Garden Tomatoes

I have been getting better results with horse manure, than with any commercial fertilizer I have ever used.

I went out to the garden today and found a nice surprise, my cherry tomatoes have started ripening. I have 4 cherry tomato plants, 2 big beef tomato plants, and 2 big boy tomato plants in my raised garden beds. I used horse manure this year to fertilize them, so far they are by far the best tomatoes I have ever grown. They are over 7 foot tall and full of tomatoes and blooms.

Organic is better.

Homemade Pickles

So easy to make pickles!!!

Just follow the steps below.

I have been wanting to make pickles for awhile, so the other day I thought I'd try my hand at it. I grew my own cucumber plants this year using hydroponic. So far God has blessed me with an abundant supply of cucumbers. I have done 9 jars so far, 3 of them are quart and pint sized jars and 6 are just pint sized jars. Of the 6 pint sized jars, 3 of them I threw in a hot pepper to spice them up a bit. After making all these jars of pickles I still have tons of cucumbers, I will definitely be making more jars of pickles. It was fun and rewarding.

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The Brine:
3 cups of water
2 cups of white vinegar
1/4 cup if kosher salt (do not use table salt with iodine)

Ingredients:
Cucumbers
Fresh Dill
Dill Weed
Pepper corn
Red pepper flakes
Garlic
(3 jars I put in a hot pepper)

I got the brine recipe and ingredients on YouTube. As far as the amount of each ingredient I put in each jar, I winged it.

Step #1: Sterilize the jars and lids by boiling them in water for a few mins.

Step #2: Take the jars out of the hot water, turn the heat down and leave the lids in the warm water (this keeps the seal of the lid flexible)

Step #3: Make the brine by mixing the water, vinegar, and salt in a pot and bring to a boil, once at a boil turn the temperature down to low heat till you are ready to use it.

Step #4: While the jars are cooling cut the cucumbers, I cut them into spears, chips and deli slice. Once the Jars are cooled enough to work with, pack the jars with fresh dill, a pinch of dill weed and red pepper flakes, 2 cloves of garlic, a couple pepper corn, and the cucumbers (if you want to spice it up a little throw in a hot pepper).

Step #5: Fill the jars with the brine till you have about a half head space. Use a knife or the head space tool to remove the bubbles by running it along the inside of the jar. Then with a clean towel wipe the top of the jar where the lid will sit.

Step #6: Use your magnet lid lifter tool to grab a lid out of the hot water, place it on top of the jar. Place the outer ring on top of the jar and tighten just snug, not to tight.

Step #7: Fill a pot with enough water to cover an inch over top of the jars when submerged. Bring that pot of water to a boil, once at a boil place the packed jars of cucumbers into the boiling water. Let boil for 20 mins then remove.

Within an hour to 24 hours the lids should go from concave to convex. If the seal did not work you can still eat just put in the refrigerator.


I hope this helped and that you try your hand at making your own pickles.