Garden time is coming

[Jimi]

One of the most helpful parts of yesterday’s Preserve the Harvest Masterclass was the simple framework Stacey shared for making food preservation manageable.

Instead of trying every preservation method out there, she focuses on three simple strategies that help turn seasonal produce into meals you can enjoy all year long.

That’s exactly what Stacey focused on in the masterclass.

Here’s a quick look at what she shared:

Choose preservation methods that fit your lifestyle
Not every method works for every kitchen. Stacey explains how to focus on the ones that are realistic for your time, tools, and cooking habits.

Preserve ingredients you actually use in meals
Instead of preserving random vegetables, start with the foods you cook with most often … things like herbs, tomatoes, greens, and sauces.

Create a simple system for turning harvests into future meals
A few hours of preserving can stock your freezer and pantry with ingredients that make everyday cooking easier.

One of the reasons so many gardeners want to learn food preservation is simple: it helps you take greater control over your food.

When you know how to preserve fresh vegetables, herbs, and seasonal produce, you can stock your kitchen with wholesome ingredients and avoid the frustration of watching good food go to waste.

If you missed the live session, you can still watch the replay. But it will only be available until tomorrow night (Friday) at 11:59 pm PT.

>>> Watch the masterclass plus Q&A today

Whether your produce comes from your garden, the farmers market, or the grocery store, these strategies can help you enjoy fresh ingredients long after the growing season ends.

If preserving food has ever felt overwhelming, this class will help simplify it.

To enjoying fresh food all year long,

The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team

 

[Jimi]

Protecting Bees, NOT Harming Them​ ​

If you’ve ever lit a “normal” candle and felt that synthetic fragrance hit your throat or head, you already understand the problem. Most candles are loaded with mystery scents and additives that have no business being in your air (and then your lungs and bloodstream).​

Once you learn what you’re actually breathing, you can’t unknow it, and you definitely can’t un-smell that fake, perfumey haze.​

I’m real-life good friends with the the founder and the owner at Bee Lucia. I’ve toured their facility, and can tell you they’re the real deal: kind, meticulous humans who genuinely care about bee health and doing this work the right way.​

I also know many ECL readers are protective of bees and wary of anything that feels extractive. I’m the same way, which is why I asked hard questions. Ethical, conscious hive stewardship can be a net positive for colonies when it’s done with care and competence: supporting resilient hives, keeping stress low, and managing real-world threats like mites in a responsible way. Backing companies that prioritize hive health helps reinforce the kind of bee management that protects colonies rather than depleting them.​

Why these are virtually the only candles we allow in our house:​

They’re made with pure beeswax, organic coconut oil, and essential oils, not synthetic fragrance clouds. They smell strong enough to actually fill a room, without the toxic “candle hangover.” They burn clean and feel aligned with a home that’s trying to reduce chemical load.

 

[Jimi]

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ❝​ “QThe glory of gardening; hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.”​ — Alfred Austin​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

 

[Jimi]

Why Plan Your Garden With Preservation in Mind?​

Many gardeners choose what to grow based on what looks exciting in seed catalogs. But when harvest season arrives, it can quickly turn into a race to use everything before it goes bad.​

​ Gardeners who enjoy homegrown food year-round often take a different approach — they plan their gardens with preservation in mind. By thinking ahead about what you want in your pantry, freezer, and meals during the off-season, you can grow exactly what you’ll use and avoid harvest overwhelm. In this week’s blog, we share how to plan your garden with preservation in mind so your harvest turns into meals you’ll enjoy all year long.

Read the full article here​

​

Tasty Recipes for Preserving Your Harvest​

Preserving doesn’t have to be hard! Enjoy this guide with free recipes for you and your family to try as your harvest starts to come in. Or as shared in the article above, plant according to what you want to preserve!​

Discover how to: Make an essential pickling solution to keep on hand so you can pickle that extra harvest anytime, anywhere. Execute a fabulous fermented tomato sauce recipe. Make a delicious fruit-infused vinaigrette without all the added sugar. Properly char veggies to really bring out their savory, sweet, and spicy flavors. Plus much, much more! ​

Get Your Complimentary Guide Here​

​

Pickling Q&A: How Long Do Pickled Foods Last? ​

Q: How long do pickled foods last before opening? If you’re making pickled foods at home, it’s best to plan to enjoy them within about a year. They will often last longer than that, but over time the jars may become a little cloudy, the flavor can change, and the texture of the vegetables may start to soften. Once a jar is opened, store it in the refrigerator and use your senses. If it smells fresh and pleasant, it’s usually still good to eat. If something smells off, it’s best to throw it out. The vinegar brine helps keep the food preserved, but most opened jars are best enjoyed within about a month.

You may notice that store-bought products list shorter time frames. Those dates are often conservative. When it comes to your homemade pickles, learning to trust your nose is one of the best guides.

