I Can Because I Can

I saw an apron at Meijer's the other day with the title of this post on it, it got me thinking. There are many reasons to can: to enjoy garden fresh produce all winter long, to provide healthy nutritious food for your family, to stockpile for lean times, because you enjoy it, to be able to stand back and look at what you've accomplished, or because you can.

All of those reasons apply to me. It is very satisfying to look back and actually see what you've accomplished, to eat fresh peas in the dead of winter, and to know that you have some healthy food stored up when you need it. But part of the reason I can is because, I can. At this time in my life I am able to pick green beans, pull some weeds, stand over a hot stove while making jams or jellies, and keep an eye on a pressure canner while it does its thing. There may come a day when I can't do those things, but it isn't today. The good Lord has given me the opportunity, the ability, and the knowledge to can. So, to be a good steward of all that he has given me, including the produce, I can. My back may be hurting and me feet swollen at the end of the day, but I really believe when you quit doing what you can do, life just will not be as good.

There are many people out there who can can for various reasons. Some are not physically able. Some don't have the equipment, the knowledge, the space, etc.  Some just don't care enough to try they are like the Grasshopper in the old story "The Ant & The Grasshopper". But if you have what it takes to can, I encourage you to can. At the end of the day you will see your accomplishments!

Canning Cupboard

Some of this year's bounty

I Can Because I Can

Have a great day!
Mae
Sharing with the Homestead Barn Hop

Canning Peas

Since we are finally getting peas I am canning everyone of them I can get. My favorite are Zipper Cream and we aren't getting as many of them as we are the Purple Hull peas. I keep forgetting to take pictures of the Zipper Creams before I can them. But here is a picture of them and some Purple Hulls that I did can.

Zipper Creams & Purple Hulls

You can tell the difference because the Zipper Creams stay green. The Purple Hulls turn a brownish color.  They have the texture of a bean.

To can them you shell them, then wash them. They tend to have a lot of ugly black blossoms stuck to them and they need to be washed and picked through. Then you pack them into clean, hot jars. You don't need to tamp them down or pack them too tightly. Put a 1/2 teaspoon of canning salt in each pint or 1 teaspoon for quarts. Fill the jar With boiling water leaving 1 inch of head space. Wipe rims of jars and place lid and ring on jar. Place in your pressure canner and process for 30 minutes at 10 lbs of pressure for pints or 40 minutes for quarts. Allow the pressure to release then use a jar lifter to remove jars from canner. See complete instructions here. 

This is the first year that I have been brave enough to actually start using a pressure canner. I love being able to preserve our produce so that we will be able to enjoy our garden all year. It's a lot of work during the summer, but it's so worth it. Especially since you can't buy Zipper Cream peas in the grocery stores here.

If you would like to learn to can you might want to check with your local extension office. They may offer a class. Of course, there are all sorts of websites that are willing to teach you.

This post contains affiliate links.

Have a great day!
Mae

Linking with the Homestead Barn Hop

Amazed & Exhausted!

It has been a long weekend. I think I need to go to work tomorrow to get some rest. Yesterday we spent almost 13 hours in the car. We went to Louisville and took Greg's mom down to the country where she grew up. April and Lily went with us and it was a good day. But we didn't get home until 10:00 pm.

After we got home I decided to try this:
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-non-toxic-liquid-hand-soap-2

I have to say I am totally amazed! I got Ivory soap, free last week at Kroger. I don't usually use Ivory, but it was free and I knew I would use it. Then I came across this recipe for homemade liquid soap. She made hers for $3.50 a gallon, I think. Since I got the soap for free I decided to give it a try. Ivory is very easy to grate. It only took about 30 minutes all together. When I went to bed last night I was sure that I would not have anything that remotely looked like liquid soap when I got up this morning. It looked like a white looking thin liquid when I went to bed. When I got up this morning, it was a totally different thing. It was very think. After running the mixer through it again, it thinned out. I filled both of my dispensers, and empty bottle of the refill size of liquid soap, a quart canning jar, and half of another quart. We have been using it all day and can't really tell much difference. Of course it only smells like Ivory soap, and it rinses off really fast, like Ivory usually does. But for free, I'll take it.

The rest of the day today, I have been cleaning, doing laundry and putting up corn. I also have made brownies and am about to bake cookies. I had the two mixes that are about to expire so I have got to use them before they do. Also, I hope to pick peas today and get some of them put up. But we had rain early this morning and the garden is pretty wet. Unless it dries up a little I will not be able to do that.

Hope you have a great day!

Mae