Seed Saving

 Seed Saving Growing your own garden provides a wonderful opportunity to save the seeds your plants may produce. You can replant them next year or gift them to a friend. 

Supplies: 

Heirloom or heritage seeds 

Directions: 

1. Separate or collect seeds from your heirloom plants. For tomatoes, using a ne-mesh sieve, remove as much pulp as possible from seeds. Drain well. 

2. Paperclip a piece of parchment paper to a mesh tray and spread seeds out. 

3. Dry at 95℉ for 3-12 hours. 

4. Test for doneness. Larger seeds will need more drying time. It’s okay to over dry them to be sure all moisture is removed. Seeds should be rm and very dry. 

5. Store in an airtight container until it’s time to plant them again. 

Note: 

Hybrid plants do not produce seeds that will reproduce the same flowers or fruit. Only heritage or heirloom seeds are able to be saved and replanted.

Dehydrated Apples 🍎 🍏

 

Apples 

Ingredients: 

Apples 

Spices, if desired 

Directions: 

1. Wash apples 🍎. Peel, if desired, and remove the core. 

2. Cut into slices or rings. Aim for about ¼” thick. 

3. Pretreat with lemon bath (1/4 lemon 🍋 juice then 3/4 water) to prevent browning. Drain well. 

4. Toss in any spices you may be using. 

5. Place on trays. 

6. Dry at 130℉ for 4-6 hours. 

7. Test for doneness, listening for a crisp crack when broken in half. 

8. Condition, then store in an airtight container with an oxygen absorber if in humid environment.

Strawberry 🍓 Fruit Leather

A no sugar added, thick (yet soft and pliable) fruit leather recipe with the addition of a secret ingredient that also has added health benefits! 

Equipment: 

High Powered Blender 

Food Processor Silicone Dehydrator Sheets Parchment Paper (optional) 

Ingredients: 

3.5 lbs strawberries 🍓 washed and hulled 

4 tsp Pomona's Pectin 4 tsp calcium water (comes with Pomona's Pectin) 

2 cups white grape juice concentrate (because this is hard to find these days, I used white grape juice and then boiled it down to 2 cups)

Directions: 

1. Prepare dehydrator trays with silicone mats or parchment paper. 

2. Wash, hull, then puree strawberries 🍓 in a blender. Measure out six cups of puree. 

3. Prepare calcium water according to package instructions, add four teaspoons of calcium water to the berry puree and mix well. 

4. Transfer the fruit mixture to a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. 

5. Meanwhile, in a clean blender, add 2 cups of white grape juice concentrate and turn on low speed. 

6. Slowly add the powdered pectin and mix well for about two minutes. 

7. Once the berry puree has been brought to a simmer, keep the heat on, add grape juice concentrate mixture, and stir for a full minute. 

8. Remove from heat and ladle mixture onto the dehydrator trays. 

9. Dehydrate at 115℉ for about 14 hours. Depending on the thickness, this will vary.

10.Test for doneness. Leather should be dry and edible, with no pockets of moisture. Always let the leather cool completely first. 

11. Cut cooled fruit leather into strips (or cute shapes using a cookie cutter), and roll up using parchment paper. 

12. Condition, then store in an airtight container with an oxygen absorber if desired