stocking up.. what have you put back so far this summer?

so i know its early in the growing season, but so far this year we have put back
freezer inventory, 2007 (as of 7/17/07)
18 qt bags zuch, shredded
6 qt bags spagh squash


canned inventory 2007 (as of 7/17/07)
33 qt tomatoes
1 pt tomatoes
2 pint blackberry grape jam
2- 1/2 pint blackberry grape jam
2 qt pickled jalapeno peppers
2 pint green beans

mind you weve been eating out of our gardens and greenhouse daily as well an our harvest has just begun,so we will update this list periodically.
anyway,, what have you put back for winter so far this growing season???

 

I just froze about 3 lugs of peaches. The other stuff we eat as fast as it's harvested.

 

we couldnt begin to eat all ours as fast as its harvested.. we have about 80 tomato plants alone.. the zucchini an spaghetti squash have went nuts an ,,, well when the potatoes come in,, its gonna be insane..

the okra an beans an cabbage an such we wont put much back as we didnt plant as much.

 

We only plant what we can eat during the current growing season. Reason for that is it minimizes the maintaince and watering of the plants. I am getting older, I did my canning and crap when I was younger. Canning isn't something you want to really be involved in around here when the temperature outside is 105 and inside it's in the low 90s with a cooler. Boiling water for the jars, and cooking the syrup just makes life oppressive.

 

this is true,however, here its rarely above 90 ,, an well for us its a necessity to put back as much as possible, as we do this as a way of life more than just for a hobby..

 

It wasn't a hobby for my family, it was a means of providing food, but I've been there done that. And if I don't have to do it now I am not going to.

I remember as a kid being forced to help my granny can, it was hot, it was sticky, and many of the canned goods were allowed to rot in the long term.

 

to each his own..

nothing gos to waste here,, on the slim chance something were to go bad it would go to the hog or back into compost..

 

Well glory in your work. That's admirable.

 

I wonder just how edible canned spaghetti squash actually is?

 

you dont can it,, you freeze it after its cooked and its extremely edible, just heat it up and add what spices or sauce ya want.. it will last a year in the freezer

 

as i type had to update the list,, 10 more quarts of tomatoes in the cupboard..

 

Yeah, granny did that too, but think of the expense of the watering an maintenance of the plants in the garden, plus the work involved in the canning, just to feed the hogs and the compost. Or the space frozen stuff takes up in the freezer which uses energy.

My system is working for me at the moment, I don't feel compelled to compete on how many jars canned. I'd rather eat it fresh harvested anyway...no need to boil or add sugar or salt.

 

Wouldn't have frozen peaches, but for some reason my poor little peach tree really bore heavy this year, and everyone was busy so they didn't want to bother. Will probably give the frozen peaches to family when they get over being busy with a butt load of weddings that are taking place with nieces and nephews this year. Must be something in the air.

 

oh i aint tryin to start a competition at all,, i was just wondering what others would put up this season.

as far as your latest comments,

dilligaf loves her role,l so none of the weeding or processing is "work" to her so thats not a problem.

the jars and rings are reusable so we only buy lids, and baggies. very inexpensive.

as far as energy for the freezer, a full freezer uses far less energy than a empty
one.

once again what you choose is your choice. it would seem you are getting a bit defensive over something that in no way was meant to start a debate on stocking up or not doing so in the first place...

 

Not defensive, just another viewpoint that fresh is tastier than frozen or canned. Each has it's place. But I don't think canning or gardening should ever be a competition, like the reality shows on tv.

 

You may not think so, but she toils, and I hope you give her credit for her effort.

 

Out of curiousity, any of you big males weed or can? Or you just fire up the rototiller every year and riding the tractor that fulfulls your gardening urges. Perhaps supplemented with counting jars canned?

 

once again its not a competition,, just a curiosity on our part..

i know what dilli does around here,,.. we have a agreement,, i work in babylon to get things paid off an she does everything around here,,.. yes she even shovels shit and cuts an stacks firewood (well she cuts the lil shit after i fell the trees)..

ya know why she does all that selflessly?

cause she worked with me for 3 years an she knows how hard this "big male" works off the property..

ya see thats how partnerships work..

but i fail to see what any of this has to do with what others are stocking up..

you seem to be dragging this thread way off topic,, an aint that against forums guidelines???

 

What exactly is it you do in Babylon? Try and remember it is a partnership and her labor is work and does matter.

 

How is it outside the guidelines? I'd love to see pictures of your garden, and hear more about the distribution of labor. I'd like to see some posts by dilli.