Garden abundance is the dream of every budding gardener out there.
Imagine having so much fresh produce, you don’t know what to do with it!? In temperate climates, the majority of your garden produce will come in the summertime.
Once the heat of the summer wanes and the days start getting shorter, you may wish for the bounty of summertime.
Plan ahead and consider preserving your garden harvest so you can enjoy it during the cooler winter months, when your garden may not provide as much.
Food preservation can be a daunting task for those new to it, but by learning a few simple techniques, you can prolong your appreciation of your precious produce throughout the year.
Read on to learn some ways on how to deal with your garden's abundance.
Key Takeaways
1. Fermenting
A fun, easy and healthy way to deal with produce is to ferment it!
People have been fermenting food for thousands of years, and there are many ways to go about this process. Fermenting, also known as lacto-fermentation involves turning food sugars into lactic acid, which in turn prevents the production of unwanted harmful bacteria, thus preserving the food.
A simple method involves tightly packing vegetables in jars with salt and water and allowing them to sit for some time. How long you leave them depends on factors such as ambient temperature and your desired results.
Fermenting food also improves the food's nutrient and enzyme profile, and also helps in its digestibility. Just about any vegetable can be fermented, either singularly or together. You can also add herbs or spices from the garden for added health benefits or simply for taste.
2. Drying/Dehydrating
Most food, including herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables can be dried.
Drying removes all the moisture from food which is where the harmful bacteria and yeasts will grow and prevent their preservation. Many foods, such as fruit or vegetables can be dried directly in the hot sun and will be ready after several days. Things like herbs are best dried in the shade.
You can even build yourself a solar dehydrator, or failing that can purchase an electric one for indoor use, or even use an oven on low heat.
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3. Freeze
If you have space and power, freezing is an easy way to preserve your food for the cooler months. Freezing is an easy and low-fuss way to preserve your food long after it’s been grown, and picked.
Studies show that freezing actually retains foods' nutritional value. Frozen food can be cooked into soups, and stews, used in smoothies or countless other ways.
4. Canning
Canning involves a bit of work but allows you to turn fresh produce into shelf-stable food that will last a very long time.
There are two main methods for canning; water bath canning and pressure canning. If you’re new to canning, be sure to follow basic health protocols, such as properly sterilizing jars and other equipment you need to use
5. Water Bath Canning
This type of canning is ideal for acidic food such as tomatoes, fruit jams, jellies, pickles or chutneys. It’s the quicker of the two processes.
6. Pressure Canning
This process is better for things such as soups, stews, stocks etc. It’s more suited to low-acid vegetables.
7. Give it Away!
If you still have too much and don’t have the time or inclination to preserve it, I'm sure your family, friends and neighbours would be more than happy to take some of the abundance off of your hands! Sharing is caring, as they say! And what’s more caring than sharing rich, nutrient-dense food for your friends and loved ones to nourish themselves with?
If you’ve got no one to give it to, consider donating it to people in need, to a soup kitchen, or barter it in your local community for other goods. If there’s no swap group in your area then consider starting one.
8. Bonus Ideas
Food can be infused in oil or vinegar which can later be used as a flavorful addition in your kitchen to spice up your winter salads, stews or anything else. If you’re feeling adventurous and have too many aromatic or medicinal herbs, consider making tinctures, creams, or even essential oils.
Whilst these may require more effort, (easily learnt) skills and some equipment, you can create value-added products to your produce to use yourself, give as thoughtful gifts to your loved ones or even sell should you want to.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Preserving the bounty of your summer harvests is a great way to enjoy the abundance throughout the year.
Preserving your food whilst you’ve got it and it’s at its peak allows you to enjoy it in the colder winter months when your favorite summer fruit, vegetables and herbs may have stopped producing.
There are many ways to preserve food, no matter if you choose tried and tested methods used throughout the ages or go for a more modern approach, there are food preservation techniques for everyone to use and spread the bounty of your harvest throughout the year and through your community of friends and relatives.
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