Celeste in the Garden
October 14, 2020
Few flavors rival garlic’s. It’s pungent, exotic, powerful, and scrumptious. Garlic has also been thought to ward off vampires and used as a cure-all for what ails you. Historically, many serfs were forced to grow it, as the king demanded it for taxes. Garlic has been a mainstay of most households for a long, long time.
Garlic is actually a highly unusual garden vegetable. Most of the things that we plant have a “season.” We plant them in the spring and we harvest them in the summer or fall.... more
October 12, 2020
Bone broth is magical! Not only does it taste great but also it’s beneficial for joint health, digestive health, and more. So don’t throw out those bones! Learn more about making bone broth soup…
About twenty years ago, I made a pleasant discovery. I noticed that if my husband, Bob, and I have at least two servings of my homemade bone broth soup a week, we have no problems with our joints. When we don’t have the bone broth, our joints get quite stiff and bothersome.
What Is Bone Broth?
Bone... more
September 12, 2020
Ever harvested sunflower seeds? My sunflowers are usually ready to be harvested beginning in mid-September and into October. I mostly give my sunflower heads to the chickens and birds to peck, but you can also harvest and roast your seeds.
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are native annual flowers which come in many different colors and patterns. Some reach for the heavens with one thick stem putting all of their energy into a single giant flower. Others spread out with many branches inviting you... more
September 8, 2020
Peppers are the easiest thing in the world to freeze. They need no blanching whatsoever. Wash, dry, cut up, and put flat in freezer bags! See how to freeze peppers so that you can enjoy in stir-fries, soups, and other meals through the winter!
Peppers are such a lovely fruit. They come in many different colors, sizes, and degrees of heat. Did you know: A green pepper is just an unripe one—give it time and it will turn red, orange, purple, yellow or chocolate brown!
Regular peppers are a... more
September 8, 2020
Brussels sprouts freeze well, as long as you follow a couple tricks. Freezing properly preserves the vegetables’ freshness so you don’t have to waste excess vegetables. See how to freeze Brussels sprouts for later.
You can freeze either Brussels sprouts that you grow yourself or that you happen to buy a large batch in the store. That said, it is especially worthwhile to freeze when you have homegrown or locally-raised fresh sprouts to preserve their freshness. This is especially worthwhile... more
September 1, 2020
Consider drying tomatoes and peppers and herbs in late summer to keep them longer. Drying is one of the simplest forms of preserving, requiring only an oven or the sun’s energy over several days. The result is rewarding, adding intense flavor and color to salads, pizza, soups, pesto, and sauces.
Drying is one of the oldest forms of preservation in the world. Virtually all indigenous tribes used the technique as a way to preserve foods for colder or drier times.
Drying Tomatoes
With tomatoes,... more
August 31, 2020
How to Freeze Corn Guide: We savor corn on the cob in the summer, but the season for fresh corn only lasts so long, so the next best thing is to freeze it! Freezing corn is a little messy, but it’s not hard at all. (And, yes, you must blanch it!) Wouldn’t it be divine to have the taste of summer come January?
Get Corn Into the Freezer Quickly
Make sure that your corn is really fresh (as in picked the same day) because the taste and flavor of corn goes downhill fast. When freshly pickled, sweet... more
August 31, 2020
Have more greens than you can eat? Freezing spinach and hardy cooking greens is so easy—and you can enjoy them all year long in soups, quiches, smoothies, and more! Here’s how to freeze leafy greens—spinach, swiss chard, and beet greens.
Freezing Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Beet Greens
It’s doesn’t matter where you get your leafy greens—the garden, farmers’ market, farm stand, CSA, grocery store). As long as they are fresh, tender, and not wilted, you can preserve them.
You can freeze any hardy... more
August 14, 2020
Here’s how to can tomatoes (whole peeled tomatoes) using easy water-bath canning. Enjoy that garden-fresh tomato taste all year long—to make fresh spaghetti sauce, lasagna, chili, soups, and stews all year long. Anyone can do this! Here’s how to can your tomatoes—using just tomatoes and lemon juice!
Note: This canning whole tomatoes guide uses easy water-bath canning. You can certainly use a “canner” if you have one. OR, you can use a large deep stockpot with a flat bottom and lid.
Making... more
August 4, 2020
Blueberries are great for freezing. Next time you have more blueberries than you can eat—whether you found a great deal at the supermarket, grow berries, or went blueberry picking—try freezing them! Here’s how to freeze blueberries the right way!
It’s important to learn how to properly freeze blueberries so that they don’t all freeze in one giant clump. If you don’t follow these instructions, you’ll be very frustrated when you only want to defrost a handful, and all the blueberries are in a... more
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Celeste Longacre has been growing virtually all of her family’s vegetables for the entire year for over 30 years. She cans, she freezes, she dries, she ferments & she root cellars. She also has chickens. Celeste has also enjoyed a longtime relationship with The Old Farmer’s Almanac as their astrologer and gardens by the Moon. Her new book, “Celeste’s Garden Delights,” is now available! Celeste Longacre does a lot of teaching out of her home and garden in the summer. Visit her web site at www.celestelongacre.com for details.
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