Canning-palooza 2009

Canning season has begun here on the farm. I love to pressure can produce and this year I started with a bushel of peas. Literally, a bushel of them! As much as we love to eat fresh peas, a bushel is a bit much for this recently expanded family of four to consume! I would like to give credit where credit is due. Because I was in no shape to bend over for hours and pick peas, my husband and mother in law picked all these peas, bless them!!! Here are the peas post-picking:


Do you have any idea how long it takes to shell a bushel of peas? About 5 hours for this experienced pea-sheller...and no, I'm not available for hire, but I do train new shellers! Here are the peas awaiting packing:


Now the fun part! Pressure canning at 10 pounds for 40 minutes (for both pints and quarts):


From the bushel of peas, I produced 10 quarts and 5 pints of peas. (Not all are pictured here.) Now we will be enjoying garden fresh taste in the middle of winter!


And, I couldn't talk about peas without including a photo of the sweetest pea of all...our new son, Henry!