What Are We Going to Do With ALL This FOOD? - ASK

We grow a lot of food: fruit, vegetables and now eggs from our chickens. But what are we going to do with it all? Let's discuss what we ARE and what we are NOT planning to do with all the food from our small property in the interior of central Portugal.
The blog post I mentioned: www.gardenbetty.com/how-much-...
And another with a garden size calculator: morningchores.com/vegetable-g...
club.makedogrow.com

[@vardarotenberg4660]

I started prossing produce when our children were young and I was into healthy food. WE lived in a raw home in Philadelphia, but went to the farms in Pennsylvania. I am still doing it, but went from quart jars to 12 oz sizes In the summer I canned fruit compots made preservative and jams. The only veggies I couldnt preserve, were onions. They tasted just awful... I am 87 and live in Florida, USA , so you have many years to perfect your staff...

[@babzblu]

I love your philosophy of gardening for fun and sharing and not taking away from the local markets income. Your potato harvest is inspiring. Also the giving and receiving of seeds. Thanks for another lovely sunshiny vlog. 😻

[@curiouscat3384]

I'm in US and most cities have a "Local Food bank" that accepts donations of food to distribute to soup kitchens and low income families. My farmers market also has a booth called "Second Harvest" that takes donations. As a single woman I too, find it impossible to process and use everything I grow :)

[@MartaRC32]

That´s what I was thinking... There should be organizations in Portugal that desperately need food, especially fresh food, such as places for the elderly and mentally ill patients. Maybe the logistics of where their farm is located is complicated to get the food to these places, but they should do some research and donate food to those organizations that desperately need it... I`ll keep my fingers crossed, as it´s such a pity to see fresh fruit turned into alcoholic beverages... if they are hungry people out there...

[@leahlemieux6410]

We have two fig trees, which produce more fruit than my husband and i need. wee give tons of fruit to our neighbors! We make a large amount of fig paste, which is wonderful as a spread for hordourves. You may also want to check into donating to a local food bank - where we are, they have something called Senior Gleaners, who come to your house and pick all your excess produce, then take it to a food bank. Have fun!

[@kebergify]

You guys are just a delight to listen to and I love your long term plans! I think you both would be lovely neighbors. Cheers to more cordial and wine making!!

[@pumkineater7219]

We planted 7.5kg of seed potatoes here in Almeria Province and got a whopping 149kg back in return!

[@antoniokeating6527]

I would suggest that you can make donations to local social support entities. The local fire services or the Junta de Freguesia or even the parish could put you in contact with such entities

[@garystewart6093]

3:25 the joy of the purple carrot. X

[@huwtindall7096]

The potatoes inspired me to go around planting them in the streets near my house. Plenty of spaces at the base of trees in the sidewalk. They grow like nobodies business and I harvested my first batch of street potatoes yesterday. Got about 10 potatoes from the one I planted. Good for a laugh if nothing else to see potato plants sprout up around the neighbourhood.

[@8arcasticallyYours]

Don't the local dogs that are being walked pee at the base of those trees? That's one of their prime places, usually.

[@yuccapalme4577]

I'd be super interested in a video at the end of winter showing how the stock of preserved food got you through the winter. Which products you ran out of at what time and which ones you possibly preserved too much of.

[@circuscats67]

Yes!!! I would love to see a winter stock.

[@silocybe83]

i admire your philosophy and for sure hard hard work ! keep it up , its always a pleasure to watch your videos

[@iu.5146]

You can try the orange peel and use it as kindling. You can also dehydrate orange slices and use them on Christmas wreaths or as ornaments for your tree.

[@joanbroadway759]

Here in the US, making zucchini bread is a popular way to use up excess zucchini. It is made in a loaf pan, so it looks like bread, but it's sweet. It tastes more like cake. It freezes well, and is popular to give as gifts. I know it's hot there, and baking is probably the last thing you would be interested in doing, but it is a great way to use the zucchini up and a great gift for the friends and neighbors who gave you the seeds.

[@onamuir4985]

Admirable terms, goals and community. Very interested in and enjoying your experiments and "out-of-the-box" thinking. Congrats on the raised bed harvest! 😉

[@sylviawright5181]

I think its lovely what you are doing by exchanging & giving ,my father did that during the war ,he had same amount of land you've got ,he dug the soil ,even chicken pen ,Cardboard must be a new thing ,as a child i washed every potatoe to be stored for winter ,Happy Days ,👍😃

[@kccorliss3922]

I love neighbors that bring me food! 👍

[@voulathomacos-lagonas8445]

If you have eggs make pasta that can be dried and kept for winter. Pickle tomatoes, cucumbers.... The fruit can be made into jam Put the figs onto cane and sundry then for winter.... Sun dried tomatoes in olive oil Apples can be name into syrup

[@joannecalcutt6724]

Love what y’all are doing and your attitude and understanding of your community. You’re building a great life there. Best to you and all you do.

