The summer has flown by and we are now in the middle of September already!
I never got a second crop of anything in because I have been so busy with work now that the college workers are back in school. It has been a fabulous growing season mostly for us. The wet Spring damaged a lot of our fruit trees but the garden itself produced its heart out for us.
I am having surgery next Tuesday and will have a 10 lb. weight limit put on me for six whole weeks which will drive me nuts at work but will unfortunately cut my gardening season short this year as well.
It’s ok though, like I said our little garden out-performed itself this year and I actually kept up on it for once.
As far as the preserving of all of this lovely produce, here’s where I have been super busy!
- Strawberry Jam
- Grape Jelly
- Peach Jam
- Blackberry Jelly
- Dandelion Jelly
- Honeyed Yellow Tomato Butter
- Basil Banana Pepper Jelly
- Apple Sauce
- Grape Juice
- Pickled Beets
- Canned Beets
- Vegetable Stock
- Vegetable Soup
- Blackberry, Peach, Cordials
- Frozen Corn
- Frozen Peppers
- Frozen Beet Greens/Chard
- Red Root Relish
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Tomato Sauce
- Frozen Winter Squash and some stored whole
- Chili
- Stuffed Sweet Peppers
- Frozen summer/zucchini squash
- Shredded zucchini
- Strawberry Syrup
- Blackberry Syrup
- Dill Pickle Relish
- Sweet Pickle Relish
With my surgery cutting my growing season short, it also cuts my preserving goals a little short too. I still plan on getting the grapes and the apples done but the beets might have to wait until next year.
I made a gigantic pot of chili using my tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic and will get that in the freezer for easy meals today.
I have also been busy drying herbs. Basil and lemon balm so far. Chives will get frozen, parsley and sage will also get dried as well.
I’ll post one more update sometime in October to wrap up my season.
What have you been up to this summer with your garden and preserving? I would love to hear from you! -MM
The Professional Domestic 
First of all, hoping that your surgery goes well and you have a full, quick recovery! You really did get a lot from your garden, hurrah! We are working tomatoes here at the moment. We finished 30 pints of salsa today, so will go back to cooking down for sauce now. After tomorrow I may have a canner load of sauce, and we still have LOTS of tomatoes so as long as the weather holds, we are going full speed!
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