Hi friends! Last year I posted many articles regarding preserving- whatever I was preserving at that time! Check those posts out!
This time around, I wanted to tell you the ‘why’ of this process.

Pea Pickin’

This morning I got up quite a bit earlier than I usually do and began picking the peas right away. I wore my Roo apron, brought out a low stool, and enjoyed the quiet time. Honestly! What a joy… birds singing, cool breezes, and quiet time. I picked this way for an hour.

Memories Made

The kids joined me and we continued picking. Chat, a funny toad finding memory (with mama jumping and shouting), and hard work side by side. This went on for another hour.

Shellin’

After a bit of rest and breakfast, we laid out our station and began shelling the peas. This year we started an audio book of short stories (last year was a Robin Hood audio theater)! Fun times as we work together. After a bit, the kids took a play time break and I turned on my Irish tunes and kept shelling (I told my 11 year old that this was my type of play).

We stopped for lunch and then finished up the last wee bit of shelling. Ah…

Look at this beauty and bounty! What’s feeling of blessedness it gives me.

Preserve and Learn

That afternoon, we blanched the peas and put them into a cold water (ice, too, as we had it) bath. I heard the question ‘Mama, why are we doing this?’ So! I was able to explain the reason why we blanch and cool down to my kids. Now. As we do this process with peas, they are learning what to do. Planting. Watering. Weeding. Harvesting. Prep. And preserve. They know it all!

And one of my favorite things: this winter as we eat these yummy peas, we can all take joy in the fact that we grew them! We did each part in preparing them for the meal we will be eating.

Final Notes

I will say that, yes, you can go to the store and buy peas… sometimes. I have recently been to Costco and there were no peas to be had, for whatever amount of money I was willing to pay. Zero peas. I’ve had the same thing happen at Aldi. Sometimes we wrongly think that things will just always be available because they have been, in general. But friends, this isn’t the case. We love peas and definitely eat them throughout the year… and so, we grow them too!

I hope this glimpse into preserving summer bounty gives you encouragement. It is work. It is time. But it’s a good use of both in my opinion and I am very thankful for the opportunity!