In the fall, my mind goes back to the days when we lived in the old farmhouse by the covered bridge, and we grew and canned most of our fruits and vegetables. Both gardening and canning were hard work and messy work, but it was well worth the effort. Everything tasted so good! Best of all was homemade apple sauce. I would like to tell you that this was a wonderful family project that brought all of us closer together, but in truth I was the one that did the work and everyone else served as taste testers. This was not because they were not asked to help but the kids felt that their talents lay in the tasting area rather then in the canning area..

            I have three copies of the Ball Blue Book. It is unquestionably the home canner’s bible for preserving foods. First printed in 1909, the Ball Blue Book has been a staple in almost every kitchen in America. My oldest book has the copyright date of 1974 and that was the 29th edition. I also have edition 31 which was printed in 1984. The Ball Blue Book of Preserving is now put out by Jarden Home Brands and it still contains the same no nonsense information that the first book had plus much more. As you can see, the Ball Blue Book has been around for a very long time and is much loved by everyone who appreciates good wholesome food. It has literally everything you could ever need to know about canning in it. So, if you would like to can some of those wonderful vegetables and fruits that you have in your garden do get a copy of the Ball Blue Book before you do anything else. It is available directly from Jarden Home Brands, the maker of Ball Canning Jars and supplies. See links below.

For the Ball Blue Book   $4.95 USD

Available at Amazon.com

For products and recipes

http://www.freshpreserving.com/pages/search/180.php                                                             

Home Canner’s Help Line 

(USA) 1-800-240-3340

            Ball and Kerr are the major brands for canning jars and equipment. If you have never canned before I would recommend that you get the Ball Blue Book and read it cover to cover before you buy anything. Don’t invest a lot of money in equipment the first year. Just buy the very basics and see if canning is for you. You can always expand your supplies as you go along. If you are already a canner then you already know that you cannot reuse canning lids so get to the store and buy your new supply before they are all gone.

            Here are some tips to make your canning experience more pleasant –

1. Place newspaper on the floor where you will be working. It will absorb the drips and make clean up much easier.
2. Wash your jars, lids and rings in hot water before you start canning.
3. Fill your jars with the foods you will be canning while at the sink.
4. Follow the directions to the letter. No short cuts. Short cuts will compromise the quality of the foods and the safety of your family.
5. Cover your kitchen table with several thick layers of towels. When you remove your jars from the canner, place them upright on the towels on the table. The jars will be very hot and the towels will protect your table from the heat.
6. Cover the canning jars with a thick towel. From time to time canning jars will explode as they cool, especially if they are set in a cool drafty area. Placing a towel over them prevents flying glass, hot foods and it helps to keep the temperature of the canning jars even so they are less likely to explode.
7. Make sure that you have some pint jars too. There is always a little bit of left over food when you are canning. Place this in pint jars and can per the directions in your Ball Blue Book. These small jars make great gifts that your friends and family will love.
           

Helpful Hints for Planting your garden

            Plant the taller vegetables like corn, peas, tomatoes etc. on the north side of your garden. This too will help to keep them from shading your smaller vegetables. The medium sized crops as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli can be planted in the middle and root plants as carrots, beets, and onions on the southern side of the garden. I like to plant the vines in a separate area from the rest of the garden.  This prevents the vines from choking the other plants and it makes weeding easier.

            Speaking of weeding there is black plastic mesh matting that you can buy from your gardening store that you can place on your garden before planting. You simply cut a slit in the mesh and plant you seedling through the slit and into the soil.  The matting holds moisture in the soil while keeping weeds out. It also allows for oxygen transfer. If you are not into weeding this is a great option.

            You can start your seeds inside and later transplant them outside. Build boxes and make them waterproof. Fill with good soil and plant your seeds in the boxes. Plant a few extra seeds of each variety because not all of the seeds will germinate. Install grow lights over the boxes to help in the germination process. A few weeks before you are ready to transfer your plants to the outside transfer the boxes to the outside and place glass windows over them. This way the seeds can get used to the sun and the winds before being planted in the garden. Be sure to prop the window/lids open during the heat of the day so that your seedlings won’t cook from the heat of the sun. After a couple of weeks you can transplant to your garden. You can also visit your local nursery and buy plants that are ready to transplant. Don’t forget to plant some flowers and fruits like strawberries in your garden. Flowers help the bees to find and to pollinate your crops.

            Container gardens are a great way to grow your own veggies in a small area. Plan each size container according to the size and quantity of the veggies that you will place in it.  Be sure to place the containers in the sunniest part of the yard.

            Get your soil ready and start your seeds. You are well on your way to eating healthier foods at a fraction of the cost. AND they taste great too!