Spinach and Strawberries

Spinach is rich in saponin (a soap-like natural substance within the plant), which is of benefit for any following crops, particularly cabbage. Spinach also grows well next to strawberries-both crops seem to benefit from the others presence.

From: The Organic Fruit and Vegetable Gardener's Year

The Benefits of Home Dairy

The home milker knows exactly how the milk was handled--how clean the milk area and utensils were, how quickly the milk was cooled and to what temperature, how long it has been store, and how the cow, itself, was raised and fed.

From: "The Backyard Homestead"

~Krissy Van Criss

The Art of Canning

Hello, Friends,

I decided I should do this post, because it is getting to be that time of year. I probably should have done it sooner, since some people start canning in August, because of the produce they get from their gardens. I don't really have an excuse. =)

 "The Homestead Blessings Series"

In August we watched this movie called: The Art of Canning, by the West Ladies, Hannah, Vicki, CeCe and Jasmine. It gave some really helpful tips and insights on canning. You can get the DVD for more information. They also have more movies on: Gardening, herbs, Canning, soap making, candle making, cooking, quilting, sewing and crafts...I think there are a few more, but I will spare you the details. =)

"The Art of Canning", with: The West Ladies

From basic skills to more advanced techniques and tricks that come from years of experience, The Art of Canning is sure to provide you with the skill-sets you need to can a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Learn about:

• Equipment
• Cleaning
• Sealing
• Storage
• Water-bath method
• Pressure method
• Tomatoes
• Green Beans
• Jams
• Eggs
• ...and much more!

If you are interested, and would like to buy this DVD, please go to Vision Forum, Or Franklin Springs for more information.

~Krissy Van Criss

Preserving Garden Produce

Now that we've had a fruitful harvest, it's now time to preserve our food! Here are just a few ideas for preserving your food.

Apple Sauce. Every year, from our own apple trees and friends', we've made apple sauce. I'm sure there are millions of different ways to prepare apple sauce, but this is the way we've done it. Wash, peel, and core the apples, then, in a big stock pot, fill with about an inch of water and the apples. Cook on low for an hour, stirring periodically. Then, mix in mixer. We've always froze our apple sauce, but you can also can it.

Green beans. Since learning to can, I was hoping to can more food this year, but we don't have a pressure cooker, and since green beans are a low acid food, we'd have to can them using one. So, we decided to freeze our green beans. After washing and snapping the beans, get a pot of water boiling on the stove and have another pot or bowl full of ice cold water. Put the snapped green beans in the boiling water, cover with lid, and let them sit for 3 minutes. After that, drain the water, and put the green beans into the cold water for 3 minutes. Make sure the water says ice cold by adding lots of ice! Then bag the beans and be sure to date them!

Peaches. Some good friends of our gave us a whole bunch of peaches. We decided to freeze them instead of can them because this way we can make peach shakes, a favorite! The first time we froze them, we only cut them in half, and quarters are better on the blender.

Sauerkraut. We grew a lot of cabbage in our garden this year, so we decided to make sauerkraut with it! My sister made it last year for the first time. I had always told myself that I didn't like it, but once I tried it, I sure did! There are a couple different variations on making it, but I'll just give you the recipe I used.

3 Tbs and 1 tsp. salt

2 Tbs. Caraway seeds

4 medium heads of cabbage

Grate the cabbage by hand or with a food processor, them mix in the salt. Squeeze, or pound with a meat pounder for a few minutes. Then pack into jars, leaving about 1 inch head space. Put jars in dark space for 3-15 days. I let mine sit for 10 days and it tasted really good!

Have fun in your kitchen!

Proverbs 27:18,23,25-27

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintanence for thy maidens.