10 Principles for a Successful Fresh Food Preservation System

Preserving your garden harvest is a rewarding way to enjoy fresh, nutritious food year-round. With the right techniques, you can enjoy your homegrown produce long after the growing season has ended. Whether youโ€™re looking to prepare creative meals or want a healthy and efficient system for your pantry, these 10 principles will help you preserve your harvest and enjoy it all year long. Let’s dive into these 10 Principles for a Successful Fresh Food Preservation System!

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1. Proper Harvest Techniques for Maximum Storage Time

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To get the most out of your garden, harvesting at the right time is key. Ensure you’re picking your produce at its peak for the longest possible shelf life. Each vegetable has its ideal harvesting window, and knowing when to pick will prevent spoilage and ensure youโ€™re able to store your food effectively. Start by understanding your crops and when theyโ€™re ready for harvest.

2. Match Vegetable Harvest with Our Meal Plan

Planning your meals around what youโ€™re harvesting ensures you’re using your produce efficiently. By aligning your gardenโ€™s bounty with a meal plan, you avoid excess food waste. Consider incorporating seasonal vegetables into your weekly meals, and make sure to preserve any extras you canโ€™t consume immediately.

3. Creativity Comes From Having a System

A good preservation system opens the door to endless creativity in the kitchen. With a set routine for storing, preserving, and using your produce, youโ€™ll have a variety of options at your fingertips. Having everything organized lets you experiment with different recipes and meal combinations. Itโ€™s easier to get creative when you know exactly what you have in stock!

4. Make Things Visible and Track Your Progress

Preserve Your Veggies Dehydrated Food - Garden Harvest -10 Principles of a Successful Fresh Food Preservation System?

To keep your pantry organized, visibility is key. Label your jars and storage containers, and keep an inventory of what you have. This simple step helps prevent forgetting whatโ€™s available and keeps you motivated to use your preserved food. Tracking your progress lets you see what youโ€™ve achieved, making it easier to plan for the next harvest.

5. Batch Your Prep Time: Spend Less Time Each Week

One of the biggest time-savers is batching your prep work. Instead of preserving food every day, set aside specific times each week to focus on prep. This method helps you stay on top of your harvest while saving you time in the long run. Youโ€™ll be able to focus on other tasks while still ensuring your food is properly preserved.

6. Many Hands Make Light Work: Get Everyone Involved

The preservation process doesnโ€™t have to be a solo endeavor. Get the whole family or your housemates involved! Whether it’s washing, chopping, or labeling, everyone can contribute to the process. The more hands on deck, the quicker and easier the task becomes. Plus, itโ€™s a great way to teach others about the importance of food preservation.

7. Start Simple, Master One Thing, Then Try Another

When youโ€™re just getting started, itโ€™s best to begin with one preservation technique. Whether itโ€™s canning, freezing, or drying, take time to master that method before moving on to others. As you become more comfortable with the process, youโ€™ll feel more confident branching out and trying new preservation methods.

8. Choose Preservation Technologies Right for You

Different preservation methods work best for different needs. Consider your kitchen space, available equipment, and time constraints before selecting a preservation method. If you have the space, investing in a freezer might be ideal. Alternatively, canning or dehydrating could be a better choice if youโ€™re looking for a more long-term solution.

9. Shop from Your Pantry: Use Preserved Food Creatively

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One of the best ways to utilize your preserved foods is to shop from your pantry. Challenge yourself to create meals using only what youโ€™ve stored. Not only will this help you reduce food waste, but it will also encourage you to get creative with your meals and try new dishes.

10. Stock Your Kitchen with Staple Ingredients

Lastly, ensure that your kitchen is stocked with essential ingredients that complement your preserved foods. Things like grains, beans, and spices will allow you to create balanced meals using your preserved fruits and vegetables. Having these items on hand gives you more flexibility in your meal planning and ensures you always have something tasty to whip up.

By following these 10 principles, you can set yourself up for success in preserving your garden harvest and creating healthy, creative meals all year round. Each principle works together to build an efficient, enjoyable system. So, get started today! With the right plan in place, youโ€™ll enjoy the fruits of your labor for months to come.

Here it is! The simple system for preserving the garden harvest. Creative meals, delicious recipes and easy techniques to ensure you have healthy food right in your pantry, year round… even when you don’t feel like cooking. These 10 principles will get you started right! And you can shortcut the whole process and simply copy my Harvest Into Meals system when you register for my Preserve the Harvest class… Register here: https://growyourownvegetables.org/preserve/

 

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โ€˜10 Principles of a Successful Fresh Food Preservation System?”

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Grow $20 of Herbs Each Week – Small Container Garden

Do you have just a couple feet of sunny space and a short growing season? Growing herbs in containers could be the perfect solution for you. Not only are herbs easy to care for, but they can also provide you with fresh, flavorful ingredients every week. With a little attention and a few simple strategies, you could grow up to $20 worth of herbs each week in a small container garden. Hereโ€™s how you can do it, featuring some of my favorite herbs to grow and use in your meals!

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Basil: The Sweet Summer Herb

Grow $20 of Herbs Each Week - Rustic wooden bowl on Wooden Cutting board with a bunch of fresh basil leaves on the cutting board and a few in the bowl

Basil is the quintessential summer herb and an essential part of any small container garden. It thrives in warm temperatures and plenty of sunlight, making it ideal for growing in containers on patios or windowsills. Basil is incredibly versatile, great for everything from pesto to salads to pasta. Regularly pinch back the leaves to encourage new growth and prevent the plant from flowering. Do this by pinching the stem just above a set of leaves. This will split the stem and your plant will get bushy giving you double the harvest! If youโ€™ve got a lot of basil, freeze the leaves in ice cube trays with olive oil to preserve that fresh, summery taste all year long.

Oregano: A Mediterranean Essential

Oregano is a hardy, low-maintenance herb that thrives in containers. Itโ€™s perfect for small spaces because it doesnโ€™t require a lot of room to grow. Regular harvesting encourages new growth, so youโ€™ll have fresh leaves throughout the season. Oregano is perfect for Mediterranean dishes like pasta, pizza, or grilled meats. You can also dry the leaves to use during the colder months, ensuring you have a constant supply of flavor all year long.

Rosemary: Fragrant and Versatile

Rosemary is another herb that thrives in containers. Its fragrant needles add a bold, piney flavor to dishes, making it a go-to for roasting meats, potatoes, and vegetables. Rosemary requires well-draining soil and a sunny spot, but once it gets going, itโ€™s a powerhouse of flavor. Trim the stems regularly to keep the plant compact and bushy but avoid cutting the stem parts where they’re woody. Use fresh sprigs in roasted dishes or try infusing olive oil for a savory treat. As a bonus, rosemary can be a great companion plant in your garden, helping to deter pests.

Sage: Rich and Aromatic

Grow $20 of Herbs Each Week - Green Sage plant with a bud spike at the top with a background of other sage plants with purple flowers

Sage is an herb thatโ€™s easy to grow and adds a rich, savory flavor to dishes. Itโ€™s perfect for autumn recipes like roasted squash or stuffing. Sage loves full sun and well-drained soil, so be sure to place it in a sunny spot and avoid overwatering. This herb will continue to produce throughout the season, and regular harvesting will keep it growing strong. Try crisping sage leaves in butter for a delightful garnish or use them in soups and stews for added depth.

Mint: Easy and Refreshing

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but be carefulโ€” it can quickly take over your garden if not contained. Growing mint in a container keeps it in check and allows you to enjoy fresh leaves whenever you need them. Mint is perfect for adding to drinks, like refreshing iced teas and mojitos, or for garnishing desserts. Itโ€™s also great in savory dishes like lamb or in a homemade mint sauce. Since mint grows quickly, you can harvest it weekly and keep the plant thriving with minimal care.

A small container garden of herbs can be a game-changer when it comes to flavor and value. With a bit of care and regular harvesting, you can grow $20 worth of fresh herbs each week. From oregano to mint, each of these herbs offers something unique for your mealsโ€”whether youโ€™re roasting vegetables, making pasta, or crafting refreshing beverages. So, grab a few containers, start planting, and let your herb garden bloom this season!

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Grow $20 of Herbs Each Week - Small Container Garden

Your First Step for a Superfood Garden that THRIVES!

Tackling garden projects is always easier when youโ€™re inheriting best practices and lessons learned from the garden experts and visionaries. This way you get to learn from all their successes and mistakes and avoid spending the time and money trying to figure it all out on your own. After all, we’re better together! โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹That’s why Grow Your Own Vegetables created the Superfood Garden Summit… and it happens EVERY YEAR! ๐Ÿฅณ

Join us for the 7th annual Superfood Garden Summit where 16 garden visionaries gather together to help growers all over the globe get more fresh food on their plate, It airs LIVE July 17-21st, 2023!

First, watch the video below!

๐Ÿ’š The LIVE Event starts soon, and once it does, it’s going to fly by! โ€‹โ€‹

Get a head start: Register for the summit and download your Superfood Summit guide: It’s your first step to a successful superfood garden.

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Become a Closet Gardener and Grow Greens Indoors Year Round

Growing greens year round means you you can enjoy fresh, organic food at your fingertips! Thatโ€™s why Shannon started this beautiful closet garden to grow greens indoors. Plus she shares some hidden benefits that her doctors canโ€™t explainโ€ฆ gardens really do HEAL!

