Roosters And Freezers

As we continue to can O Wise One and I realized freezer space was starting to dwindle rapidly. With chickens, rabbits and turkeys still to butcher in the next month or two we started looking for ways to help clean it out. Yes I have pretty well managed to fill One chest, one upright and half of a side by side freezer and I am still preserving.  

We have added lots of fish and rabbit in the last month or so on top of all the vegetables. Despite putting as much as possible in jars we continue to have space issues.  

So in the interest of cleaning out some much needed room we have started putting some meat in jars. Remember those roosters my neighbor brought me to trade for an extra Buff rooster that I had. 

They have been cooling their heels in the back of my freezer so it was time to deal with them to make way for the young ones about ready to be butchered. A good Saturday morning project to take a break from tomatoes.  

So the roosters went in the roaster and simmered on low for a good long time. Then we picked the meat off the bones and allowed the broth to cool in the fridge until any fat rose to the top and hardened. Then the fat was skimmed off the top and fed to the big dogs over their dog food. The remaining meat and broth were canned. That canned chicken is so handy for so many different kinds of recipes. And the additional bone broth was canned for use in cooking also. Bone broth is so good for you.   

Monday it is back to canning tomatoes. 

And the dehydrator is still humming away. My bags are filling with lots of veggies to eventually go into jars.  

This weeks tally

27 quart jars canned tomato sauce
2 pints canned tomato sauce
7 pints canned chicken
2 pints canned chicken broth
5 bags frozen green pepper chunks

Seeds saved

watermelon...drying
cantaloupe ...fermenting
tomato oxheart..drying
tomato determinate paste...drying
Jade bush green bean...drying
French Horticulture (half runner)..drying

Bell Peppers ....drying

Dill Seeds....drying

I still have some rabbit in the freezer I want to put in jars. And the dehydrated goods continue to pile up. Next week I will continue to dehydrate watermelon and cantaloupe. The okra and cucumbers are just about done and still to deal with: peppers, carrots, potatoes, onions, and apples.

Still in the garden

Potatoes

Watermelon

Cantaloupe

Tomatoes

Green Peppers

Lettuce

Turnips

Broccoli

Cabbage

Brussel Sprouts

Zucchini

I hope everyone has a safe and blessed weekend and I will see you on Monday morning.

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter