Living Homegrown

Canning Across America

Have you heard about Canning Across America?

It is a very cool new informational website with tons of canning info! I am actually a little late in posting this because the big "Kick-off" was three weeks ago...But the mission is still going strong -- and will be going strong all year long.

Here is the mission statement for this group:

"Canning Across America is a nationwide, ad hoc collective of cooks, gardeners and food lovers committed to the revival of the lost art of “putting up” food. Our goal is to promote safe food preservation and the joys of community building through food.  The weekend of Aug. 29-30 is our kickoff, with how-to classes, demos and home canning parties in cities around the country.  Think of us as a one-stop resource for events, recipes, inspiration and safety how-to on anything under the canning, preserving and pickling umbrella that will continue throughout the year. Won't you join us?"

You can bet I will be joining them as I am doing my own canning this fall.

Check out their website for more great information!

Are There Herbs in Your Cleaning Products?

Have you seen this in stores yet?   

It is a liquid dish washing soap with fresh-from-the-garden ingredients! My dear friend Susan, just dropped off a bottle of this Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena Dish Soap. She found it at Whole Foods and knowing that I have a thing for lemon verbena, she bought it for me.

I think I love this soap. It's label says it is an "Aroma-therapeutic Household Cleaner." It is made with pure essential oils and only has "naturally occurring, hard-working-yet-gentle-cleaning agents".

The only thing is...It does NOT smell like lemon verbena! It smells more like lemon grass with a hint of pine. (Which is still good.) Can I really tell the difference between lemon grass and lemon verbena? OH YES I CAN! I grow both and their scents are very different. Although, not lemon verbena, the citrus scent is pleasant and a nice change from the artificial scents of regular washing liquids.

As I read the ingredients label, I notice that of all the essential oils listed, lemon verbena is NOT on the list! How strange to label a product as "Lemon Verbena" and then not use the essential oil in the ingredients. But no matter. It is still filled with very appealing oils.

Here are some of the ingredients: Deionized water, plant derived surfactants, pure essential oils of lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, clover, geranium and fir needle and even aloe vera gel. The best part is that it seems to work well at cleaning my dirty dishes.

You can order online here or you can look at their store locater here. (NO, they are not a sponsor and no, I don't get anything for referring you. Just passing on the info!)

Thank you Susan for thinking of me!

Other related Garden Fresh Living posts:

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil as Mosquito Repellent

Cool Tools - Wood Grilling Planks

Cool Tool posts feature some of my favorite things. I do not get paid to talk about these items. I just want to share info on some cool gadgets!

Have you heard of cooking on wood planks? It is the latest’s thing in grilling circles.

Pieces of alder, maple, hickory or cedar are soaked in water and then placed on the grill. The meat, poultry, fish or vegetable is then cooked on the plank imparting a delicious, smoky flavor. When you are finished grilling you just place the hot plank in soapy water, rise and use it again.

Eventually the planks (after many uses) disintegrate, so you just toss the pieces into the grill as smoking chips. You can also soak the planks in wine, apple cider or fruit juice for a different flavor. Cedar planks are $10.95 or multipacks with an assortment of woods are $19.95 from Sur La Table. (or call 800-243-0852)

Cool Tools - Mesh Grill Pan

"Cool Tool" posts feature some of my favorite things...No, I do not get paid to mention these items. They are just cool gadgets that I love...

Mesh Grill Pan: You may have seen the new grill baskets on the market. They are open mesh pans that allow the grilling of vegetables and small foods without them falling into the grill. But this new Mesh Grill Pan takes it a step further by adding a mesh lid. With the lid on, you can shake the pan without losing so much as a zucchini slice.

I love this!  I grill veggies every week and right now, my veggies are so prolific, I can barely keep up with the squash!  A blend of mixed veggies on the grill is a great way to use up the surplus.

Here is what I made with the last batch of veggies FRESH from the garden. Throw it on the grill (in your grill pan of course) and you have a delicious side dish.

The mesh grill pan is available from William Sonoma for $49.95. (or call 877-812-6235)

Cool Tools - Box Tidy

"Cool Tool" posts feature some of my favorite things...No, I do not get paid to mention these items. They are just cool gadgets that I love...

One cool gadget that I cannot live without is the Box Tidy.

It is a sturdy, expandable box with compartments to hold plants (or groceries) in the trunk of the car. I got tired of driving home from the nursery only to find my plants had rolled all over the back of the car, snapping off delicate stems. With the Box Tidy, everything is held in place. I will not go to the nursery without it. When not in use, it folds neatly away into an 11 x 7 space. It is $15.95 and available at Kinsman Company  or 800-733-4146.