Pioneer Skills

There was a time long ago and far away when I learned how to garden as a new homeowner in the country.  I nurtured the soil and tended all the vegetables with care and élan. Mrs. T. canned and froze them to more than provide for a family of four.  Forty five years later, still  enjoying my wildflower gardens I retired from vegetables. And yet thanks to the great generosity of our friends and neighbors Dick and Sharon and John and Joanne , we have more sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, peas and egg plants than ever.  Here is what a typical preserving for winter, sweet corn operation,  looks like as photographed by Mrs. T. and described in her own words..... 

Here's the recipe:

 

Get up early and husk numerous bags of sweet corn.

Blanche the corn on the cob for seven minutes.

Place cobs in ice-cold water for two minutes.

 

Order your spouse to get the board with the nail sticking thru.

Put an electric knife in his hands, reminding him not to cut his finger off.

 

Ignore his whining and complaining that he is "retired."

Tell him he is not done until he places all the corn in Ziploc bags and puts all 50 pint bags in the freezer.

Oh the poor man and kitty are taking their afternoon nap. They must be exhausted from all the hard work!