Gardening for Dummies

 I should probably write a book.  You know, like those that are Raising Bees for Dummies or Blogging for  Dummies.  Only I will call it Gardening for Dummies.  We have been here in Missouri now three years.  Each year we plant a garden and each year we are disappointed when the amount of effort does not equal the amount of production.  Well, my friends.  Not this year.  

Last year we planted 26 tomato plants.  They got tall but leggy.  There were enough tomatoes along with some my neighbor gave me to make a little salsa.  That was okay since I was dealing with a boatload of pears at the time.  We got a few squash, some peppers, and a few potatoes.  This year we increased the tomatoes to 33 plants.  We planted cabbage, onions, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, and green beans.  The garden soon grew to jungle proportions.  The tomatoes are caged, but the plants are so big and so heavy with tomatoes that they are falling over.  I even took some wire and some jute and tied them up to keep them off the ground. Every single plant has produced epic amounts of tomatoes.  I have Romas, cherry, big boys, early boys, and heritage.  

The picture above is a daily picking.  Cucumbers and beans and zucchini, oh my!  

This picture is from July when the garden was first starting to get going.  Our pole beans got so tall and so thick that when we had a heavy rain, the whole trellis fell over.  We used mule tape and heavy wood stakes to hold it up.  (I staked them up myself, thinking they would be like last year's pole beans....wrong!)

I planted two plants of the scallop squash.  Next year it will be one.  We fried it.  We baked bread with it.  We grated it and froze it.  I even breaded it and froze it for use later.  Then I donated 70 to the local food bank and on Monday I have about 25 more to take there.

So I started canning.  I bought a pressure canner this year to take care of all the green beans, but the amount of produce I have gotten has also supplied some family members and neighbors.

Glad we are getting eggs as well since the price of eggs has gone up over 40%!  Yikes!

  

My freezer is full and so is my basement storage.  I guess we are ready for the apocalypse!  So far I have frozen:  

• freezer slaw
• shredded squash
• breaded squash

And canned:

• ground tomatoes
• tomato soup
• corn
• green beans
• dill slices
• bread and butter pickles
• salsa
• pasta sauce
• soup starter
• tomato juice
• chili base 
• dill relish
• sweet zucchini relish 
• dilly beans
• corn relish

I feel tired from just writing all this.  We are still harvesting.  Today I picked beans, cukes, tomatoes, and a watermelon.  We still have pumpkins, potatoes, more cabbage, and some onions.  Though I am tired I feel so blessed to have this produce available.  It has been lots of work, but I feel some pride and enjoyment in seeing the bounty.  

Well, off to do more farm stuff!  Hope your weekend is great and your find happiness wherever you live!

                        

Salsa Time!

 Yowza!  Could it really be August already?  I'm not gonna lie, this heat has been a real killer.  But my tomatoes are liking it.  I have really gotten some big ones this year.  

And the green beans have been crazy!  I froze some of my beans, and some of my tomatoes, because the Mr. chokes on veggies and I cannot eat them fast enough.  I gave some beans to my neighbor and she rewarded me with a bag of Roma tomatoes.  

Romas make the best salsa because they are firm and not too large, and they just aren't the best for slicing.  I knew salsa was in my future, so I was chomping at the bit to get started.  To prep the tomatoes, simply start a pot of water boiling, and when it is a rolling boil, blanch the tomatoes.  I use a handled colander, the kind that look like screen wire.  All the water gets in, none of the tomato-y goodness gets out.  Submerge the tomatoes for a few seconds, and immediately plunge them into ice water.  I use an ice cream bucket, but you can use a pan or bowl.  When the tomatoes have cooled to the touch, the peels will just slide off.  It is actually kinda fun in a creepy sort of way.

Chop the tomatoes to your desired chunkiness.  We like our salsa not as chunky, more creamy, so I put mine in one of those little ninja type blenders.  If you like yours chunkier, simply use a cutting board and dice away.  Then put it in a pot.

I am also growing jalapenos and onions, so Voila!  Instant salsa, right?  Well you do have to do a bit of prep work on these as well.  Cut up the onions to desired size, again, I used the little blender.  The jalapenos are another story.  I learned the hard way, not to cut the peppers up without gloving up. Remove the seeds! Jalapenos are made up of capsaicin and related compounds  that give it heat.  Not only do you feel it in your mouth, it can actually burn your skin.  

The recipe I used can be tweaked for more or less heat.  Make it your own!  Make it saucy or chunky.  Hot or mild.  I added the bell peppers because I had them.  Maybe you don't like cilantro, then leave it out.  

                  Hot Salsa Recipe 

About a gallon of prepared Roma tomatoes

3 cups onions

2 cups jalapeno peppers

1 cup bell pepper

1/4 cup vinegar

1/3 cup cilantro

About a teaspoon of salt

Stir it all together and heat until boiling.  Don't let it boil very long or you will break down your veggies and it will get all foamy.  While you are heating your salsa, sterilize your jars and lids.  You can do this ahead of time and put them in the oven on about 200 degrees until you are ready for them.  I wait until I am getting ready to use them so I don't heat up the house by running the oven.  

Fill your hot, sterilized jars, being careful to leave about an inch of headspace in each jars.  For me, this recipe made about 9 1/2 pints.  Place in a hot water canner for approximately 15 minutes.  

Make sure your jars seal.  There is nothing more exciting when you are finished with all your hard work than hearing that little "POP" let you know it is properly sealed.  This year, for the first time, I have tried the one piece lids.  So far, they have been a success!  And they are easier too!

Tip:  I use a turkey fryer to heat my canner.  You can do it on your stove, but the turkey fryer, out on the porch or deck, does not heat up the house and gets hot quicker.  The disadvantage, of course, is that you have to take things back and forth, but believe me: it is well worth it.  

Another tip:  If you don't have enough tomatoes to make salsa (or a great neighbor who brings them to you) core and peel your tomatoes just as if you were canning them.  Freeze them in gallon bags until you have enough.  You can also freeze onions and jalapenos.  Just chop and freeze.  Put them in small bags so you don't end up with a clump to thaw out.

I am loving these warm summer days, in spite of the heat.  My flowers are loving it as well.  

I hope you are loving summer too!  Let me know what is going on in your neck of the woods!