... On another thread there is a discussion about canning cheese - some do it (or at least one does), and others don't see the need, as cheese is something that keeps pretty well as it is.
So, as it happens, I just read a blog post about stocking the pantry without unnecessary work - keeping whole squash rather than canning or freezing it for example. I thought it was very interesting, and pass it on here for those who might also find it so.
http://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/making-do-farmstead-pantry-planning/
"... if you can store your food without processing then do it. Be more flexible in your gardening and preserving choices, many things store without a lick of electricity or processing. Think root cellar, cool room, or here in the Pacific Northwest in the garden, as is the case of some root crops. Or maybe winter growing under cover is a way to slow down your preserving chores. If you crave salads in the winter, put in some beds with hoopies over them (even in cold gardening zones), look for the icons that denote winter growing. Seed catalogs are a wealth of information, there is so much cultural information in them that you can glean tidbits even if you dont want to purchase from the company. As for salads in winter, you may need to expand beyond lettuce and get into some of the more flavorful, hardy winter greens but life is nothing but a grand experiment anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
So, as it happens, I just read a blog post about stocking the pantry without unnecessary work - keeping whole squash rather than canning or freezing it for example. I thought it was very interesting, and pass it on here for those who might also find it so.
http://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/making-do-farmstead-pantry-planning/
"... if you can store your food without processing then do it. Be more flexible in your gardening and preserving choices, many things store without a lick of electricity or processing. Think root cellar, cool room, or here in the Pacific Northwest in the garden, as is the case of some root crops. Or maybe winter growing under cover is a way to slow down your preserving chores. If you crave salads in the winter, put in some beds with hoopies over them (even in cold gardening zones), look for the icons that denote winter growing. Seed catalogs are a wealth of information, there is so much cultural information in them that you can glean tidbits even if you dont want to purchase from the company. As for salads in winter, you may need to expand beyond lettuce and get into some of the more flavorful, hardy winter greens but life is nothing but a grand experiment anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."