Monday, June 20, 2016

Harvest to Harvest



When I began preserving food all those years ago, I had a dream of one day preserving enough food to make it from harvest to harvest. I met that goal last summer, just barely, with a few different things. This year, though, I have exceeded my expectations.

As I harvested ramps from the forest a month ago and made pesto for the freezer, there was still pesto left from last spring’s harvest. As we prepare to pick strawberries this week, we are still eating frozen strawberries and strawberry jam from our trip to the strawberry farm last summer. As we enjoy pickled beets, dilly beans, dilly snow peas, fermented pickles and more, I am watching these foods grow in the garden, and thinking about harvesting them to put by for the coming winter. As I watch the garlic scapes emerge and begin to curl, from garlic I grew last summer, I pull a jar of garlic scape pesto from the freezer for dinner. Blueberries, garlic, zucchini, green beans...these foods from harvests last summer are still being enjoyed.

It feels pretty incredible to be at the point where Reece and I are eating from the garden year round, with lots to spare as we reach the next harvest. Every time I open a jar of food, reach into the freezer for berries or peaches, or pull a jar of fermented pickles from the fridge, I am reminded of the hard work, time, energy, and love that went in to making this food.

Harvest to harvest, I made it this year, in a big way, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

21 comments:

  1. I know that feeling well Kim, and it's a good one! Enjoy.

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  2. Wow! That's amazing Kim! Glad that you have met your goal. :)

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  3. Oh I hear you! We are still eating from last year as I'm starting to put by greens and pesto for the next... I realized a few days ago that we hadn't bought a single can of tomatoes all year : And we still have some! It's pretty exciting. Hope your harvest this year is just as rewarding!

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    1. It is exciting, and makes me so very happy. So glad to hear the same is true for you guys.

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  4. Wow - amazing! Congrats on exceeding your goal :)

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  5. This is so great! I did that with tomatoes this year. I harvest 10 pounds of tomatoes already and have two bags of tomatoes in the freezer still. I aspire to to get to the point you're at. I think as I learn more about sustainable desert gardening and desert gardening in general I will get to the point that we can eat mostly from the garden.

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  6. That is amazing! You are such an inspiration to us all.

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    1. Aw, thanks my friend. You inspire me too :)

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  7. what an incredible accomplishment!! you are such an inspiration!

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  8. That's a pretty impressive achievement, congratulations and fingers crossed this year is as successful.

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  9. So awesome! I have slacked a little bit over the past few years. I have hopes of doing more preserving in the coming years though.... I need to find a preserving club so I have strength (and motivation) in numbers!

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  10. Amazing Kim. So amazing and inspiring! Lots of hard work, I can only imagine! How do you freeze your pesto? I've got some scapes that are ready! Thanks.

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    1. Aw, thanks Maggie. Yes, lots of hard work, but hard work that brings me much joy.

      I just whip it up in the food processor, although with scapes I tend to use the high speed blender for a smoother pesto, and then freeze in jars. Super easy.

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