Beans, Beans My Magical Fruit

Beans have been my magical fruit this year.
They have been wonderfully abundant.
much to my homesteaders hearts delight!

Starting the middle of July, we have been picking about 15 pounds every two to three days.  During the peak flush it took two hours to pick everything. 

And just as many hours to snap them all.
Good thing I have lots of little hands to help. 

(Monkey was especially enthusiastic in her “helping”, she loves being one of the big kids.) 

All those pounds and pounds of beans went to one of three places: fresh in our bellies, to friends and family or in quart jars, bottled for the winter. Now it’s in the middle of August, and the beans are slowing down.  We are picking every three or four days and only getting a few pounds a time.  While I am sad to see bean season end, it is a bit of a relief to not have to keep up with the picking and bottling.  All in all I was able to can 70 quarts of beans, more than enough to last us until next bean harvest, along with other vegetables that have been dried, bottled and frozen.

This work, of being self sustaining (as much as possible) is long and hard, but the results are so very satisfying.