-Bea Sias

Grow Appalachia, Logan County

 

During our July Workshops the Gardeners ask me to have an extra workshop on making salsa and bread and butter pickles, for the new people who came in for the first time.  So, I called Dana, at the Extension Agency in Logan and we set dates for both groups to attend the class.

I really did not think they would attend the workshops because this is an extra workshop for them.  They did, however, come and enjoyed it very much.  They listened, ask questions and took notes.  She also gave them helpful pamphlets and recipes for other good things to can.

Canning Salsa

The gardeners were very involved in the workshop, asking Dana questions about canning different vegetables and jellies and jams, I was really glad they were that interested in this project.  But as I have said before in my blogs, a little work with canning can cut down on the monthly food bill.  The gardeners are taking this very serious, due to the economical state we are going through in these recent years.  They are thankful for the opportunity to get help with the resources they receive to plant a garden.   I would say ninety-five percent are putting every last piece of supplies to good use.

I am sure they will put their information they jotted down in the workshop to use, because they are getting lots of vegetables out of their garden to make both of these delicious foods.  They will let me know how they turned out.  Maybe, I will get a jar of salsa or pickles, I usually do.

I do have some gardeners who are first time gardeners who have joined our program.  They attend every workshop and call or send their produce reports to me.

Canning workshop

I have one gardener who at one time cut 30 cabbage heads from their garden and had 30 to harvest.  You will probably ask how he got so many cabbage plants.  He has a small green house and in January or February he gets his seeds out and starts the cabbage plants.   He sells some of his plants or gives away to friends.  The same with other gardeners on corn, green beans, and tomatoes.  All of them are very good about getting information to me in some form, what they have harvested, sold, shared and preserved.

They really appreciate this program.