Canning Summer Produce

Early last spring I asked my parents if I could plant a garden out at their farm.  The response was "Yes".  Then we began plotting and planning what we would plant in our garden.  This was a joint garden adventure with my Dad, my Mom and myself.  We each wanted different produce grown in the garden.  Dad had two different plots tilled by my Uncle Frank.  Then we waited for my plants to arrive that I ordered and we each purchased some seeds to plant.

In the small plot, we planted spinach, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, cucumbers, onions, and big hearty tomatoes.  Then the girls helped me plant marigolds all around the outside of the plot to keep the rabbits away.  Rabbits do not like the smell or taste of marigold flowers.  We also put wire cages around the tomato and pepper plants.

In the large plot, we planted green beans, peas, beets, sweet corn, pumpkins, Roma tomatoes, cantaloupe, squash, and gladiola flowers.  At one point, Dad and I had to put up a chicken wire fence around two sides because something was eating the tops of my green beans.  I have told him to leave the fence up for next year.  We have been eating produce from the garden during the summer.  

Now that the tomatoes have ripened, I have been canning salsa.  I tried my hand at canning last year and I am giving it another go this year.  The salsa that we made last year was almost all gone.  So far this year, I have canned three half batches of salsa.  I have only been able to do a half batch at a time because of how many tomatoes are ripe at one time.  Next I think I will can a batch of tomato juice to use in soups over the winter months.

We have already started talking about what to plant next year and how to arrange the plants differently in the two plots.  The kids and I have spent quite a bit of time at the farm watering and picking produce, but we sure do like eating what we have grown.

Take care,
Michelle