Today is August 23, and here’s a gentle reminder that peach season is almost over.  I go to McLeod farms and personally get the #2 peaches and put them in our extra fridge at home. They have blemishes but are cheaper ($20 versus $32 for the #1 unblemished peaches). 

Canning Peaches

I’ve been requested to can peaches again this year………………………………………….

(The dots say it all………………If you still don’t understand, it’s a bit of a chore, that I may put off……….!)

I did can one batch, though, and they’re really pretty and I enjoyed watching a video I was looking forward to (finally!).

It was about farming (seriously).

I did all this while a friend watched the kids. Again, for a busy family of youngsters, it is a lot of work you may or may not want to tackle.

1 box of peaches is 1/2 bushel and that’s about 6-7 quarts of canned peaches.  

I am a “purist” and only use a research-based method for canning. I use “So Easy to Preserve” method. I don’t add sugar either, but use fresh lemon for anti-darkening. (All you canners know what I’m talking about.)

You can also slice and sugar and flash freeze before putting in a ziplock bag for Winter peach dishes. Look up a recipe online for that method.

***Pears***

Watch out! Pear and Apple picking time is pretty much here.

You can “can” both. 

You have to wait for the pears to soften a bit just under the stem. So, they may need to sit out for a week on a table out of the way.

Do not use pears that have fallen on the ground or that have bruises already on the tree….those could have bugs inside.

I can the hard to eat Pears by peeling and cutting in slices, put them in a lemon solution, and then put them in a light sugar solution for canning. 

Pears NEED sugar to taste like pears. 

Plus, you need a pear canning companion to chat with while peeling and slicing. (A video may not be enough.)

You may know people with hard green pear trees. I see near Food Lion at the insurance agent who plants those really pretty zinnias and the beautiful Christmas tree at Christmas–Tingen’s–a big pear tree. I’m always curious if they even do anything with them!

I saw that Plum’s Produce out in Oates area had these this week, and I guess Dixon’s Produce may likely get them too.

Apples

Have you gone apple picking??? Right now, at the time of writing at the end of August, it’s time for Honeycrsip, Gala, Ginger Gold, Early Fuji.

Yes, It’s apple picking time.

It’s fun, but I have tips you need to know:

1) Hendersonville, NC mountain area seems to be the closest I can find, but that will be a LONG trip for you from Hartsville. Don’t be fooled (like I have 2x now convinced myself it wasn’t too much). I was even saying “Are we there yet?” Plan wisely. Maybe stay overnight–now that would be a good idea to “slow travel.”

2) I like Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard (steppapples.com). There is fun for everyone and so many varieties. So many games! Rocking chairs! It’s not organic but it’s a memorable experience, (especially for your muscles the next day—-why not get the young people to pull the wagon). Make sure to wash the apples before snacking, as there is a white residue. Good luck keeping the toddler from snacking.

3) Get there early—if you wait too long, they may get a frost in the mountains and then there will be no Granny Smith or Pink Lady to choose from. Last year that happened, and all we had were Roma to pick.***You can click through the site to the U-Pick page and see when the varieties are available

4) Pack accordingly — weather changes—it was hot when we went last, which is not as much fun.

5) Get some hot cider and apple donuts, sit on the porch and relax for a bit.

6) Apple picking is not cheap. They lure you with wagons you can load up. Either have fun and get whatever or plan wisely before your young-ins start picking away.

7) McLeod farms will have Mountain Apples, too, once peaches are over, so you’ll be okay if you don’t make the trip to NC.

Muscadines & Scuppernong

The grapes are almost ready! There are so many people around with a vine willing for you to help yourself—just start asking. 

One type of grape is purple and the other is golden. One has a bigger stone than the other.  You can eat the stone. I can never remember which is which so I won’t say it here. 

(You can buy them at McLeods, too, in season, but they may be sprayed unlike your neighbor’s grapes. I really don’t know.)

I make jam with the grapes and again, sugar is needed.  Here I do  cheat since it’s just for our family (and maybe friends) and add 1 cup less sugar than the research recipes requires….but then my jam isn’t always consistent, so I am to blame here.

While I’m at, please don’t use artificial sugars, just if you’re going to eat sugar, use the real deal. The research doesn’t look good about the effects of the fake sugars. Just my 2 cents.

If you make jam, as a beginner, you’ll like the Sure-gel yellow box. It tells you everything to do. I think it has some GMO in the dextrose (sugar made from corn, right?), so I’ve bought Anthony’s Pectin instead on Amazon, but I tell you, Sure-gel does the best.

Canning Equipment

To sum this up, you can get all your canning equipment online and even at Food Lion and IGA in North Hartsville (they have been awesome in the past for seals and bands) and of course at Wal-mart you’ll find supplies. 

I would stick with Ball, Kerr, and Anchor for jars & seals.  I would not go with Dollar General as I have heard mixed results. (Sorry, DG but you offer so many other great solutions in other areas.)

Canning is not cheap at first, but it is a pretty investment.

I hope you enjoy all that our area has while Fall is making its way here. 

Also, let me know if you do go mountain picking or if you become even more adventurous and find out that you can “can” something.