Finding Contentment

The bounty begins

The garden is starting to produce nicely. This was yesterday's bounty after I washed it. We have a lot of pickling cucumbers and green beans already, and are starting to get squash. But now I have run into a dilema. We planted a lot of green beans, peas, etc. that I had planned to can for winter.

However, with my husband's job loss weighing heavily on us, I can't spend the money for a pressure canner. I have a hot water bath canner that I purchased earlier to make strawberry jam, and I think I can use it to pickle the cucumbers and can the tomatoes since they have a high acidity level. But how do I can the beans and peas? Using a hot water bath canner doesn't destroy the bacteria in these items.

I had planned on having a pressure canner by now, but things rarely go as planned do they? Here in the city I don't even know anyone I could borrow a pressure canner from. The veggies are certainly coming in handy right now by cutting down on our grocery bill, so I praise God for that. But they will soon be producing more than we can eat at a time. We only have the tiny freezer that comes on top of our refrigerator, and I plan on freezing some squash and okra when it produces. I still have to freeze other things, too.

I don't think I even know anyone who would cook fresh green beans or peas if I gave them to them! Everyone I know gets them out of a can. And I really would like to have them for winter. Oh well. The Lord gave us the bounty of the vegetables, perhaps he will see fit to give us a way to keep them. If not, I will praise him for giving fresh garden veggies in the summer.

In the meantime, wish me luck with my first cucumber pickling session, which I have plans to do in the next few days - as soon as I get enough cucumbers.

Untitled Comment

12:34 PM, Friday, June 22, 2007 .. Posted by southernbelle

I love seeing garden related pictures! Isn't that satisfying getting things out of your garden! The cukes are very nice!

You are blessed

11:28 PM, Friday, June 22, 2007 .. Posted by cindy

I absolutely love your picture of your bountiful blessings. Oh how I wish I had some growing myself. I don't know what to tell you about the canning of the bean and pea's but I will tell you that With a harvest aplenty the Lord will provide means of preserving them if that is your hearts desire. Go to Him in prayer and be specific. He knows your needs and your desires already but love it when we ask for His help. I will be praying for you too and trust in Him to see you through.
You may also want to go to www.freecycle.com and register for your area, ask on there if anyone has one they do not use. The Lord might bless you this way.

freezing

05:11 PM, Saturday, June 23, 2007 .. Posted by JubileeFarm5

Do you have a deep freeze? You can blanche the beans and then freeze them. Not as ideal as canning, but you are right in that you need the pressure cooker for beans. We had a horrible draught this year, and my garden is not doing well at all. We canned 60 quarts of green beans last year, and this year I don't think I will have any to can, only some for a few meals here and there. So try to freeze them if you can, you will be glad later.
Melanie

Untitled Comment

11:47 PM, Monday, June 25, 2007 .. Posted by meme21713

For extra money now could you sell your veggies on the side of a road near your house? They do that here and I tell you they sell it all..I eat fresh string beans but not the can ones. I cook my beans in water just for about 10 minutes after the water starts to boil..Add beans to jars with boiling juice to cover the beans and they last all year...Hope this helps...Debbie