Preserving your Harvest

Food Garden Group member Margie M shared her extensive knowledge of preserving in a workshop for those with limited or no preserving experience.

Preserving - you need to know this!

Find out why preserving in oil is a real 'no no'.

Fermenting and Microwave Bottling

Recently Food Garden Group members visited Jenny's kitchen for a demonstration of fermenting and microwave preserving.  This blog post is based on notes Jenny provided, with some extra info and photos added.

Quick methods for processing your glut

Hopefully your food-garden will produce a glut or two this season. Broadbeans, peas, strawberries, raspberries, stone fruits, tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, you name it, if the glut is on, they either need to be eaten or preserved for later. But what do you do if you don’t have time to immediately create the wonderful sauces, jams and other delights you have in mind? This blog post focuses on quick methods for processing your glut.  

Microwave Bottling

The summer harvest is in full swing at my place and my kitchen has been a fruit processing centre for some weeks. One of the new things I have tried is microwave bottling rather than the usual Fowlers-Vacola water-bath bottling. I have found this a very successful way to preserve small amounts of fruit.

Visit Sandy Bay Wendy 2021

 Visit Sandy Bay, Wendy 26 September 2021

How lucky we felt to live in Tasmania where there is no lockdown, when the Food Garden Group visit season for spring 2021 kicked off with a wonderful visit to Wendy's garden in Sandy Bay. 

Visit Clarendon Vale - Steven - January 2021

 Visit Clarendon Vale - Steven - January 2021

Steven and Kathryn's garden in Clarendon Vale is brilliant example of what can be achieved in a short time. When our group visited their garden on a cool and windy Saturday morning we were all amazed and inspired by the transformation from a 'blank slate' property just over 2 years ago into a productive and diverse food garden today.

Here is Max, introducing Steven to the group.

Recipe Crab Apple jelly with Red Currants

Crab apple jelly with red currants (recipe from Pauline's Pantry)

For people who are lucky enough to be able to lay their hands on some ripe crab apples: here is a recipe that combines the sweetness of crab apple jelly with the tartness of red currants. A winning combination!

Recipe Apricot Jam - Microwave

Apricot Jam - Microwave (with thanks to Jill for sharing her recipe)

Love apricot jam, but not making it? Try this easy method in your microwave! Jill has found it also works with other fruits.

Recipe Lemon Curd

 Lemon Curd - Microwave (with thanks to Jill for sharing her recipe)

For everyone who loves lemon curd, here is a very easy recipe, made in your microwave!

Stem Ginger in syrup

Recipe Stem Ginger in Syrup (with thanks to Loes for sharing her recipe)

Home made stem ginger is easy to make and so much nicer than shop bought. It can be used in many recipes and would also make a lovely Christmas gift!

Recipe Medlar Fruit Mince

Medlar Fruit Mince

Ever wondered what to do with medlars? Here is a recipe to make a delicious fruit mince for those moorish fruit mince pies, that are so popular around Christmas time. Make the Fruit Mince when your medlars are ripe (in July or thereabouts), for use later in the year.

Preserving Olives

Preserving Olives 

(with many thanks to Val, who provided this recipe)

For everyone with an olive tree, wondering how to preserve them: here we finally have our first olive preserving recipe! 

I am keen to give it a go this autumn. Let us know how you went, and if you have an age-old family recipe, please do send it in, we'd love to try them all!

Preserving Garlic

Preserving Garlic

Visit Jenny 25 and 29 November 2014

On Tuesday 25 and Saturday 29 November we visited Jenny's kitchen and garden at Howrah