Can you say tomato...

how about forty three pounds of tomatoes... small tomatoes at that. Wonderfully sweet, organically grown by one of the only organic growers on Greenbluff. But with that being said they were small, and that means lots of peeling... what did I get myself in to?

Eleven quarts of canned... because I fizzled out on the canning process too early on in the project, but... fifteen bags of chopped frozen maters, five quarts of spaghetti sauce which is fabulously tasty, and a couple pounds of dried cherry tomatoes which will soon be popped into a jar of olive oil and herbs for home made pizzas later on, or to eat with a favorite chunk of cheese from Saunder's cheese market.

In an effort to become more self sustaining, and to support my local farmers and economy, I have also gained a genuine appreciation for the women and men of yesterday who worked solely to provide their own means of sustenance. What a full days work... rewarding but hard. It feels good to see my shelves full of wonderfully nutritious food that contains nothing but the food.

 I have come to understand the phrase, "Eat as close to the earth as possible."  We have lost that I think, out of ignorance and the desire for a life of convenience. I'm not sure I want convenience over nutritional value, respectful farming and raising of my meats any more. I've been turned and there's no turning back now. 

"Ignorance is bliss,"  they say, and now I understand this too. And to be a queen of quotes in this entry, "With knowledge comes great responsibility," of which I now too fully understand. It is responsibility that cannot be denied once you have found out a truth about the workings of our world. This year I have been bombarded with eye openers almost too much to absorb, but at the same time grateful to have seen and been made aware. So as much as I complained about preparing these tomatoes, I am thankful to have had tomatoes to can and dry and freeze. And I will continue peeling more tomatoes, and apples, and pears, and other staples because now... I understand. 

Thank you Farmer Cole for respectfully growing our food... I'll see you soon for apples and pears.

Aren't these toms just beautiful!