr. Sippi
Status: offline

If I were to can the pie filling, how would I process it? I'm assuming it would be safe. Since I made up the recipe, I'm gun shy...I've always followed canning recipes when I've canned.

_____________________________

~Tammy~

"If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love."
spoken by Betsie ten Boom in The Hiding Place

Post #: 8

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 12:48:44 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

Tammy - I say go for it. (a single batch anyway) Since it is only apples, flour, sugar and cinnamon I'd process it like applesauce. pack with about 1/4" of headspace and bwb 20 minutes either pints or quarts. If it turns out as you hope GREAT. If it turns out not quite right improvise and call it ... some other dessert. It's not like you'd have to throw it out and that's how we learn.

Of course, I hope you'll let us know how it turns out so we can all know.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 9

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 12:56:55 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

Tamara - Good for you. It is so nice knowing where your meat comes from.

I'm presently cooking up all my soup bones to can the meat to make room for the pig and chickens that I have to bring home "by Monday night". My neighbor is so gracious. She's giving me just as much time as possible - especially since it's canning season.

What size freezer were you able to buy? One of my two

is a 25 sq ft that I bought at JC Penney in 1979. Even if I didn't say you could tell how old it is because they haven't carried appliances in........decades. I don't know that I'd be able to replace it with the same size.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 10

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 1:00:02 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

Tammy! I glanced back and your avatar has changed! What a wonderful photo of your little sweetie. I love the ones where you look into their little face and they make you smile back.

Now I have GOT to get back to work!

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 11

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 1:10:35 PM

Auben

Posts: 1611
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline

I bought it from a neighbor down the street during the all-city garage sale. She even threw in a small toy for my 5 year old because she's the school crossing guard. It's 5 feet long and 4 feet deep.

I passed on our small one to a friend who's freezing more veggies then I am!

But she's a vegetarian so she doesn't really need big, I guess.

_____________________________

Tamara

~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~

Post #: 12

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/23/2008 1:42:13 PM

Tea-Tea

Posts: 590
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Mr. Sippi
Status: offline

I'm not so worried that it won't taste right or anything. I'm worried it won't seal right or it will spoil...because I've heard if you don't do the right thing for the right foods, they can spoil. But you're right, it is very similar to applesauce (only left chunky and not completely soft) so it should work.

Thanks for the avatar comment. That's our favorite current picture. Well, there's another one with her and her daddy in that same box that's cute too.

Speaking of freezers...my aunt has offered us her upright frost free that's only a few years old (not sure how big exactly...it's about the size of a good-sized fridge but that's all I know). Only problem is where to put it. We have a covered back patio but no power out there (and my aunt wasn't sure she had the key for the lock on it...and we HAVE to have a key). I'm still trying to figure it out because I want it BAD!

_____________________________

~Tammy~

"If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love."
spoken by Betsie ten Boom in The Hiding Place

Post #: 13

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/26/2008 2:57:25 PM

mrs.witt

Posts: 12
Joined: 6/25/2008
Status: offline

i have look all over the place for a canning book to learn how any one knows a good canning book .i do mostley freezing.

help

Post #: 14

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/27/2008 7:30:51 AM

Grace-N-Mercy

Posts: 6390
Joined: 5/2/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mrs.witt

i have look all over the place for a canning book to learn how any one knows a good canning book .i do mostley freezing.

I've heard that the Ball Blue Book is excellent, though I have yet to do any canning. HERE'S a link to that book and others.

I'm in the process of collecting jars from friends so I can do my first-ever canning experience. I want to make pepper jelly.

My mom canned once many years ago then decided it wasn't worth the effort, but I really want to give this a try. I want to become more self-sufficient in the way of foods in my home instead of relying on convenience foods -- they're just so bad for you, and expensive too.

Post #: 15

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/27/2008 10:05:42 AM

mrs.witt

Posts: 12
Joined: 6/25/2008
Status: offline

thank you grace-n-grace for helping me out.
i need to learn to canned because food is so high in the stores.
and you are right food is getting bad.and i say thank you once again.

god bless you.

Post #: 16

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/27/2008 11:27:31 AM

Grace-N-Mercy

Posts: 6390
Joined: 5/2/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mrs.witt

thank you grace-n-grace for helping me out.
i need to learn to canned because food is so high in the stores.
and you are right food is getting bad.and i say thank you once again.

god bless you.

Very true! But be careful you don't buy a lot of expensive equipment until you know it's going to pay off. I've made that mistake before. I'm going to put out the word I'm looking for jars, then I'm going to learn to use my stock pot for my first canning projects.

Post #: 17

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/28/2008 4:00:17 PM

Tea-Tea

Posts: 590
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Mr. Sippi
Status: offline

One place to start is your local home extension service (that's what it's called here). They usually have information (brochures, pamphlets, etc.) for you. Most of it's free and sometimes they sell some items (the state of Alabama has a great food preservation book that they sell pretty cheaply). You want to make sure that if you're in a humid climate, you receive information for your specific area. I have to can some things a little differently than someone in a more dry, cooler climate (mostly it's just processing times).

