Preserving the Harvest

Yes, our house is on the market and yes I still have a producing vegetable garden! After all I have no idea how long it will take to sell our home and I still believe in having a well-stocked pantry. Plus, I don’t want any of the harvest to go to waste! So how do I preserve our harvest? Here are a few ways.

Garlic: I just pulled our garlic and it is currently drying for a few days before I make garlic braids. I grow just enough to get us through until next summer!

Zucchini – There are many ways to use up zucchini. Two favorite ways are;

Zucchini Cake

Zucchini Relish

Tomatoes – I have already been enjoying the gold cherry tomatoes, which haven’t made it up to the house yet! When we have too many to eat I often will dehydrate the cherry tomatoes. I also make a terrific Tomato Basil Sauce and an amazing Salsa. Another favorite is my Oven Roasted Pizza Sauce, nothing tastes better on one of my husbands amazing pizzas!Herbs: I often dry herbs and as a result I have an abundance of dried herbs in my pantry!Herbs can also be frozen and used during the winter.

Beans: I love fresh garden beans and usually we eat most everything I grow but if there is an abundance I will either can or freeze the excess.Apples: We don’t have apple trees, but there are numerous orchards nearby. I love picking apples and every year will can up enough applesauce to see us through the winter. Homemade applesauce does not compare to the store bought version!

Leeks: I don’t grow leeks every year but when I do they usually do very well in our garden. There are several ways I preserve the leeks, either by dehydrating or by freezing.

Kale: Kale can also be preserved much like the leeks.

Peppers: If you have excess peppers in your garden or even if you don’t you can buy them during the summer months for much cheaper than in the winter. Buy them now and freeze them to enjoy this winter!

In addition to these methods of preserving the harvest I also do a lot of canning, both with a water bath and a pressure cooker. Check out my Top 20 Canning Posts for more ideas.

Whether you use your pantry or your freezer take advantage of cheaper prices during the summer months and preserve the harvest!

It’s hard to have a house on the market as I am really trying to eat from the pantry so I don’t have to move it all. At the same time it could take several years for us to sell out home and I don’t want any of that harvest to go to waste! Best way to avoid waste is to preserve the harvest! What are your favorite ways to preserve your harvest?