domesticity

Really took the plunge this year and got some canning done.

peaches (round 1. round 2 happens next week)

applesauce (more to come a bit later in the fall)

corn

pears and spiced pear jam

I have gotten way more into it this year. It makes me feel good to know that I helped save us a little money. My kids love the home-canned fruit (bonus!). And I like acquiring new skills. I just wish I had a better place to store it all. That little closet underneath the stairs is getting pretty full now.

produce farms

Today we took a trip to Wapato, WA with my in-laws. We went to buy some
produce in bulk. This has been a long time tradition of theirs and we only
live an hour away from Wapato, so we joined in the fun. And it WAS fun!
The prices for the fruit were much better than any I have seen locally too.

This cantaloupe was not something that we got in bulk, but we saw them
bring them in straight from the field, I guess, and they looked so good we got one.
This guy was just over 8 lbs
Have you ever seen an 8lb cantaloupe in the grocery store?

I sliced it up right away and it is perfectly ripe and sweet and juicy.
MMMM!

We also met up with Corey, Sarah and their kids, who live about an hour
in the other direction.

So, what we got was:

8 boxes of tomatoes
1 box plums
1 box nectarines
6 boxes apples
7 boxes peaches
1 giant sack of corn

The only things we got for ourselves were 2 apples boxes and the giant sack of corn.
All the rest we picked up for friends.
I am planning on mustering up the courage to run the pressure canner to
can some of the corn. And I plan on making some apple sauce and maybe some apple butter.

I do think that it is worth it to can your own food. I agree with your comments on my other post. It is a lot of work, but it is nice knowing exactly where your food comes from and it is
a much better price in the end. I'm not afraid of a little work.

canning

Yesterday I spent the e n t i r e day (practically) canning peaches.
Supposedly, it's cost effective, but I am not so sure about efficiency of time.
Is it really, truly worth it to spend all that time?
It was quite a process. Not hard, just time consuming.

My neighbor, Trina joined me.

41 lbs = 3 pints and 19 quarts of peaches.

$38 for this batch (not the best price), but don't you think I could buy
38 cans of peaches at the store for just as much??? I don't know for sure.
Just wondering.
I know they don't taste quite the same and you don't get the joy of
preserving your own food. I'm just thinking logistics right now.

Give me your best arguments (in my comment box)