Look online. I've found some college campuses with canning/food preservation information. Also, I think Ball has a website that gives information. Better yet, go to the library. I bet there's a bunch of books there.

You'd be surprised what you can do with a stock pot and a rack. I was able to find an actual canner with a rack at a garage sale (look for sales that are elderly ladies moving out of their homes--they would be most likely to have canning equipment). Just be sure if you buy a used pressure canner that you have it checked by a professional before you use it.

_____________________________

~Tammy~

"If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love."
spoken by Betsie ten Boom in The Hiding Place

Post #: 18

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/30/2008 1:03:31 PM

Wild-Rose

Posts: 403
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
Status: online

I've been freezing fruit. My freezer is full of serving size bags of peaches, blueberries and blackberries. Lots of strawberries too. I freeze individual servings of fruit so that when someone just wants some on their oatmeal or ice cream, the rest does not go to waste.

_____________________________

Wild-Rose

Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Post #: 19

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/30/2008 5:28:45 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

Wild-Rose what is your method for keeping all those little bags under control?

I have some meal sized bags of veggies in Ziploc vacuum bags in my freezer. One of these days I'm going to round them up and put them into bigger vacuum bags - I think. I'm also thinking of putting varieties in those bags instead of all one kind. That way I can have, say, a week's worth of veggies and then move the plastic bag out of the freezer. In the past I have put all the same veggie in the large bags and I still end up with a lot of bits and pieces floating all over the freezer. The more I "talk" the more I like this new idea.

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 20

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 9/30/2008 6:09:32 PM

Wild-Rose

Posts: 403
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
Status: online

quote:

Wild-Rose what is your method for keeping all those little bags under control?

From left to right , they are as they came into season: strawberries, blackberies, blueberries, peaches.

_____________________________

Wild-Rose

Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Post #: 21

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 10/2/2008 10:58:27 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

Wild-Rose That sounds like good strategy. But what do you do to contain all the little bags so they don't end up all over the freezer.?

- - - -
The garden is in danger of freezing tonight and I'm just not ready for that. Friend Hubby said there was ice (not frost, ICE) on the pickup this morning but not on the other vehicle parked outside.

It was dark when I left this morning and dark when I got home but what I could see of the garden looked alright. We did cover what we could in the dark and I'm praying for the rest to be alright until tomorrow. Two days ago I had opted to work on the things I already had inside before bringing in more. I don't think I have time to go with that strategy. Tomorrow everything that would be damaged by frost will come in!

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 22

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 10/3/2008 8:52:38 AM

Wild-Rose

Posts: 403
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
Status: online

Well, the truth is that I don't contain them. They just all stay to the left hand side and the ice cream and meat and other stuff stays on the right hand side. I understand what you mean, they fall over , but I guess it doesn't matter to me. My freezer is not packed full. I suppose if I wanted to use it to the maximum capacity I would have to be better organized.

You may have thought that I was an organized person, I'm not.

_____________________________

Wild-Rose

Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Post #: 23

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 10/3/2008 1:03:39 PM

joyfulmn

Posts: 345
Joined: 5/21/2006
From: not as small town MN as it used to be
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wild-Rose
You may have thought that I was an organized person, I'm not.

<wipes had across brow> Phew! I'm not alone.

- - - -
The garden looks good this morning. (Thank You Lord) I guess I have my work cut out for me.... <groan> Is that called mixed emotions?

_____________________________

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Post #: 24

RE: Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences - 10/6/2008 7:08:23 PM

charity7

Posts: 181
Status: offline

I can apple pie filling and peach pie filling every year--wonderful to open and dump in a crust and bake--easy and fast

_____________________________

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible!

check out www.chesca.org/becker and PLEASE sign the guestbook

God is Good All The Time!!

Post #: 25

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

All Forums >> [Fun] >> Home & Garden >> Gardening and Canning / Freezing Experiences

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Jump to:

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts

Forum Tools
Music Folder Forums \| Register \| Login \| My Profile \| Inbox \| Address Book \| My Subscription \| My Forums Photo Gallery \| Member List \| Search \| Calendars \| FAQ \| TOS \| Disclaimer \| Ticket List \| Log Out \|

	Faith Community Network is a proud member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: CCMmagazine.com \| ChristianJobs.com \| ChurchStaffing.com \| Crosscards.com \| CrossDaily.com \| Crosswalk.com \| LightSource.com \| OnePlace.com \| SermonSearch.com \| TheFish.com \| XulonPress.com \| YouthWorkerJournal.com
	Enjoy the websites of these Faith Community Network Sponsors: ChristianBook.com \| EHarmony.com \| Gospel for Asia \| LifewayStores.com \| Campus Crusade for Christ \| Trinity College and Seminary \| Townhall.com \| Moody Distance Learning Center \| Billygraham.org © Copyright 2006, FaithCommunityNetwork.com. All rights reserved.