Flavor That Lasts

We have been a busy group since our last blog. The ups and down of the wet weather have been a challenge with new pests and diseases popping up in our gardens, but thanks to our Maintaining Our Garden Workshop where we learned to be on the lookout for certain things and help from Paul Sizemore, our local Ag Agent, we have identified problems and found solutions, using our organic pesticides and pre-planning before planting. Our group members have been actively helping each other by answering questions on every subject from garden maintenance to canning and dehydrating recipes and methods they use in their own processes.

There is nothing quite like opening a jar or freezer bag and tasting the bright, sun-ripened flavor of a homegrown harvest long after our growing season has ended. Our group’s journey from the garden to the pantry is about more than saving produce—it is about honoring the work, memories, and traditions that come with growing it.

We are deep in preserving our harvests with canning, dehydrating, freezing, canning and freeze drying. Each member of our group chooses which methods work best for them. We are reducing food waste, saving money, and enjoying our homegrown fruits and vegetables from our gardens, year-round. These techniques are helping us hold on to the colors, aromas, and flavors of summer.

To strengthen our skills and confidence, our group is taking part in a hands-on workshop with the Owsley County Extension Service. With Family and Consumer Sciences FCS Agent Crystal Osborne leading the session, covering the basics and safety of canning and dehydrating while stressing the importance of research-based practices. Members are learning and reviewing proper preparation, processing methods, equipment essentials, and food safety guidelines to help ensure high-quality, shelf-stable results while getting to ask questions about techniques they have already been putting into practice this season.

If you have ever wanted to preserve your own homegrown garden bounty, now is a great time to begin. Try a method at home, experiment with a new recipe, or join one of Grow Appalachia’s programs to learn with us. Together, we can fill our pantries with wholesome organic homemade foods while carrying on meaningful Appalachian traditions, and making sure the best flavors truly last.