With the Obamas’ Kitchen Garden in Washington D.C and Recession Gardens being grown in all 50 states of America and overseas, the decision of how to store any produce is an important decision.
photo credit: Tavallai

There are several methods of preserving food, which include drying, freezing and canning.

Home canning will be covered in this article.

Home canning used to be a yearly event in most homes. But with changes in our society many people have limited knowledge or no knowledge at all of how to safely can food. Canning is work but it can also be fun and done as a family event.

It is rewarding seeing the produce from your garden properly stored for use later in the winter and spring and canning your extra produce will help stretch the income available in your home.

The you tubes below will give you an idea of the steps in home canning. Both water bath and pressure canning methods are covered in the you tubes.

Home Canning Basics – Part One

Home Canning Basics Part Two – Types of Canners

Home Canning Basics Part Three Easy – Steps to Home Canning

Types of canning methods

Home Canning Basics – Part Four – Water-bath-method

Home Canning Basics – Pressure Canning Part One

Home Canning Basics – Pressure Canning Part Two

Any additional questions about home canning can be answered through your local home extension office. Many extension agencies give away free information and pamphlets to help you safely preserve your food.

Ball canning products also gives away free information and money saving coupons. Canning recipes can also be found online. 
photo credit: PaulEisenberg

And if you have additional food in your garden you will not be using, trade with you neighbors or donate the extra to your local food pantry.

There are many people that would benefit from your help and generosity.

Technorati Tags: home canning, how to store garden produce, recession gardening

Perennials are wonderful plants as they give you a garden that can produce color most of the year, depending where you live. By careful selection and laying our your garden properly you can add color, enjoyment and value to your property.
photo credit: cliff1066

I consider myself blessed to have a nice piece of property with rolling hills and streams and creeks. I wanted to do something “green” for the community I live in plus share gardens and ideas with those who wish to stop by, so the idea of a perennial gardens business was born.

There are many steps to take in the business I have planned and I will be adding different gardening aspects to the grounds as time and interest in the project takes off. My gardens will also be organic and will have no use of chemicals or chemical fertilizers.

I have taken the first steps by rounding up a variety of perennial plants and laying out my working gardens. At this time I have two gardens that I am tilling and adding natural compost and nutrients to the garden. This will start the garden soil off rich and healthy.

One garden is in a shape of a boomerang It measures about 35 foot by 20 foot. The other garden, which I am tilling today, is rectangular and will be about 35 foot by 25 foot. This is my retired vegetable garden and has to be tilled under and have compost, leaves and straw added. These will be the working base for my later gardens. During the late fall and spring I will be designing and showing you step by step how the new gardens will be set up.

I hope you join me in this adventure and share ideas and success stories with me. Tomorrow I will show you the rough plots and share a few more ideas on what I hope to accomplish. Happy gardening all! Denise
photo credit: Alyzande

Technorati Tags: perennial plant, Theme Gardens

I use Container Gardens, Raised Beds and Square foot gardening techniques in my gardens. I have found by using these styles of gardening I can increase my crops in small areas and my crops produce better and my plants are healthier. It also takes less time.

Below is an eCourse I offered on Square Foot Gardening. I have put all the urls into one post for fast and easy reference.

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-plant-square-foot-gardens-square-foot-garden-benefits

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-plant-square-foot-gardens-less-weeding-is-a-benefit

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-plant-square-foot-gardens-less-insect-and-pest-problems

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-plant-square-foot-gardens-how-to-pick-square-foot-garden-plants

http://thegardenersrake.com/how-to-plant-square-foot-gardens-how-to-water-square-foot-gardens

There will be another eCourse on how to build and set up a Square foot garden that will include making the frames, setting the garden up and the proper soil to use. Check in later this week for the details. There will also be a celebration of Earth Day here at The Gardeners Rake. Join in the fun!

Happy gardening, Denise

Tags: container gardening, raised bed gardening, Square Foot gardening, gardening ecourse, you tube gardening eCourse, time saving gardening techniques