Harvest Time

Click on pics to enlarge 

It's that time of year when all our hard work is paying off.  As we were preparing the garden for last nights frost we harvested about half of the tomatoes along with another picking of squash, chives, peppers and Swiss chard.  And I can't forget our one 'little' pumpkin.

 We only picked about half of the tomatoes - if that many.   We've already processed several jars of canned tomatoes and we made juice.  We've had a few meals of fried green tomatoes and lots of fresh eating.  Today is another day of canning more beautiful maters. Come winter, they are so flavorful.

I've been dehydrating herbs for several days too. The below pics are of the wonderful crop of parsley we had this year.  I planted them with my petunias and it was such a showy backdrop for the flowers. You can see pics of them on some of my past posts. 

I've had this dehydrator for so many years that I can't even think back that far.  I'd be willing to bet they probably don't even make this 'off-brand' unit any longer. It has seen a lot of use and  I will be lost if the day ever comes that it just plain gives up on me.  I've used it for everything from herbs to vegetables, jerky, fruits, you name it!  It's like an old friend that shows up for it's annual visit usually in the fall. 

 Once I had the dehydrator loaded for day and knowing we planned on working in the garden and yard for the day, I put a ham in the slow cooker.  Once we came in and got cleaned up I boiled some new red potatoes for parsley buttered spuds.  Oh my goodness ...  have I mentioned how I love this time of year!

Baking, Canning & Company

Oh how I love this time of year!

 Baking

(zucchini breads)

and more baking 

(more zucchini breads)

and canning 

(green & wax beans)

and pickling

(vegetable medley) 

and more pickling! 

(pickled radishes)

And to top it all off we had company!
My oldest sister and her husband spent
this past weekend with us!
Always a good time! 

Something to Ponder:

I came across this verse by Gertrude Jekyll as I was planning this years vegetable garden.  I found it to be so true, no matter what you choose; be it a container garden, a wall garden, a field garden or raised beds ~ which happens to be what we do for the most part because of our sandy soil conditions ~ I wish you all a season of happy gardening! 

I do not envy

the owners of

very large gardens.

The garden should fit

its master ... just

as his clothes do;

it should be neither

too large or too small,

but just comfortable. 

Gertrude Jekyll 

And in advance; 

Happy Harvesting! 

End of Summer Chores

The end of summer means

bringing in some of the plants

we hope to keep going 

until next spring.

 and herbs

 and the rack to hold them

 and sorting through

tomatoes and plums

 and doing yet another batch of canning

once you thought you were done

who would have thought we still

had that many vegetables left ?!

I believe I may have reached the

end of my canning for the season!

Canned Carrots and Pickled Vegetable Mix

 Refrigerator Pickles

 and now to keep up with the tomatoes as

they ripen, if we can't keep up - I think I'll freeze them

 Cherry tomatoes ripening every day

 but somehow we manage to eat them as fast as they turn red

Yummy!

I haven't been posting much lately

because I've been

keeping myself busy

 preparing for winter

Apple Butter

 "In an orchard

there should be

enough to eat,

enough to lay up,

enough to be stolen,

and enough to rot

upon the ground." 

Samuel Madden

We picked enough to 'lay up'

some apple butter & some dried apples

 they required very little sugar

added along with

cinnamon and nutmeg

 cooking in the crock pot all day

until it becomes a delicious

apple butter

 the dehydrator worked its magic

and with time 

these apples became tasty treats

Apples

apple picking time 

 means baking apple strudel

 and apple crisp

 and a bowl of fresh

The rewards of gardening!

and more coming soon!

Canning from the "Green Gate Garden "

There is nothing better than

fresh garden produce

 but in those cold winter months

home canned goods

makes the body just as happy

 along with some home grown herbs

 late bloomers put a smile

on my face

Green Gate Garden

Fresh from the garden

 Herbs, tomatoes, a pepper and

a handful of beans before the raindrops fell

enough to make a great spaghetti sauce

 with some spinach on the side

along with some garlic herb bread

and swiss chard for the freezer