A Colourful Day

We kept it quiet around the farm on this Labour Day Monday, though we were still quietly productive.  Inspired by Mr. and Mrs. Chips (who are building what must be the most epic chipmunks' nut storage facility ever behind the front steps to our house), the kids and I reorganized our basement pantry to accommodate all the canning Ian has been doing.  We still have some tomatoes and potatoes to put up, and of course the honey which we will be extracting this coming weekend, but our jars are filling up.

Carrots, hot pepper jelly, yellow beans, pickled peppers, cinnamon pears, bourbon peaches,
candied crab apples, rendered lard, pickled daikon, grape juice, tomato sauce, maple syrup,
baking honey, numerous jellies, and much more....

Sweet relish, dill pickles, pickled beans, pickled beets, cooked beets, tomatoes and cabbage,
chicken broth, pickled turnip, salsa, mushroom broth, beet greens, more carrots and beans, etc.

While we were busy sorting, Ian continued the canning.  He worked his way through our mountain of carrots and also made a batch of hot pepper jelly.  He was in the kitchen all day.  I have no idea where he gets his energy!

Crimson peppers for colour and flavour.

Combined with homegrown garlic.

Habaneros for heat.

Voila - hot pepper jelly!

Even though the leaves are not yet falling, there are still lots of beautiful autumn colours appearing on the farm.  Everything from carrots to wild flowers and ornamental berries caught our attention today.  

Fall, even with all the work it entails, really is the best season!