Blueberry Canning Recipes: Jams, Jellies, Butters & Chutneys to make this season one to remember

Blueberry season may have past for some, but for others it is still very much a thing. Our Blueberry Canning Recipes Roundup is a delicious way to try out some new and different ways to use all those luscious berries. Jams, jellies, butters, syrups, & juice, oh my! Our very own Blueberry Lemon Pie Filling canning recipe is included on the recipe roundup too! There are even low sugar options, for those wanting to do their canning without so much sweet stuff.

Get our Blueberry Canning recipes and tutorials on CanningCrafts.com.

Need canning recipes? We got 'em! Go to our website CanningCrafts.com for jam, jelly, chutney, & veggie recipes, oh my!

        

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Peach Canning Recipes: Slices, Jams & Jellies to make is hot peach season even hotter (and tastier!)

Peach season just keeps rollin' along this summer. Our Peach Canning Recipes Roundup is the perfect way to try out some new and different ways to use those juicy peaches. Jams, jellies, sauces, chutneys and even low sugar options, there are plenty of ways to keep from getting board with your canning.

Get our Peach Canning recipes and tutorials on CanningCrafts.com.

Need canning recipes? We got 'em! Go to our website CanningCrafts.com for jam, jelly, chutney, & veggie recipes, oh my!

Shop for Peach Canning Labels, Canning Jar Labels & Custom canning labels on CanningCrafts.com

Flavor Infused Vinegar Recipe for the taste of garden herbs year round

Hate to let those end-of-season garden herbs go to waste? You don't have to! This simple recipe for Flavor Infused Vinegar will have you enjoying those wonderful tastes long after the garden is put to bed for the winter. And we have also included FREE printable herb hang tags to add to your delicious homemade vinegar delights.

Get the Flavor Infused Vinegar recipe, tutorial and FREE hang-tags on CanningCrafts.com.

Need canning recipes? We got 'em! Go to our website CanningCrafts.com for jam, jelly, pickle, chutney, & veggie recipes, oh my!

Shop our Shop for Herb & Spice Jar Labels & Canning Jar Labels on CanningCrafts.com

Free Printable Seed Saver Packets for collecting and storing fruit & vegetable seeds

Seed collecting and storage is a tradition going back to the very beginnings of humanity. Of course you would save the seed of a particularly fruitful or extraordinarily delicious plant so that you could replicate that success again the next season. It's not so much a lost art, but it is definitely an art that is not utilized nearly enough. Our printable seed saver packets will hopefully assist you in recapturing that piece of our past. Because being more self-reliant and food secure is a human trait that never goes out of fashion!

Get the FREE printable Seed Saver packet files on CanningCrafts.com.

Need canning recipes? We got 'em! Go to our website CanningCrafts.com for jam, jelly, chutney, & veggie recipes, oh my!

See our Free Printables and shop all our Canning Jar Labels on CanningCrafts.com

FREE Printable Vegetable Garden Markers

It's time to upgrade your garden markers game! Try your hand at making these DIY Garden Marker Printables. We designed over 30 colorful DIY Garden Markers tags. Download the free printables on our website. The vegetable garden markers are easy to make and utilize old canning lids and coat hangers. Print garden marker tags for specific veggies or print some blank labels to handwrite your own text.



Veggies included: corn, eggplant, watermelon, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans, cucumber, peas, carrots, beets, radish, potato, spinach, swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, and tomatoes. 

Download the free printables on our website CanningCrafts.com

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Free Printable Halloween Steam Pumpkin Carving Template

Bwahahaha! It's that time of year again. Sharpen your carving tools and your creativity by making a unique Halloween Steam Pumpkin. Our steam pumpkin was made using old, rusty canning rings, something all of you canners surely have! Our template includes 3 fun mustache options for your pumpkin. This is a great activity for children and parents. The adults can do the carving and the kids will have a blast adding decorations to the pumpkins. 

Download our FREE Printable pumpkin carving templates with step-by-step tutorial. 

Download our FREE Printable pumpkin carving templates with step-by-step tutorial. 

