Preparing to Can
efore I do any canning, I need to do some sorting. I have to say all these carrots are edible, and if we were short on carrots every last one them could go to the kitchen instead of the barn. With a little trimming each and every carrot in this batch from the greenhouse would be fine. But, we’re not short on carrots, and we could use some in the barn for Jane, Blake and Willy.
Sorting didn’t amount to much except topping, and putting obvious splits and chews in the barn pile. For the kitchen pile, any trimmings can either be put in the stock pot, or in a bucket for the barn. A quick field wash is all they will get before being transferred to the kitchen or barn.
House carrots, barn carrots
Carrot guard
Trace never wants to miss an opportunity for a carrot, especially one he didn’t have to harvest himself. He’s happy to sit under the washing screen until I turn on the hose.
King windfalls
The other item on the canning agenda is applesauce, and the stormy weather is providing ample windfalls from the King trees. We treat these like the carrots, any drops that are too bruised or blemished go in a bucket for the barn, and the “good” ones go to the house. With the days so dark and short, I find myself canning in the evenings after foraging during the day for goods to preserve.
What’s keeping you busy now in the evenings?
Food Renegade
Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op
Plotting & planning : )
I’ve started cooking veggies at night for the pigs’ breakfast… lots of pumpkins & turnips recently. They seem to like a warm meal.
I don’t do as well with cooking projects at night. I’m a morning girl..
AMF, me too, but I’m wasting daylight if I spend my time canning, it wasn’t so bad until the rains started, but now it’s dark and gloomy all day long. It actually helps to get outside, at least for me. I’m a morning person too, but too many chores in the am to start canning then
That’s a tasty looking bunch of roots you have there. Ever try pickling any of the smaller ones?
Wayne, thank you! I haven’t tried pickling or fermenting carrots, we’re not big pickle eaters, except the kraut and an occasional cucumber or pumpkin pickle. Jackie from Auburn Meadow mentioned some Mexican style pickled carrots – maybe she’ll share the recipe…hint, hint.
I’ve been busy canning, getting our new crappy old truck sorted so it’s safe for a teen age driver and deciding which rifle stock I want to refinish first and what I want to do with it.
Not doing a lot as the early snow is still hanging around. No doubt later on I shall get back to studying but pulling my brain around after our rather long and slow growing season is taking a lot of doing
Are you turning bruised apples into milk or do they go to the herefords?
Milk and horse meat, err I mean horse food. Maybe a little bear and venison too. Too far to pack to the Herefords
We turn ours into bacon but the pigs ship in the morning. Don’t know what I’ll do then. Make eggs I guess.
What ever is the most convenient is what happens here. Jane is the closest one to feed, then the chickens or sheep next I guess. The Herefords will get the pumpkins though.
My goats think carrot pennies are the best thing that ever happened to my jacket pocket.
Love that picture of Trace. Ever vigilant. Ever hopeful.
Oh, I can’t wait to start canning for the first time. This upcoming Spring season will be my frist try at it! I am so excited just thinking about it!
Lana
Your header photo is… interesting. I am still trying to figure it out! We are dealing with apples. I am wishing that I could make apple pies out of all of them.
Bluejeanqueen13, it’s a chestnut burr. Prickly fellow! I know the apples are amazing this year. Buckets and boxes full, and the trees are still loaded – I hope I can get them all picked and utilized!