Yes, I 'Can'......

A bathtub full of garden greens, washing all at once....

Been a busy bee lately.... 

Tomatoes Galore....

As a person who tends to follow Voluntary Simplicity as just part and parcel of my own practical nature, when the opportunity arises to harvest an abundance of produce from a generous friend's big veggie garden, you most certainly take him up on it.  

 

When life hands you green tomatoes harvested before the Frost...:

I mean seriously, free food...?  Bring it on!  

One of a bunch of pumpkins....

As a self-proclaimed Frugality Nut, I get such a perverse charge out of the prospects of saving money....  

Taters!

Not to mention I've also been doing my darndest this year to adhere to the Dr. John McDougall way of eating -- as in whole-foods/low-fat/no-oil/plant-based.  Which generally translates into a very starch and veggie-heavy meal plan (for the win!).   Thus, being able to have access to such lovely chemical-free (and FREE-free) veggies like this feels a little bit like manna from heaven....:

 

It was definitely a Pepper Year....

There is always a certain trade off however.  Because it will then mean a significant amount of effort to be spent processing all the bounty -- like a race against Time to get it all 'put up' and properly preserved, before it goes bad.  As I've said before in this blog, if there is anything this "Non-consumer Advocate" can't stand, it's waste.  Especially after all the effort of my friend to plant and grow his garden -- plus after my own working so hard in the hot sun (and humdity, oy) to pick it all, carry it hither and yon over the vast garden beds to the car, then schlep it all home and into the house.  So it really only makes sense to roll up one's sleeves..., and get to WORK. 

 

'Maters.

And so, in between my usual working, freelancing, teaching, etc...,

I've been cooking:

Cooking down tomato pulp....

 

Making Pumpkin Puree in my Instant Pot....

Delicious baked, seasoned Pumpkin Seeds....

And storing...:

Potatoes to last awhile....

And canning....:

Red Tomato Salsa

Where to put all this stuff?

Pizza Sauce, in progres....

Salsa Verde, Ketchup and Green Tomato Chutney

Homemade Tomato Ketchup, thick and rich, no?

And drying....:

Dehydrating Tomatoes

Drying tomato pulp in order to make seasoned, powdered soup base...

And pickling....:

Fermenting habeneros to make my own version of Sriracha Rooster Sauce

And freezing...:

Chopped peppers going into the freezer....

Future pizza toppers, and Fajitas....

 

Feeling corny....

The makings of Succotash....

  

Freezing tomato paste in ice cubes trays....

Green Beaners....

Pumpkin Puree frozen in muffin tins in half cup quantities -- practical, no?

Really a heck of a lot of work, whew.  

But now a nicely-stocked larder for the Winter 

-- so very worth it....!

In any case, I know this is primarily an art blog.  However I do also practice the "art" of 'Voluntary Simplicity' as much as I am able -- not just in my artwork (in which I do try to Reduce/Reuse/Recycle whenever possible), but in all aspects of my life.  There are a number of blogs regarding the Non-Consumerist lifestyle that I am following and subscribe to (including this one).  Reading what everyone is doing in their attempts to simplify and streamline, while adding quality and meaning to their lives, is enjoyable, and I find it inspiring within my own life.  Hence, in between featuring my artwork, I plan also to share my Frugal and Simple Living thoughts and actions, both hits and misses, in here....