I forgot to mention that we had lots and lots of tomato plants, for the purpose of canning tomato juice, tomatoes, ketchup, perserves, etc. Also, we had pear trees that my mother canned/or wrapped in paper to ripen.
She prided herself in her canned goods lined up in our cellar for the entire winter. We wanted for nothing. The supply that she canned lasted us all winter, until the new supply would ready.
Each day was a canning day during the summer months. What was canned was what was in the gardens to preserve. Jars had to be washed, sterilized, and produce had to be picked, washed, stemed, shelled or what ever needed to be done. She would put the food in the jars and place them in a hot water bath until the proper time of cooking. The woodburning cookstove was roaring all summer long, because there were a lot of produce to can.
These are the produce that I know was canned each year--Corn, beets, tomatoes, tomato juice,
grape juice, pickles (all kinds-dill, bread & butter, sweet, relishes), peas, green beans, mixed vegetables for soup, pears, peaches (9 bushels), apples, cherries, pineapple, pepper relish, all kinds of jellies (raspberry, grape, crabapple, apple, peach) were made. She canned beef that was just out of this world in taste.
Cabbage was put up and made into kraut and then put into cans as well. Lots of kraut was made.
She would put this in large crocks with salt and let it ferment. A washed large rock would hold the kraut down under the brine until processed.
On another day, I will tell you about our root vegetables that were preserved.
When I think back of the work that my mother put in to do all of this, without complaining, I just am amazed. (more about her attitude at a later time). We lacked for nothing in the food line on our table.
I am so grateful for all that God has supplied in the form of food for our human race. (All colors, textures and tastes) What a creator!!!
Wisdom for the day--Proverbs 6:6-8 "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
Proverbs 30:25 "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer"
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1 comment:
Well, all I can say is that we have lost something very valuable in these modern times! What would most of us do if we had to completely fend for ourselves nowadays without the benefit of storebought items?! I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to begin! And I grew up on a farm!!
Gary
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