The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest

Food preservation is one of the most intimidating aspects of homesteading, yet one of the most important. Although there is a plethora of websites, books and blogs dedicated to learning how to preserve the harvest, people must search multiple places in order to gather the necessary information. For a beginner new to the world of preserving this leaves them frustrated and quite discouraged. The ideal tool for a newbie is a detailed reference guide, one such as The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest, that shares the basics on canning, dehydrating, freezing, fermenting, curing, and smoking, and how to use the right tools for each method. Homesteader and blogger Ann Accetta-Scott guides readers at the beginning, moderate or advanced levels of preserving. Newcomers to the world of preserving can start with a simple jam and jelly recipe using a hot water bath canner, while others may be advanced enough to have mastered the pressure canner and are ready to move onto curing and smoking meat and fish. The progression in this book will help the home preserver build confidence in the most common methods of preserving.
Preserving food can be one of the most intimidating aspects of homesteading and cooking. Luckily, no one makes it as easy and as much fun as farm-girl-in-the-making Ann Acetta-Scott. For a beginner new to the world of preserving, the ideal tool is a detailed reference guide, and in The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest, Ann covers all the basics on canning, dehydrating, freezing, fermenting, curing, and smoking, including how to select and use the right tools for each method. This guide takes home preservers through the beginning, moderate, and advanced stages of preserving. Newcomers can start with a simple jam and jelly recipe using a hot water bath canner, while others may be advanced enough to have mastered the pressure canner and are ready to move onto curing and smoking meat and fish. With more than 30 delicious and healthy recipesand Ann's expertise and encouragement, the home preserver will build confidence in the most common methods of preserving.
"Ann is passionate about home food preservation, and her enthusiasm shines through in The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest. This book covers a range of techniques to encourage and inspire both new and experienced food preservers. She shares her journey from military brat to avid homesteader, encouraging readers to 'become their own grocery store.' Preservation techniques covered in the book include water bath, steam and pressure canning; dehydrating and freeze drying; curing and smoking meat and fish; fermentation; root cellaring and freezing. Dive in and enjoy the peace of mind that begins with a well-stocked pantry." --LAURIE NEWMAN, founder, Common Sense Home, blogger at www.commonsensehome.com
"Books on canning and preserving are a dime-a-dozen, but from the very first page, I could tell this one was different. Rather than approaching the topic with the usual textbook formality, Ann brings a human touch to the subject and makes me feel like I'm in her kitchen chatting about preservation methods over a cup of tea. From canning to root cellaring and everything in between, I will wholeheartedly be recommending The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest to anyone ready to start taking charge of their food supply and preserving their harvest." --JILL WINGER, founder, The Prairie Homestead, blogger at www.theprairiehomestead.com, author of The Prairie Homestead Cookbook
"Not only does Ann possess a wealth of knowledge on a huge variety of topics, she is charming, relatable, and fun"The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest is the quintessential book and guide for all-things preserving. Throughout the well-designed pages, Ann teaches you how to can, dehydrate, freeze, cure, smoke, and even ferment. Her easy no-nonsense delivery of information in charts, sidebars, and easy-to-implement recipes with gorgeous photos is a must-have on your homestead or in your urban kitchen." --STACY LYN HARRIS, co-host of "The Sporting Chef" and "Rural Heritage," founder, Game and Garden, blogger at www.gameandgarden.com, author of Tracking the Outdoors In and Stacy Lyn's Harvest Cookbook
"There's no other food preservation book you need when it comes down to preserving the harvest on the farm. This book is inspiring and packed full of information, whether you're a seasoned canner, or a new fermenter. Everyone can learn something new from The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest!" --AMY FEWELL, founder, Homesteaders of America and The Fewell Homestead, blogger at www.thefewellhomestead.com, author of The Homesteader's Herbal Companion and The Homesteader's Natural Chicken Keeper Handbook--Amy K. Fewell