By: Tanya Begley

Hello summertime! So much has passed this year summer seemed but a far away dream. Finally, a dream we now realize and are in full-on enjoyment mode. Whether it is vacationing, gardening, grilling or just kicking back. We might all agree on one thing. There is nothing like fresh from the farm, straight to the table fruits and vegetables. The first of the crops, the time spent with family and the benefits of a healthy choice on our plates are all cause for early summer celebrations.  

In this June 2021 edition of our blog, we want to continue to share with you tips and tricks for things you and yours can do right at your own homes/farms and gardens. We will also highlight some happenings around the county, local resources, and farmers that want to invite you to come see what they have going on.

Happy Summer,

Mrs. B

June Gardening Tips by: Alan Taylor

This is the time of year when gardeners begin the process of preserving a part of the garden vegetables when they harvest them. Cabbage will be processed into sauerkraut. This process is very simple, as the recipe that is included shows. Late peas can be harvested and canned now. The use of a pressure cooker is recommended for peas when canning them. This can help to kill dangerous bacteria which can make you sick. Green beans and sweet corn will soon be ready to harvest. Preserving these vegetables will be discussed in the next blog installment. New potatoes should be ready to harvest, although the harvesting of these potatoes will cause the harvest of later potatoes to be smaller since these potatoes are not grown and won’t be replaced by the same plants.

Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries will soon be ready to harvest. These small fruits can be used for fresh eating, canning, jellies, frozen whole, and in pies for baking. A sample recipe for making jellies from these berries can be found in the boxes of fruit pectin that will be needed to make jelly. The primary fruit pectin in this area goes by the brand name of Sure Jell.

Tomatoes will ripen shortly, depending on the date that they were put out. Tomato juice, whole tomatoes, and ketchup are some of the products that can be the product of preserved tomatoes. Preservation of tomatoes will be discussed in the next blog installment.

Late gardens should be planted now. Green beans, sweet corn, turnips, mustard, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower should all be planted in the near future in order to mature before the first killing frost.

Happy gardening!

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a100555/how-to-make-sauerkraut/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Spotlight: Revisiting Harris Family Farming

We caught back up with OCES’s  Virginia Harris. Nearly a year to the day since our last June blog when Virginia was kind enough to give us a look into their life on the on the Harris farm and how they are passing on traditions and their knowledge of farming  to their grandchildren. When you see the pictures below you will see a joy to behold! Thank you and your family so much for sharing with us again this year Virginia!

 

 

 

 

*I would love to spotlight at least one  farm/farmer/gardener ect. each month. If you would like to be featured or know someone in Owsley County who does or if you have a tip, trick, recipe or craft you’d like to share please let me know.

Happy Birthday America!!

Mrs. B♥