Canning and gardening

[April2]

Does anyone on here know how to can? I took an introductory class on it, just to get the basics and am very intrigued. It does seem like a lot of work, time consuming, but they say it's healthier and much cheaper to can your own food. I'd love to learn more. Does anyone on here can? And if so, what? My mom said she's only tried a few things, like green beans and tomatoes. I know she's made pickles before. I'd like to try my hand at jellies and jams but was told it's hard to do in our high of an altitude.
I also have always wanted to grow my own vegetable garden but have felt a bit intimidated, I guess. Our soil here is hard to grow things, I've been told. But I've always wanted to do this! To have my own vegetables, yum. They taste so much better when they're home grown, I know they do. I used to have a neighbor who would give us some of his vegetables and boy, did they taste so much better than store bought!
I know it's cheaper to grow your own stuff and also to can stuff I just wouldn't know where to begin or if I have time but I'm sure interested!
Anybody out there garden and/or can? Got any tips?

[April2]

Wow, Trudie! You sound like a real pro at this! I want so much to start my own garden. I love fresh stuff! Besides, with the way the world is going anymore, we may have to become more self sufficient. Seriously, I was just talking to someone who said there are countries who want to try to disable our electricity. So, it's not only a good idea to grow our own food but also to have a gas grill and/or camp stove. You never know.

[margypops]

Oh boy this is want I want to do, I have never had a veg garden , I have been spoiled and just looked at flowers , but I have had some fig trees and some blueberry bushes ..they taste great and knowing nothing has been sprayed on them I have been able to just eat them straight from the bush/tree. I know in my gut as do ,you all we are in for some tough times and I would love to learn how to be self sufficient ...PS I have a canning and freezing book, my books are always free to friends ..including the shipping ..

[TrudieC]

I live in an area known for growing fresh fruits and vegetables.  I do grow a lot of my own vegetables but have concentrated on the more expensive ones and use the farmer markets for my high volume needs like tomatoes and peppers and onions.  I grew patti pan (scallop) squash, zucchini, lettuce, sugar snap peas, cranberry beans, sunflowers, jalapenos, spinach, beets (yellow and red), swiss chard (my favourite), kholrabi, fennel (didn't work out for me though), carrots, rhubarb and fresh herbs.  I've saved a lot of money and so handy.  You can enrich your garden with top soil, manure, peat moss and possibly sand and keep things well watered.  If you're in a very hot and sunny area plant the cool seeking veggies in the shade (any greens).  

We didn't can this year but usually we stock up from the market and my husband and I work together to clean the tomatoes, I cook them up and he does the canning.  It really isn't hard to can - the cleaning of the veggies is the most work.  I usually make homemade spaghetti sauce, ratatouille, salsa, and chili sauce.  It is so good having food on hand that is healthy, has no preservaties, and still handy when you need to get a fast dinner on the table.  Freezing is a good alternative.