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How to Preserve Your Harvest: Main Preservation Methods Overview


Nothing compares to fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs, especially after you have poured your heart and labor into growing them yourself!


But at harvest time, you may have more of a certain crop than you can eat before it spoils.  On the other hand, perhaps you intentionally plan your garden so that what you harvest and save from it will last you until the next growing season.


Either way, using preservation techniques is an excellent way to get the most out of your harvest.  In this series, we will discuss some of the main methods in use today.


A couple notes before we get started - 

First, the articles in this series are intended as an overview of the main preservation methods.  Future articles will go into more detail about each specific method, but this will get you started.


Second, you'll notice that a few of the methods use mason jars.  I usually get 32-ounce Ball jars in a 12-pack, which you can find at Target at this link for your convenience, since it is cheaper than getting 1 or a few at a time and a better value than a smaller size.


This series covers the following preservation methods:

  1. Drying and Dehydrating
  2. Herbal Preparations
  3. Freezing
  4. Canning
  5. Fermentation
  6. Root Cellar Storage


Let's dive right in!  Read the Drying and Dehydrating Overview here.


Method 1: Drying and Dehydrating



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