Preserve Your Fall Harvest: Tips For Excess Produce
BY NATHAN LAKE
When you’ve worked hard all summer to get the most out of your garden, you don’t want anything to go to waste. In fall, however, those ample fruits, herbs, and vegetables may be turning ripe faster than you can consume them. You can always give excess produce to family and neighbors. There are also many practical ways to utilize your bountiful crop without the need for complex canning processes or equipment.
Freeze Soups, Stews, and Sauces
Vegetable soups, such as onion, pea, and potato, are an easy way to make use of a bountiful garden, and they freeze well. Add some chicken or beef – reduce the liquid down – and you’ll have a stew you can freeze. If your soup or stew calls for milk or cream, leave out the dairy. It’s easy to add milk or cream on the day you serve it.
Tomato sauce is perfect for excess tomatoes– enhance it with fresh herbs or mushrooms before freezing. Pesto sauce made from basil, sage, or thyme also freezes beautifully. Freeze pesto in ice cube trays, then store the cubes in a freezer bag, and you’ll have easily usable quantities.
Store Root Vegetables
Many root vegetables, such as beets, carrots, garlic, and onions, keep well if stored in a cool, dark place with adequate ventilation. Let the root vegetables dry out in the sun for a day or two before storing them, cut off any leafy tops, and clean off any mud to prevent mold growth.
Desserts
There’s a good reason apple, cherry, and pumpkin pies are fall favorites. Not only can you use up extra produce, but there are hundreds of interesting variations. Don’t forget about crisps and crumbles with streusel toppings. You could also slow-cook fruits in a sugar syrup to create a compote that can be served over ice cream or cake.
Compost
If some of your autumn harvest is spoiled, not all is lost. Bury the produce directly into your garden’s soil, where it will decompose and enrich the soil for the next growing season. You could also build a composting bin for organic waste. With additions like coffee grounds, yard trimmings, and cold ashes, your compost will contribute to nutrient-rich soil and provide options for a zero-waste garden.