How did you preserve your garden?

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I was looking for something to build for winter growing that would emulate growing season through automation such as at atmospheric control (temp wise)
I would love to have heat and cooling, but am ok for now with just prolonging and jump starting the growing seasons. I saw a 10,000 sq ft greenhouse in Fla that had a large radiator with a well. The water was 72 degrees year round, so worked for cooling and heating. This guy was a dentist, and I have a feeling it cost more that my house. Was really nice though. He grew orchids, no veggies.....
 
I have honestly not ever had such a struggle growing and producing as I have this year. With all the rain things wanted to drowned and then if I could get it to grow, it didn't want to produce the fruit. . . I have bees on the property so pollination was not an issue. My okra grew and produced, but they never did reach the height they normally do. The only thing that produced very well was the lettuce, carrots, radish, green beans and the 'dry' beans. My melons which I am normally eating on by the first of July didn't produce till the end of August. It was a mild summer for us. . .the temp never did reach over 100 (calculating humidify level yes) and there were not too many days we didn't get a breeze which is also unusual.
 
I have honestly not ever had such a struggle growing and producing as I have this year. With all the rain things wanted to drowned and then if I could get it to grow, it didn't want to produce the fruit. . . I have bees on the property so pollination was not an issue. My okra grew and produced, but they never did reach the height they normally do. The only thing that produced very well was the lettuce, carrots, radish, green beans and the 'dry' beans. My melons which I am normally eating on by the first of July didn't produce till the end of August. It was a mild summer for us. . .the temp never did reach over 100 (calculating humidify level yes) and there were not too many days we didn't get a breeze which is also unusual.
I am afraid it's a sign of the times to come. The weather is changing, regardless of the cause. We all will have to find ways to adapt. The controlled environment of a green house is just one way, looking for new things to grow is another. All I know for sure is we need to learn to find ways. I've read and watched shows on the 'salad bowl' for N America. The area out west where big ag grows 70% of our vegetables. They are running out of water trying to irrigate in a desert from a limited supply of an underground resevour. It won't be very long before they can't produce enough to feed the masses, and prices will start to climb. Feeding yourself may become a lot more than just a healthy hobby in the future, but a necessity.
 
It has been a good season. Canning is coming to an end and I am looking forward to snow, lots of snow, please. And a mowed garden space again. Our garden has been prolific except for the tomatoes. Corn is all gone now- roughly 1000 ears cut off and in the basement deep freezer. Lots of pickled beets, okras, peppers, beans, veggie soup, apple sauce. We are stocked. Except for jelly, haven't made any jelly at all- yet. Grapes are coming in. I bought my first order of freeze dried foods from my little boy's school teacher-thrive life. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste but it is too expensive for storage in my opinion. Watching the lambs quarters go to seed-thinking of harvesting this wild Appalachia "quinoa" grain. Pumpkins and candy roasters all very big-piled up in the basement with the potatoes. Watermelons and cantaloupes were ate, so so good. Any one have any experience with home freeze drying successfully? My husband does hvac and has a vacuum. Dehydrater is humming with habaneros.
 
It has been a good season. Canning is coming to an end and I am looking forward to snow, lots of snow, please. And a mowed garden space again. Our garden has been prolific except for the tomatoes. Corn is all gone now- roughly 1000 ears cut off and in the basement deep freezer. Lots of pickled beets, okras, peppers, beans, veggie soup, apple sauce. We are stocked. Except for jelly, haven't made any jelly at all- yet. Grapes are coming in. I bought my first order of freeze dried foods from my little boy's school teacher-thrive life. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste but it is too expensive for storage in my opinion. Watching the lambs quarters go to seed-thinking of harvesting this wild Appalachia "quinoa" grain. Pumpkins and candy roasters all very big-piled up in the basement with the potatoes. Watermelons and cantaloupes were ate, so so good. Any one have any experience with home freeze drying successfully? My husband does hvac and has a vacuum. Dehydrater is humming with habaneros.
I'm glad someone had a good productive year! Most had problems with the weather. I managed to put away a decent amount, but it certainly wasn't a record year. I have learned to plant three times what you think you need. A third for Mother Nature when she dosent cooperate. A third for critters, as squirrels and crows are darned determined little buggars, and then hopefully you get the final third.
I just read a blurb that someone made a home dehydrator that was more economical. It was still out of my budget so I didn't pay too much attention to it though. If I come across it again I'll post it.
 
We had our first frost this morning. Doesn't look like it did any damage though. We're still getting some jalapeno peppers and a few tomato's and have a lot of pie pumpkins. I don't have a clue what to do with them. Hopefully they will last until the wife comes home in a few weeks. A green house is on my list of building projects for next year.
 
We had our first frost this morning. Doesn't look like it did any damage though. We're still getting some jalapeno peppers and a few tomato's and have a lot of pie pumpkins. I don't have a clue what to do with them. Hopefully they will last until the wife comes home in a few weeks. A green house is on my list of building projects for next year.
Were a long way off from frost, but at least it's getting a little cooler. Our biggest problem is needing rain. It's been dry for so long the stream in the front just stopped flowing. I probably have a week before the main pond dries up, as it's about a foot low now. I have a larger creek on the back of the property that never stops flowing. I really need to get my irrigation from it instead of the front one. I watered the greenhouse yesterday, but won't be able to again until it rains.
 
Were a long way off from frost, but at least it's getting a little cooler. Our biggest problem is needing rain. It's been dry for so long the stream in the front just stopped flowing. I probably have a week before the main pond dries up, as it's about a foot low now. I have a larger creek on the back of the property that never stops flowing. I really need to get my irrigation from it instead of the front one. I watered the greenhouse yesterday, but won't be able to again until it rains.
We haven't had any rain in over 3 months now. Some meadow areas are sub irrigated but they are drying out too. The pond is about 8' low. It still has plenty of water to last until it rains again. I hope.
 
We haven't had any rain in over 3 months now. Some meadow areas are sub irrigated but they are drying out too. The pond is about 8' low. It still has plenty of water to last until it rains again. I hope.
I just checked the weather and nothing heading my way for at least ten days. So much for the front pond.
 
Yesterday my wife ordered an All American 921 pressure canner. I don't know anything about canning yet but I am looking forward to learning.
Uh oh, you'll be on a watch list now! Seriously, to me canning your own food is a major part of prepping and self reliance. When your garden has a great year, what the heck are you going to do with 2500 tomatoes if you don't can?
 
Well I will be canning my chicken broth from what I boiled on Thursday, also have some chicken sausage gumbo that will need to get canned. From the garden since I have my pressure cooker going, I will be doing some Mustard Greens. Yes, that is one of those things that the Blue Ball stays away from, but I do it anyway.
 
Uh oh, you'll be on a watch list now! Seriously, to me canning your own food is a major part of prepping and self reliance. When your garden has a great year, what the heck are you going to do with 2500 tomatoes if you don't can?

Yep I have to second that, Brent. When a garden is on form, you can forget going to the store. Home preserved tastes so much better too.
 
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Yep I have to second that, Brent. When a garden is on form, you can forget going to the store. Home preserved tastes so much better too.
That's a major part of why I'm trying to learn to grow things, the tasting better. I swear the tomatoes at Walmart are completely flavorless. The healthier is a good motivator, and the self sufficient aspect just tops it all off.
 

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