Now comes the fun part! Clean out your junk drawer & attach fun embellishments to the pumpkin. Ideas: Add watch bands for the eye goggle straps, old keys for the nose, spice jar lids, toy car steering wheels, old watches & number dials, circuit boards, chains, screws, fasteners, springs, gauges, thumbtacks, & eyelets.

Old candy thermometers and keys make fun embellishments!

Insert eyelets, push pins, and screws to add some bling to your steam pumpkin!

Download our FREE Printable pumpkin carving templates with step-by-step tutorial. 

How to Save Tomato Seeds from Your Garden

We grow tomatoes every year. This is in large part because my husband has an unhealthy addiction to homemade salsa. Some years our tomatoes are gangbusters and some years they’re a bust. This year we lucked out with our super-tasty Sungold Cherry tomatoes. I most definitely want more of these suckers in the future. So here's a refresher on the art of saving tomato seeds.

First you need to find fruits that do not have diseases or harmful micro-organisms. This means that they need to be free of splits or insect holes. Choose the most perfect examples you have so that next year’s plants will work with the best genes possible. Also don’t forget to wash off your fruit before cutting them open.

When it comes to saving seeds from your favorite and most tasty tomatoes, there are 3 routes you can take: 

1. Basic Drying

This is (almost) the easiest method. Slice the tomato open and squeeze or cut out the largest seeds onto a plate. Then arrange the seeds in clusters of 3 or 4 onto a paper towel or coffee filter. Let them dry naturally for a week or two until there is no moisture. Store as-is or cut the towel apart into individualized little seed starters. You can store these in an envelope until next spring. Using the basic drying method, seeds keep for one or two years. Use the fermenting method (step 2 below) if you want to store them longer.

2. Fermenting

The fermentation process allows tomato seeds to store for up to 6 years and still be viable. This is because you're removing the gelatinous sac that encompasses each tomato seed. The gel is what stops germination from transpiring until the seed is planted in the ground. But, the gel can also contain diseases that may damage the growth of the plant. So removing the residue is essential to long-term seed storage.

To remove the gel, slice your fruit in half and squeeze or scoop the seeds into a bowl or jar. If the seeds are not floating in enough tomato liquid, add some water to help separate the seeds from the pulp. Cover the jar with cloth and let the mix sit uncovered in a warm, out of the way place for 24 to 48 hours. Fair warning, this will start to smell funky which is normal. If you are saving several varieties at once, don't forget to label each jar so you can identify the seeds later. The seeds are ready when they are sitting on the bottom (if using a glass jar, you will be able to see them). Skim off the pulp and whatever funk has developed on the top of the jar. Then strain the seeds at the bottom and rinse them with water. Any remaining gel should come off in the rinsing process. Allow the seeds to dry using the paper towel method from the “Basic Drying” section above.

NOTE: Older seed saving methods suggest fermenting seeds for up to 4 days or longer. A newer study indicates that it's best to soak seeds for only 1-2 days. Fermenting longer than 3 days decreases the seed germination rate. You do not need to have a layer of mold on the seeds either. 

3. Forced Volunteer

Now this method IS the easiest. All you have to do is select the spot in your garden where you want your tomatoes to be next year. Bury cut tomatoes or the gel/seed mixture 2 or 3 inches deep, then place a layer of mulch over that. Wait until springtime to remove the mulch, gently stir up the soil, water and wait. You could also let your tomatoes naturally drop in the garden and seed themselves wherever they darn well please. If you grow tomatoes, you already know how easily volunteer plants spring up. The benefit to doing forced volunteer plantings is that you know what variety is growing where. But there's something very fun about having "Mystery Plants" too! With any luck, you’ll have another round of your favorite and most tasty tomatoes next season! 

We designed these FREE Printable Seed Saver Packets just for you! Our free seed saver packs are great for saving seeds from your garden. Store seeds for yourself or use them for gift-giving seeds to your friends. Just print, cut, fold, and glue the seed packets to store your vegetable, fruit, or flower seeds. We hope you enjoy using these free packets. And PLEASE, share these with your fellow gardeners and seed savers.

Have you saved tomato seeds from your garden before? If so, which method did you use to save the seed? Let us know in the comments below.