Seasonal Abundance

Whether you have a garden or not, we all can benefit from seasonal abundance. There are many benefits to preserving your own food. When you buy straight from the grower whether it be a local farm or farmer’s market, you have the advantage of knowing where your food comes from. Whether it is organic or not. Also, chances are when you go straight to the source, you will get the best wholesale price. Seasonal food is fresh and naturally ripened which produces the best taste and nutrition.

I enjoy drying many of the fruits I get from the farm, our yard or from gleaning locally here in Lillooet. Dried strawberries are my favourite next to dried pears. Although I do grow strawberries, I do not have a large enough harvest to put away as much strawberries as I would like to for the winter.

Dried fruit is like nature’s candy and when you dry it yourself you can do so without any chemical additives. I do use lemon juice for drying things such as apples or apricots and fruit leather to preserve the colour. In addition to drying fruits you can also dry vegetables and store for adding to soups and stews later.