Shannon asked how she might improve her yields. Watch this video to discover what she has already done and how she might tweak her system to improve her yields with tips on watering, โ€œfliesโ€, and lights.

Eating well and boosting your immunity is a year round lifestyleโ€ฆ it doesnโ€™t have to stop just because itโ€™s cold outside or thereโ€™s snow on the ground. Discover the secrets of successful indoor and outdoor winter gardens.

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Journaling for Joy: 3 Garden Journaling Myths BUSTED

Garden journaling is one of the most underused tools for gardeners. Itโ€™s also a tool that research shows can decrease anxiety, depression, and stress. That means that along with the joy youโ€™re getting from gardening directly, you can further increase your state of joy simply by keeping a journal.ย 

But if keeping a garden journal is so beneficial, why arenโ€™t more growers doing it?

Objection #1: Timeย 

Growers are busy with their lives and gardening tasks. Often, the assumption around journaling is that you have to do it every day or for a long period of time.ย 

But one study revealed that the time it takes to receive the benefits of journaling are less than most people believe (1). In the study, people diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) showed significant decreases in depression scores when assigned to write about their thoughts and feelings for just 20 minutes over three consecutive days. A follow-up later also showed that the benefits continued four weeks after the individuals participated in the study. With just three consecutive days of journaling for just 20 minutes, individuals with a very serious depressive disorder decreased their depression scores.ย 

Getting benefits from journaling doesnโ€™t have to take giant amounts of time.

What do you think might happen if you wrote for three consecutive days for just twenty minutes each about the single biggest challenge youโ€™re facing in your garden?

Objection #2: The avoidance of deep emotions.ย 

When we bring deep emotions to the surface, it can often disrupt the flow of our daily lives and productivity. But what if the journaling process could shed light on the logic youโ€™re currently using that may be holding you back from realizing your full, vibrant, incredible self?

In a study titled, โ€˜Self-writing as a tool for change: the effectiveness of a psychotherapy using diary,โ€™ (2) findings demonstrated that daily diary writing can encourage personal reflections and changes, capture micro-transformations, and shed light on argumentative logic used to represent self and problems occurring for the individual. Other studies show that when people write about emotional trauma, there is a marked improvement in their physical and mental health (3).

If you journaled every day about your garden, how many micro-transformations could be brought to your attention?ย 

How much more clearly could you see how far youโ€™ve come on your garden journey?ย 

And how much could your mental and physical health improve?

Objection #3: Growers often feel like journaling wonโ€™t really improve their gardening results.

An in-depth examination into the โ€˜Use of Reflective Journaling to Understand Decision Makingโ€™, (4) a myriad of insights emerged when psychotherapists and other clinicians practiced reflective journaling about their cases. Insights were not only gained for the individual therapist, but for the therapies they were using to support their patients as well.

By reflective journaling about our gardens, you gain insights into your individual decision making about your garden. And by sharing your insights with other growers, leaps in gardening methods are possible as well.

Ultimately, studies on journaling have brought to light benefits ranging from improvements in mental and physical health to gaining insights on our decision-making processes. And while more research is needed to discover just how much time is needed and specific methods that may prove more beneficial, current studies show that you can get benefits from journaling without dedicating your life to becoming a writer.

References:

1. Krpan, K. M., Kross, E., Berman, M. G., Deldin, P. J., Askren, M. K., & Jonides, J. (2013). An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150(3), 1148โ€“1151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065ย  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3759583/

2. Faccio, E., Turco, F., & Iudici, A. (2019). Self-writing as a tool for change: The effectiveness of a psychotherapy using diary. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2019.378ย  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7451300/

3. Smith, M. A., Thompson, A., Hall, L. J., Allen, S. F., & Wetherell, M. A. (2018). The physical and psychological health benefits of positive emotional writing: Investigating the moderating role of type D (distressed) personality. British Journal of Health Psychology, 23(4), 857โ€“871. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12320ย 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6174944/

4. Cook, J. M., Simiola, V., McCarthy, E., Ellis, A., & Stirman, S. W. (2018). Use of reflective journaling to understand decision making regarding two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD: Practice implications. Practice Innovations, 3(3), 153โ€“167. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000070ย 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6426332/

Crystal Meserole
GYOV Instructor and Harvest Club Support

Crystal owns and operates a one-woman wholesale commercial living microgreen operation in the mountains of western North Carolina. After working and managing local restaurants for over a decade, she saw the need for chefs to have access to more affordable, organic food for the delicious creations they craft for our communities.

Crystal hopes to stand as a clear message to anyone who thinks they canโ€™t grow: You can. Anyone can. With the right system, mindsets, and mentor, everything becomes possible.ย ย 

Have you gained insights from journaling about your garden? Do you experience more joy when youโ€™re journaling? Weโ€™d love to hear! Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!