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Health & Wellness

Saving Your Garden Harvest

Don’t throw away your hard work, time and money. Learn how to get the most out of every harvest so nothing goes to waste!


Whether you have a few plants on a terrace or an expansive backyard garden, now is the time to consider how to preserve the benefits of your hard work. There are a number of ways to keep the vegetables and herbs you’ve grown and use them even as the seasons begin to change.

 

Herbs should be gently washed and dried

You may freeze fresh herbs by laying them on a flat surface (plate, cookie sheet, etc.) and placing them in the freezer. When frozen, bag the herbs. You can also chop fresh herbs and make herb ice cubes to use in stews, soups, and other liquids. Place a good amount of chopped herbs in an ice cube tray. Add water to fill the container, and freeze.

If you prefer dried herbs, you can dry many herbs by placing them on a cookie sheet or baking pan and placing in the oven at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir or flip the herbs occasionally. It may take 2-3 hours to fully dry. When done, let cool and store!

 

Freezing is appropriate for some vegetables

Green beans, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and corn are easy to freeze! Wash and blanch the vegetables prior to freezing to kill any bacteria that remains on the produce. To blanch the vegetables, place in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Remove from the water and cool before placing in the freezer.

Some vegetables can be stored for long periods of time if kept in a cool, dark environment. Potatoes and onions can be stored for a month or longer.

You may want to convert your vegetable harvest into sauces or salsas that can be frozen. A bumper tomato harvest is best preserved this way.

 

Canning is a time honored way to preserve fresh produce

If you are new to canning, do your research and follow the directions very carefully to make sure your food is bacteria free and remains safe to eat.

Take some time to preserve and enjoy your garden crop. It is a good way to save money and eat healthy foods well into the fall and winter.