One of my favorite things about this time of year is the bounty of gorgeous produce coming out of my garden and available at the farmers market. I am determined to be more prepared for winter this year. I've been putting bag after bag of chard, apricots, green beans, cherries, raspberries, and blueberries in the freezer.
Putting food back for winter makes me feel so paleolithic:) I love the intense connection I feel to the cycle of nature, to time, and to life itself. For our paleolithic ancestors, preparing for winter was a matter of life and death. I know that at any time I could go to the grocery store and grab a head of lettuce, so the experience is not the same. I choose not to do that though, and it's got me thinking. The thoughts are all kind of jumbled in here, so I hope I can express myself coherently.
The idea of eating local and in season is very important to me. Now, if I put those eggplants and peppers in the freezer and eat them in January, I won't be eating in season, but I think my freezer uses a lot less energy than the semi truck hauling the head of lettuce from California in January. Our Paleolithic ancestors didn't have canning machines or a deep freeze, depending on how close they were to a glacier! They had dried meat and root vegetables, but no cherries or peaches. The thought of really truly eating in season all year, sounds just awful, but it would be better for the environment than running my freezer. What do you think about that? Could you do it? Do you know anyone who sticks to such a diet?
While we're talking about food storage methods, I'm trying a new recipe for pickled pepperoncini. These are fermented pickles instead of the heat processed kind. You can find the recipe here. I've been reading about this method of preserving and it's really interesting. Kind of scary because of the fear that has been pounded into us about bacteria. I stop and check out my jar of peppers everyday. It has another week to go, then we'll see what they taste like. Wish me luck!
This has been a crazy, busy Friday. I am looking forward to a lazy weekend. How about you? What are your plans?
I love peppercinis they are my favorites on sandwiches and especially on pepperoni pizza, there is no pepperoni pizza for my without peppercinis.
ReplyDeleteHow are you freezing your chard?
ReplyDeleteThis is my first season preserving: I've put up strawberry and blueberry jam, I have peaches waiting for a vanilla bourbon syrup tomorrow, and a half bushel of tomatoes coming next week for sauce and oven dried tomatoes.
I really want to try lacto-fermentation, but I've been to chicken!!
ReplyDelete@Emily, I just rinsed it off and put it in a plastic freezer bag, with a little water still clinging. I didn't think that maybe I should blanch it first. I think this will be ok. I'll find out!
ReplyDeleteI think it's important for everyone to think more about eating local. And eating more simply, instead of mass produced processed foods. Home food preservation is undergoing a renaissance too. One of my favorite childhood memories is helping my Aunt Jan make apple butter. So delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting subject! I need to start making more of an effort to eat local foods... last year I lapsed into a routine which involved way too many convenience foods. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteBobbi, my experience with preserving is in drying, canning and freezing. The best I ever did was with some homemade salsa. If you have lots of tomatoes you can can enough in the summer to do you a whole year. Good for you in trying to leave as soft a footprint on the world as possible. xo
ReplyDelete@Rhett, I'm planning to do some salsa this year. I planted something like 18 tomatoes, so am hoping for a good yield!
ReplyDelete@Shadow, yum! Apple butter!
Preserving locals naturally would provide a better health benefits than today's leading commercialized preservation. I'd also go on eating locals in bulk.
ReplyDeletePreserving locals naturally would provide a better health benefits than today's leading commercialized preservation. I'd also go on eating locals in bulk.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Barbara Kingsolver's fabulous book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle? If not, you might love it.
ReplyDeleteHello Bobbi,these peppers looks fantastic! I am glad your garden is doing well and local produce is a plus. I am always sad when the season is over and I have to hit the grocery stores again. Have a wonderful week, cheers, Monika.....
ReplyDeleteYour photos are just awesome!
ReplyDeleteHowever, you know me.
I would not eat the stuff.
I'm into bland and boring.
And I don't think anything ever is in season in Deadwood.
Unless you eat pinecones and deer droppings.
:-)