​

Missed the Preserve the Harvest Masterclass? Watch the Replay​

One of the reasons so many gardeners want to learn food preservation is simple: it helps you take greater control over your food.​

When you know how to preserve fresh vegetables, herbs, and seasonal produce, you can stock your kitchen with wholesome ingredients and avoid the frustration of watching good food go to waste. If you missed the live session, you can still watch the replay — but it’s only available until tonight. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn garden abundance into meals you can enjoy all year long, this masterclass walks through a simple system for doing exactly that. ​

Watch the Preserve the Harvest Masterclass Replay​

 

[Jimi]

 

[2WhiteWolves]

​ Protecting Bees, NOT Harming Them​

If you’ve ever lit a “normal” candle and felt that synthetic fragrance hit your throat or head, you already understand the problem. Most candles are loaded with mystery scents and additives that have no business being in your air (and then your lungs and bloodstream).​

Once you learn what you’re actually breathing, you can’t unknow it, and you definitely can’t un-smell that fake, perfumey haze.​

I’m real-life good friends with the the founder and the owner at Bee Lucia. I’ve toured their facility, and can tell you they’re the real deal: kind, meticulous humans who genuinely care about bee health and doing this work the right way.​

I also know many ECL readers are protective of bees and wary of anything that feels extractive. I’m the same way, which is why I asked hard questions. Ethical, conscious hive stewardship can be a net positive for colonies when it’s done with care and competence: supporting resilient hives, keeping stress low, and managing real-world threats like mites in a responsible way. Backing companies that prioritize hive health helps reinforce the kind of bee management that protects colonies rather than depleting them.​

Why these are virtually the only candles we allow in our house:​

They’re made with pure beeswax, organic coconut oil, and essential oils, not synthetic fragrance clouds. They smell strong enough to actually fill a room, without the toxic “candle hangover.” They burn clean and feel aligned with a home that’s trying to reduce chemical load.

Bought a beeswax candle and they are great, no smell, cleans the air, burns slower, and actually has a cotton wick. As with other candles just blow it out, with beeswax you put the wick into the melted wax to put it out. Thought this was pretty cool, as I never have done it this way before. Definitely plan on purchasing more of these beeswax candles.

 

[Jimi]

Some cheeses come in bees wax

 

[Jimi]

Hey folks,

On March 25th, I’ve invited two special guests to lead our next webinar: Jill from Whispering Willow Farm and Kaylee from Honeystead.

You may recognize them...

Jill and Kaylee have both been featured on the Thriving Farmer Podcast in the past. Now they’re back to give us a glimpse into their deep knowledge of herbalism.

They’ll show you how to start simple: six essential herbs, a manageable garden size, and training on how to actually use the herbs you grow.

Sign up now!​

​

About the Guest Speakers:​

Jill Ragan, author of The Tiny But Mighty Farm, has been homesteading and farming with her family for 10+ years on Whispering Willow Farm. Online, Jill teaches sourdough and herbalism, helping others recover valuable skills that used to be a part of everyday life.

Kaylee Richardson is a long-time homesteader, beekeeper, and author of The Beekeeper’s Apothecary. She studies the way food and medicine overlap, specializing in honey and herbalism as a certified apitherapy practitioner.

Event Details:​

Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 8PM EST
Where: Online (link sent after registration)



Sign up today to save your seat.



If you’ve ever dreamed of walking outside to a living pantry of medicinal herbs, there’s no better place to start. You don't need a lot of land. You don't need a lot of experience. Just show up ready to take notes and ask questions, and Jill and Kaylee will get you started on the right track.



Best,

 

[Jimi]

I want to share the crop that’s the most expensive to buy, yet the easiest to grow…

Herbs.

Growing herbs is the perfect place to start because they grow well in a variety of spaces both indoors in containers and outdoors in the garden. So no matter what your current garden or space situation is, you can at least grow some herbs.

You’ll want to star this email and save it as your go-to resource for growing herbs. Check out these articles:

• Growing Culinary Herbs
• Herb Gardening Dos and Don’ts

By the way... March 21st is one of two equinoxes where the sun is between its maximum and minimum declination. This means that the sun will roughly be midway through its journey from high to low and back again and hanging out right above the equator. (Actually the date is a little off depending on the astronomical v. meteorological seasons, but close enough.) This is a good time for you to go take pictures of your yard at noon to document the changes you are seeing.

In the Northern hemisphere it is spring, so our plants will be triggered by the shorter nights to grow faster at this point. This is also the time that most yards tend to look their best.

In the Southern hemisphere it is autumn and plants are triggered by the longer nights to start drying up and preserving resources. This is also the time that most yards need a little TLC to prepare for the coming winter.

Enjoy and if you are willing please post pictures on our Facebook page so we can all share the inspiration (or in the private Facebook group if you have access via one of our courses). Please use #TheUrbanFarmInspirationChallenge in your comments.