Peaches and Muscadines from Collins’ Brothers. Pears from Grier Farms

We got up early and went to our county and state farmer’s markets on Saturday. The farmers from our local county are really hurting with the drought. One had a sign up saying “No rain - No Tomatoes!”.

As for the State Farmer’s Market, I don’t know why they call it “State”. Might as well say, Canadian and Mexican Farmer’s Market. It is over 150 acres of booths and buildings. Of the businesses we visited (maybe about half the acreage), only three were Georgia Farms, and one had half of their produce imported! I was so disappointed to see that! It is just basically a grocery store - restuarant wholesale pickup joint! The prices were terrible also. Many cost more than in the supermarkets to the retail customers. (Because it’s a day or two fresher I suspect). Still, if I wanted an International Farmer’s Market, I would have went to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market!

I really like our local market, albeit it’s extremely small, at least we can build friendships with the people that grow the food we eat. They also are very anxious to share information and teach us what, how and why they do what they do. Invaluable!

We did make purchases from two farms at the State Market. These two were Georgia Farms and family members were selling the produce, so I felt we could trust it more. Yet, I don’t think we will be going back.

From Grier Farms, we got a 1/2 bushel of pears (I thought they were apples, Slobo said Pears - he gets the booby prize! lol) $7.00
Collins Brothers Farm, 1/2 bushel of peaches $24.00, 1/2 bushel of muscadines $27.00, 14 oz. English Walnuts $5.00 , 4 lbs. of sunflower kernels $8.00 . Total 64.00

I tried blanching and peeling the peaches, fresh and ripe as they look with stems and leaves still on, they just wouldn’t peel! There are only two quarts in a medium syrup from 8 peaches. I’ll wait for the rest to ripen more and see if they peel easier. I kept 17.5 lbs. of pears and peaches to can and gave my parents the rest. We also took them a gallon of the muscadines and assorted canned goods and veggies from our garden. The neat thing about all of this, we get fresh produce and still have enough left over to make sure they also get fresh fruits and vegetables.

I haven’t posted much last week because of all the preserving. I’m glad the peaches aren’t ripe yet because I need a couple of days to get out of the kitchen.

The past week, I canned: (seems like it should have been more looking back. lol)

12 pints of Pinto Beans
13 quarts of Vegetable Soup from Jarden site (using our tomatoes - woohoo!)

Froze:
5 lbs Kentucky Wonder Beans from the local farmer’s market
3 lbs okra from the garden
Dried Cherry Tomatoes, Celery, Onions and Carrotts

and put up seed for the Brandywine’s, Romas and various Peppers (local and from the garden)

I also tried making Banana Chips in the food dehydrator. Big Mistake. They were really nasty! I used 6 - just turned yellow - bananas, dipped them in honey and sugar base (per a recipe) and dried them. I don’t know if it was the lack of ascorbic acid or that I should have coated them “after” they dried - but after two days in the dryer, they still were moist, sticky and stinky! Won’t be doing that many again. Hopefully I’ll find a recipe that will make them as good as the ones that are store bought. It would be nice to make use of the bananas when the kids decide they don’t want bananas that week.

I also tried drying some venison jerky from the venison my dad gave me. I used a 1lb of ground meat + the jerky spice mix that came with the dryer. Slobo has made ground beef jerky in the past with it and it was really good. This time, it was really good until, I read online that to pasturize it, I should heat it to an internal temp of 260 in the oven. I REALLY NEED TO WEAR MY GLASSES! Slobo said that should have been 160 - well - now I know why they burnt and stunk too! I’ll try again today with another lb. I hope I don’t mess this one up too!!! I’ll try just half in the oven first. If it ruins it again, at least I’ll have 1/2 to send to Slobo’s dad and my dad. The kids will just have to do without - because I aint’ takin the chance with them. The Dad’s all have iron stomachs and are begging to take the chance!

Slobo’s dad was funny. Slobo talked to him and told him what all we were preserving. Not 2 seconds passed after they hung up when he called back and said “You know, there is a guy up here in Oregon who would just love to get a care package!”. I told him we wouldn’t tease him with talk of it without sending him some, so when we have a year’s putup, I’ll send him a care package too!

All this may be boring ya’ll, and I’m sorry for going on, but it will make for a good reference next year!

Watering the garden this morning, it looks like there’s about another couple pounds of okra and tomatoes and the beans are taking over everything they get their tendrils on, so I’ll wait a day or two and go at it again. For now tho, my house is screaming to be cleaned! Happy Gardening!