Every Bit Counts Challenge (a little late) …. Week 5

A couple of weeks ago I heard about a fun challenge that a number of homesteaders were taking part in. It’s called the Every Bit Counts Challenge, and runs through the month of August. Because I found out about the challenge after it had already started, and we had some family responsibilities that took priority, I am still going to participate, but in September. It’s actually good as much of the garden is just coming on now.

Sept 29: It finally feels like autumn in Oregon. After months without a decent rainfall, we have grey sky and soggy soil. It’s not much fun for gardening, but the air finally feels fresh and clean. I didn’t get any canning or preserving finished today, but I did clean the house and get caught up on chores.

Sept 30: There was a great price on chicken this morning at the supermarket so we purchased 4 packages for canning, freezing and lunches. I pressure canned four 1.5 pint jars of Chicken Pot Pie base and four more quart jars of chicken soup base. In addition there’s a nice pot of stock on the stove that will be canned tomorrow as Chicken stock.
I also used the last of the ripe tomatoes for another four pints of Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce. If I find the ambition I may also can a few pints of butternut squash (I did – 5 pints).

Recap:

Frozen
- salmon
- chicken
- onions
- caramelized onions
- pineapple
- blackberries
- blueberries
- rhubarb
- zucchini bread
Fermented
- buttermilk
- fire cider
- pineapple vinegar
Canned
- dill pickles – 13
- bread and butter pickles – 1
- pickled beets – 5
- tomato sauce – 12
- roasted tomato sauce – 9
- salsa – 14
- chicken stock – 6
- chicken soup base – 4
- chicken chili – 6
- chicken pot pie base – 4
- steak chili – 6
- beef stew – 6
- beef barley soup – 6
- coney sauce – 12
- enchilada sauce – 10
- butternut squash – 5
- applesauce – 6
- pineapple – 6
- peaches – 2
- ginger pear preserves – 3
- blackberry jelly – 9
- blackberry syrup – 5
Dried
- cilantro
- sage
- mint
- thyme
- dill
- basil
- oregano
- lavender
- kale
- swiss chard
- beet greens
- bread crumbs
- bread cubes
- onions
- garlic
- refried beans