When your garden flourishes with abundant produce, what should you do with all the vegetables and fruits? You can consume and give away only so much. Don't have friends and neighbors avoiding you because you keep presenting them with sacks full of cucumbers and green beans.

      Now that the garden is producing wonderful vegetables & fruits, let's talk about preserving the produce. Home canning, freezing, and dehydrating are great ways to enjoy the "fruit's of your labor" long after the growing season. Along with a sense of accomplishment, and a source of pride, home canning lets you control the ingredients and quality of the foods you eat.

      I grew up watching my Momma and Granny put up the products of their gardens every year. If you have always wanted to put up those gleaming jars of fruits and vegetables that used to line Momma and Granny's pantry shelves, here is a word of encouragement - you can do it!