Sand

According to a few web searches, the way to store carrots is in sand.  This weekend I got some sand, added some water, and played in the dirt.  Time will tell if this is an effective storage tool, but I can say, it's a fun way to preserve.  A little belatedly I realized that I'd better put the lid on the plastic bin I used...it looks a little too much like cat litter.  I'd rather not have some surprise discoveries in bobbing for carrots.  In the picture you can see that I've added some potatoes to the top row.  I've also got potatoes in an open basket, so I can compare the two to see if potatoes would do better in the sand. 

I've been sick for the last week, so not much more has been done on the path to a prosperous pantry.  I did manage to buy some tuna, beans, and flour this weekend.  I'm hoping to buy some apples this week and make apple sauce.  I'd also like to buy and can some pumpkin or squash.  I'm also thinking about eggs again. I'd just about decided they were something I would end up buying through winter, but a discussion at the Small Planet workshop at the Boston Book Fair reminded me that eggs really are supposed to be a "seasonal crop". 

I'm really feeling like the sand in my hourglass is getting low.  The growing season has been extended by our exceedingly warm fall, so I might have some peas and beans to put away after all.  Last weekend it got above 80 degrees and this weekend it was around 70.  Unfortunately, the farmer's market will only remain open through October, even though it could be mid-November before we hit frost.  I'll have to drive out to the farm myself.  I've still got a bunch of meat on the list, along with some fall vegetables. 

I wouldn't say what I've done so far has been particularly difficult.  Perhaps difficult in the sense of finding time, but despite a hectic fall, I've managed to do a little bit at a time.  I might actually get through most of my list.  Then we'll have to see how long the food will last!  I really hope the late fall doesn't mean winter will last a long time.  I'm operating on the principle that I could at least produce some food by the end of April (even if it's just spinach, salad greens, and peas).

The List So Far

Canned
16 (8) jars of tomato sauce
18 cans of soup
8 (4) jars of fruit pie filling
16 jars of apple sauce
16 cans of meat
8 (3) jars of tomato juice
8 jars of pickles (except we ate or gave away all but 1 jar already!)
4 jars Ghee
4 jars of creamed corn
4 jars of sauerkraut
6 jars black beans

Frozen
4 (1) dozen eggs (maybe more) for baking
4 whole chickens
16 pork chops
9 lbs ground meat (in 1 lb portions)
16 fish fillets
18 cups berries
4 cups broccoli
8 cups tomatoes
8 cups zucchini/squash mix
8 cups peas
8 cups green beans
8 cups cauliflower
8 cups corn
4 cups pumpkin puree
4 packages butter

Cellar
20 (10) lbs potatoes
4 (2)  lbs onions
10 lbs carrots
2 lbs brussel sprouts
2 lbs garlic

Pantry
10 lbs rice
5 lbs sugar
20 lbs flour
3 jars maple syrup
3 jars honey
Huge can olive oil
Large jar of sunflower oil
Large jug of vinegar
Dried milk (for baking)
Salt/Pepper
Spices

Other staples:
ziplock bags
paper towels
aluminum foil
parchment paper/wax paper

A Load of Carrots

I had a plan for carrots.  Since they're a root crop I figured I could over-winter them in the garden instead of preserving them some other way.  I'd throw a bag of leaves or hay over them and all would be well.  Of course there was one little problem.  Something, or rather somethings were eating my carrots.  I pulled a nice big one to have a bite, and discovered little bugs all over it.  I pulled another one...same thing.  I quickly realized that if I wanted to rescue my carrots I was going to have to pull them all up.  Bah, humbug. 

Now I'm looking at other ways to store them.  Many online recommendations include damp sand and a cool basement.  I suppose that's something I can handle on Saturday morning.  I've been thinking about that method for my potatoes too.  I think we did better with carrots than with potatoes this year (although I haven't weighed the carrots yet), but they will both need an easy storage method.

I have a feeling this may be the last crop I get from my garden this year.  I'd hoped to have enough beans to put aside some beans for winter, but I started a little late.  The brussel sprouts didn't sprout, the cabbage is about 2 leaves worth of plant, and the cauliflower was completely demolished by aphids.  I don't much like kale, turnips, or parsnips, so I didn't  plant any this year.  What's the point if you don't want to eat it?

So my winter planning continues...slowly.  At the rate I'm going I might last a couple of weeks without shopping, maybe.  But no worries, this is nothing that a trip to the farmer's market or the grocery store can't solve, yet.

Tomatoes

Well, I've had a few busy weekends, and a few upcoming weekends promise to be just as busy, so I'm happy to have at least gotten as much done as I've been able to (which isn't much).

I did manage to put away 9 pints of tomato sauce, 8 in cans and one in a freezer bag.  I'm planning on making and freezing pizza crusts to go with the sauce.  I'd also like to put together packages of toppings so that I can have a quick and easy option for days I'm not too keen on cooking.  I figure we can make pizza every 3 weeks or so. 

I'd like to have canned more, but our garden hasn't really produced that many cannable tomatoes.  We have a ton of yellow tomatoes (which are great too) but we can't can them.  I have put aside 2 quarts of whole tomatoes so I can make some sauce later.  So I bought a box of tomatoes for $20 at the local farmers market.  I doubt there will still be any boxes available by the time I can get to a farmers market again, so I'm not likely to put any more tomatoes away for the winter.  That's okay, they really are best when fresh.

There's not too much from the garden that we've managed to set aside lately.  I did freeze some broccoli and I've got some green peppers ready to be picked.  I also have some carrots, but I'm planning on overwintering them. Our raspberry are still doing well. I've put away a few pints of our own raspberries, along with 2 pints from the farmers market.  There'd be more in the freezer if we didn't keep eating them all the time :) 

I'd really like to start canning soups soon.  After that I'll move on to buying supplies for the pantry.