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How I Lower My Grocery Bill with Freeze Drying

Last week I wrote about the conversation we had in my neighborhood regarding grocery budgets and where everyone thought they fit in. We’re a little bit of an outlier in that conversation because we have a freeze dryer. The main purpose of our freeze dryer is to keep a stash of emergency food on hand […]

Average U.S. Grocery Budgets – Where Do You Land?

Our circle of friends has just discovered that the USDA publishes a document every month that shows what the average person or family spends per week and per month on groceries. The document breaks budgets down into four levels: Thrifty Low-cost Moderate Liberal Before I give you the link, take a guess at where you […]

Using Freeze Dried Herbs in Cooking

I’ve managed to nurse a few herb plants through most of the winter, but this recent cold front claimed all but the rosemary. Fortunately, last fall I harvested every savory leaf I could get my hands on and freeze dried batches of herbs for use this winter. My Italian basil bush and the lemon verbena […]

Tips to Preserve All Your Harvest

The ins and outs of properly preserving a full harvest of crops takes experience and know-how. Check out this great infographic from fix.com with lots of great tips to help you preserve all your harvest. You’ll learn how to plan ahead for optimal preservation, great food storage tools to help your efforts, the easiest crops […]

Freeze Drying vs. Canning

There was a time when many of us lamented the slow passing of canning, that old reliable method of food preservation. I have fond memories of going through the whole process with my grandparents. I’d help them in their large garden all summer, then, just when it seemed the summer heat was at the peak […]