Putting the Garden [gang] to bed for the winter . .

Just as gardens are being readied for their winter idleness, our gang is taking the winter off also. Partly because our meeting places close earlier in the fall and winter, and partly because some of us are up to our eyeballs and other body parts trying to can, freeze, dry and otherwise preserve the garden's bounty.

We will have a January meeting to take a peek at all those seed catalogues that will soon flood our mailboxes. Check back for more details.

So...........speaking of preserving the garden's bounty, what are you preserving? Leave a comment so we know.

I've got tomato marmalade, pear chutney, pear preserves, apple pear preserves, tomato chutney, dried tomatoes (lots and lots of dried tomatoes), and pickles (all sorts of pickles) in the larder. Hoping to make apple butter and maybe some pumpkin butter. Oh..... almost forgot - lots of pesto in the freezer - basil pine nut pesto, cilantro almond pesto, Thai basil almond pesto, basil walnut pesto - all made with Wisconsin Parmesan cheese. Oh I just love this time of year. I really do love preserving food and enjoying all those marvelous creations and flavors during the long, cold winter.

September gatherings

Don't these veggies look good enough to eat? Harvested from a local community garden.

Can you believe it? It's time for another gathering. What's your garden doing? Has it survived our dry spell? Is it producing? Are you ripping your hair out trying to keep up? What's your favorite recipe using all that fresh garden produce? Mine's posted to the right.

We'll be gathering on Wednesdays, September 3 and 17 at the Washington House. Detailed info also posted to the right.

Topic: Gardening, eating what's in the garden, preserving the garden's bounty.

Can't make the meeting? Leave a comment - share a recipe. We'd love to hear from you.

Here's what I've been up to: reading a most interesting book, Wild Fermentation authored by Sandor Ellix Katz. It's given me ideas of things to ferment. Right now I've got a crock of kraut going. And a crock of pickles. When I get another crock, I'll be choosing another recipe to try. There's so many, it's hard to choose.

I'll bring the book to the meeting. Do you have a favorite gardening or preserving book? Bring it along and show it off.