Garden...

Heading up tomorrow, about 6 miles only, starting @
carson-pass-sierras-california.jpg


3696005985_09dd328625.jpg
 
I love that neck of the woods. The Sierras are a required destination for our family when we travel out west and get remotely close.
 
I’m trying something different this year. I’m dehydrating my small tomatoes instead of juicing them. I haven’t used many dehydrated tomatoes in the past but as I try to eat a bit more healthily I find more recipes calling for sun dried tomatoes so I thought, ‘Why not make my own this year?’

micd4y.jpg
 
I have been freezing them whole, cherry tomatoes freeze well & stay a little tangy.. But only put them in sauces for pasta...

Vacuum seal??
 
I’m trying something different this year. I’m dehydrating my small tomatoes instead of juicing them. I haven’t used many dehydrated tomatoes in the past but as I try to eat a bit more healthily I find more recipes calling for sun dried tomatoes so I thought, ‘Why not make my own this year?’

micd4y.jpg

Are you using a dehydrator, or air?

I have a question for you on the walking onions. So they got planted last fall, are big and boisterous now, the tops look like they're growing new ones! Do you cut those off and plant them? When do you harvest the part that is in the ground?
 
Are you using a dehydrator, or air?

I have a question for you on the walking onions. So they got planted last fall, are big and boisterous now, the tops look like they're growing new ones! Do you cut those off and plant them? When do you harvest the part that is in the ground?

Edit: I forgot to answer your first question. I have a cheap, Walmart dehydrator someone gave me years ago. I fill the trays when I get up and they’re ready to empty that evening. I tell you, that dehydrator has been a good one. I ran it nearly 24/7 for a week last fall dehydrating pears. I used a timer on it then because I had so many pears to take care of.

My parents ate the green tops as they wanted while they were young and tender and left the rest to do what they would. Same with the bulbs. They just ate them as they wanted and left the rest in the ground. They dug them all up before a hard freeze to have to put out the next year. Mom would use some throughout the winter but always kept enough to plant in the spring. As far as the tops growing new tops, I would suspect that wherever those touch the ground they’d take root and grow new bulbs. They would probably do it some on their own but I suppose one could lend them a hand.
 
Was just reading they are very evasive in Ohio & banned in Indiana, so I guess it can survive there if it is Lonicera japonica, which it does look like..

Should be great in a pot on the deck..:)

I planted a pot of this blue-eyed grass "Lucerne" a few years ago and it began to take over the garden! Now I just pull it out. After reading these posts I may put some in a pot to keep it contained and still enjoy the flowers.


48483.jpg
 
One use of a wild hog. Spam

Start with a 40-50 pound pig.



From the little hog I cured the hams and one shoulder...



After curing I ground 1/2 cured and 1/2 fresh through the coarsest plate of my grinder.



Then I mix the ground pig with a binding, preserving slurry.



Pack it into loaf pans.



Cook it low and slow till it’s done. Place in fridge with bricks wrapped in foil as weights on top of it overnight.



Remove from pans, block or slice. I vacuum packed and froze this batch but at times will can it in jars. Freezing is much easier and less time consuming.







Good stuff. We have so many of these things that I’ve looked for more creative ways to use them. This is one of them.
 
I just love your posts, and how you show us how to do things and how you know the old ways. Very impressive!

Thank you. I just got back from a birthday dinner /party for my cousin. He turned 70 today. I have some of the seeds from the Indian peaches drying for you. You can pm where you’d like them sent. I canned 17 pints today and made a lower card/cal cobbler out of some. I have canned and dehydrated all the tomatoes I can use this year and have been giving the bulk of the rest away. Gotta go back to work Monday...my real job, so my gardening will take a back seat to Math and baseball. I’m retired but will be teaching half days. My son, though, will keep me following him and that little round ball everywhere.

I’ve thought about checking into teaching some classes at the Tech Center on gardening and preserving. As much as I like to teach I think it’d be fun. I may wait until my boy graduates and do just that.
 
Thank you. I just got back from a birthday dinner /party for my cousin. He turned 70 today. I have some of the seeds from the Indian peaches drying for you. You can pm where you’d like them sent. I canned 17 pints today and made a lower card/cal cobbler out of some. I have canned and dehydrated all the tomatoes I can use this year and have been giving the bulk of the rest away. Gotta go back to work Monday...my real job, so my gardening will take a back seat to Math and baseball. I’m retired but will be teaching half days. My son, though, will keep me following him and that little round ball everywhere.

I’ve thought about checking into teaching some classes at the Tech Center on gardening and preserving. As much as I like to teach I think it’d be fun. I may wait until my boy graduates and do just that.

Good luck next week! I sent you a PM regarding the peaches.... thank you again, very much.

A class like that should get a lot of interest. Wish we had something like that here!
 
Thank you. I just got back from a birthday dinner /party for my cousin. He turned 70 today. I have some of the seeds from the Indian peaches drying for you. You can pm where you’d like them sent. I canned 17 pints today and made a lower card/cal cobbler out of some. I have canned and dehydrated all the tomatoes I can use this year and have been giving the bulk of the rest away. Gotta go back to work Monday...my real job, so my gardening will take a back seat to Math and baseball. I’m retired but will be teaching half days. My son, though, will keep me following him and that little round ball everywhere.

I’ve thought about checking into teaching some classes at the Tech Center on gardening and preserving. As much as I like to teach I think it’d be fun. I may wait until my boy graduates and do just that.

Have fun on your new adventure.:)
 
Reviving this old thread. Just tilled the garden a couple of weeks ago. Hoping for a late winter or early spring snow to fall on it. That does it so much good. Will be putting out onions and cabbage in a couple of weeks.
 
Reviving this old thread. Just tilled the garden a couple of weeks ago. Hoping for a late winter or early spring snow to fall on it. That does it so much good. Will be putting out onions and cabbage in a couple of weeks.

Wow, can't even imagine! We've got over two feet of snow on the ground, heading for a high of 9F on Wednesday. It must be lovely there! Are the trees budding yet?
 
Wow, can't even imagine! We've got over two feet of snow on the ground, heading for a high of 9F on Wednesday. It must be lovely there! Are the trees budding yet?

Yes ma’am, the elm trees are starting to bud. We still have cool days ahead. But last Sunday was 72 degrees. Highs this week are supposed to be in the 40’s. But planting time here often coincides with Valentine’s Day.
 
Yes ma’am, the elm trees are starting to bud. We still have cool days ahead. But last Sunday was 72 degrees. Highs this week are supposed to be in the 40’s. But planting time here often coincides with Valentine’s Day.

Incredible! I'm a little envious, but then you have those summers. No thanks!
 
Reviving this old thread. Just tilled the garden a couple of weeks ago. Hoping for a late winter or early spring snow to fall on it. That does it so much good. Will be putting out onions and cabbage in a couple of weeks.

What does that do to the soil?? Here spring has already sprung it seems...
 
Back
Top