Harvest healthy vegetables and herbs where you can
- Alemoyne
- Jul 23, 2020
- 3 min read
Where to harvest those fresh vegetables and herbs
Selection from our local farm stands
You can harvest organic vegetables and herbs from your own yard or from local farmers – or mix it up like we did this year to get a great variety. We really enjoyed all the vegetables and herbs that we grew this year in our little garden. We had a few summer vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and several herbs. On our deck we had planters of basil, violets, chives and mint (wonderful for those summer Mojitos). We also visited all the local farm stands in the area and picked three that had such a wonderful variety to offer us.
Herbs from my garden
I’ve been storing all this wonderful food away either in canning jars or in my new little freezer which I am so excited we got in August. Now we will be able to have delicious local food all winter long. My goal is the have the freezer empty by the spring when it’s time to start foraging, visit the local farm stands and plant new veggies.
My canned pickles – so yummy!
Sweet Pickle Slices
Ingredients
4 quarts cucumbers medium sized about 6 lbs
1 1/2 cups onions small white sliced about 1 lb
2 large garlic cloves
1/3 cup salt
2 trays ice crushed or cubed
4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp tumeric
1 1/2 tsp celery seed
9 tsp mustard seed
3 cups vinegar white
Instructions
Wash cucumber thoroughly
Slice unpeeled cucumbers into 1/4 inch thick slices
Place into a large metal bowl
Add onions and garlic
Add salt and mix together
Cover with ice
Let stand for 3 hours
Drain and remove garlic cloves
Combine sugar, spices and vinegar into a large pot, heat to just boiling
Add drained cucumbers and onions
Heat for 5 minutes
Pack hot pickles loosely into clean warm pint jars
Cover with hot liquid to 1/2 inch from the top of the jar
Cover and process in boiling water for 5 minutes (start the timing of the processing when the water returns to boiling
After 5 minutes remove from water and place on a towel several inches apart
Tighten lids after cooled
My family loved this recipe. You can get all your canning supplies here.
Now that the business of harvesting is done – I’ve finished canning, freezing, making pestos and drying lots of herbs to have as teas or to make medicinal tinctures. I even froze several fruits like peaches and apples after I prepped them so that I can make some jams and jellies to give as holiday gifts. Be sure to check out the projects as I get them done.
I have to say Fall is my favorite season. I really like them all but Fall seems like a time when I can finally slow down a bit. I’m starting to think about inside projects that I want to work on. Do you have any cool weather projects that you are going to be working on? Being outside, walking, doing yard chores and just enjoying the nice crisp air is the best. I’m not a big fan of humidity!
Moving into the next season of Fall
This weekend I put all the gardens “to bed” as some say here in New England. I pulled out all of the annual plants and cut back or harvest any medicinal herbs. Now the plants can send their energy down to the roots so they are strong and happy over the winter months.
Summer walk in Beebe Woods
Summer was so much fun – It seemed to go by in a flash! The memories made with this our first full summer on Cape Cod will last a lifetime. Visiting friends and family, days at the beautiful beach, Ivy adventure days as we call them around here (a day that just focuses on fun things to do with our special little dog) – pet friendly day trips, trail walking and just taking a nice stroll downtown so she can make new friends. Our new town is starting to really feel like home.
The Village Green in our new home town
Did you enjoy your summer?
Share some fun activities you plan to do during the fall season?
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