Deal With It, Simply!

Good Morning! I have been thinking about how we can save with all the fresh produce that is coming in-season. I have found a site that you can look up your state and see what is in season right now called sustainable table.

I grew up in the country and there was a U-Pick strawberry field. Picking strawberries are hard work, but when my mom made her strawberry jelly we had them the whole year. The strawberry signs have been calling me I need to get out to pick some before the season is over.

Canning is one way we can eat all of this great in-season produce. If you are new to canning. Here are some ideas where to find your supplies.

• Garage sales
• Goodwill or savers
• Ask a friend and share
• My dad gave me a huge box of jars and I haven’t had to buy jars yet.

The ring can be used again and again, but just make sure when you wash them and dry right away so they don’t rust. all you have to buy is the caps. Small mouth jars when opened and kept in the fridge a peanut butter lid fits nice and it is easier to open and close without the ring and lid.

I like to can with My can-can buddy. We harvest together and then can together and split our work it makes the time go faster and it is great to have help. My can-can buddy just moved back from a year away so I am thrilled.

Well some may say “I don’t have time to can” try freezing your fresh produce. You can use freezer bags or invest in containers that you can reuse. If you freeze your produce flat you can store more.

If we take the time now to look for the bargains while they are in stock we will be further ahead when they aren’t. I haven’t harvested anything out of my garden yet but it is just around the corner. I also wanted to tell you I am surprised the produce I get for free like apples, grapes, peaches and tomatoes. keep your ears open and you may find others that just can’t use all their produce and it is free for the picking.

If you aren’t able to find free, farmers and road side stand usually have great prices on the things we aren’t going in our garden and you are supporting our struggling farmers and the produce is fresher!

If you have tips let me know and I will share!

Have a blessed day!  Candy

This morning I opened my paper to read an article entitled Thrift could stay in style long after recovery.

It read:“Americans are not being thrifty because we have become more financially virtuous or have learned the error of  their free-spending ways. Instead, these experts say, Americans may have no choice but to continue pinching pennies”

Times are tight, but I think we are learning a new way of life. Living within our means is not a new way to live but, many of us have grown accustom to living beyond those means.

Marcy Kaptur is urging citizens to plant Victory gardens and give the excess to local food banks. I have thought about this myself and our family is planting extra to give to our neighbors who are out of work or have had their hours cut. Kaptur said Ohio ranked third in the country as a “food-challenged” state, adding that nearly a quarter of the state’s children go to bed without having had enough to eat.

A typical  sign you may have seen in the 40′s

We planted our garden yesterday . You may think I am only one person what can I do? If many band together we can accomplish much. If you don’t have much space then you can plant in flower beds,  in pots or community gardens.

Freebie – The Toledo Zoo National Tourism Day- The Toledo/Lucas county is blessed to have free Monday’s at the Toledo Zoo if you enter from 10am – noon. Today if you are not in the Lucas county area and you mention National Tourism Day you will get in free until 12 noon. The Toledo Zoo is a gem for Toledo and our surrounding area!