[@Alfablue227]

Great what u guys are doing. Pls consider donating to locar charities. Just call the Camera Municipal and ask how you can donate your excess to the needy in the area.

[@ninemoonplanet]

You might try getting together for a "community kitchen" so people who love marmalade, for example, can make some for their families, and friends. I love making marmalade, lemon-lime, orange-lemon, even grapefruit and lemon. 🤣 Yeah, a theme here. Getting together with chefs, restaurants, and discovering local recipes should help you know what people really need/want and like. It's fun trying out new food ideas. Especially from different cultures. Black pepper on strawberries is delicious.

[@colly1952]

You might give extras to a nearby foodbank. Also, your chicken and other animals if you get them really love your old fruits. They know what is good and what isn't.

[@ennykraft]

Your raised beds and container gardening aren't the same since you used Hügelkultur. The logs and mulch at the bottom don't just fill the space. They provide nutrients and warmth through composting (which is why in colder climates plants grown in them are ready to be harvested sooner). They retain moisture and act as a mole deterrent - at least until the bottom has substantially turned to earth. All my beds use Hügelkultur so it was very interesting to see how they perform in a very different climate. Love your scientific approach.

[@corrineyoung5934]

For your oranges, slice them, then candy them, dip them in chocolate, makes great gifts and snaks, works well with most any fruit, give it a try.

[@maxfella]

Thank you guys for sharing!

[@anniegoldmann9325]

Love your videos! Have you considered donating the surplus food to charity? Here, in the USA, the pandemic resulted in great food insecurity for many. I’m sure the same is happening in many other countries as well. Portugal has many charity organizations that could use the help.

[@McFraneth]

I've seen French kitchens with a second kitchen purely for the bottling for winter.

[@marydouglas6136]

Awesome!May the force be with you .

[@bryansarty3821]

Really appreciate the links. They will truly help. Cheers!

[@lewih7135]

Great video! I love these Q&A shorts. I'm in the southern US and those darn voles and moles destroyed my flower bed this year! I have a plan for next year...they don't like veggies in the allium family (garlic, onions, scallions, etc.). I will be adding these to my flower beds to help deter them. My veggies in raised beds were not touched, but I also have a screen on the bottom. Thanks for sharing!

[@manishaholm]

You can trim off the onion tops, dehydrate them, blend them into a powder, and you'll have a delicious ingredient for soups, any savory dish that could use an extra flavor element.

[@vardarotenberg4660]

I don't have a dehydrator. tried the oven at 175, it did not dehydrate well.

[@manishaholm]

@@vardarotenberg4660 Oohhh. . . . Well. Something for the future.

[@pamelareeves3574]

Sending love and respect!

[@dawnjackson6741]

You could supplement a couple schools in the nearest city with oranges for snack time.

[@elisabecas]

Wow! I wish you were my neighbours! That sharing thing of seeds and plants is very cool, my mother does that with her neighbours. I was very interested about the idea of making essential oils from the oranges. I know you will share it later with us 🙂 Are you considering building a greenhouse? It is useful to start your plantations, the seed germination.

[@TexasHomesteaders]

Good harvest!

[@rudymazar8666]

Sharing and swapping is great joy ! Good on you guys!

[@miareal1746]

You guys are the best example of capability of self sufficient Our so call modern advance world has a lot to learn from you. 🙏👏😀❤️

[@sybamunki]

We’ve been growing veggies for a few years (in New Zealand) and found that we were growing stuff we could get more cheaply in the shops at the height of the season. So we switched to unusual varieties that are harder to find. Then we got a poly tunnel and we can grow year round! We’ve been picking capsicum and chillies thru this winter and feel very smug!

[@derekr1113]

I love the little 'Byyye' from off camera at the end

[@louisecooper4803]

What a lovely way to live life.

[@astriddijkgraaf7472]

We've just moved to a little farm near Pedrógão Pequeno. Would love to catch up one day.

[@tejolisboa]

Congratulations. You have an unusual way of seeing life.

[@josedejesus4674]

Good job guys I love chestnut soup

[@adbc8737]

Thank You! 🌀💚🌀

[@25Natalija]

I have fallen in love with your channel and can hardly wait for your videos. I truly like what you are doing regarding the house but especially your garden. Keep on doing the good work. Greetings from Slovenia.

[@circuscats67]

I too have fallen in love with this channel

[@sarahsmith-iq6fn]

Kylie you should get a distiller to make your own oils, also you could sell your own wine at market maybe,

[@angelapapas1059]

It’s a great problem to have excess produce. We give away our excess and then we get others excess back. It’s a lovely way to live

[@rachelfrees1268]

Friends who raise pigs need and would love over ripped vegs/fruits. Cindy Vine would so appreciate them for her pigs if you are close to her. Of course you know that added to your compost would enhance the land considerably. What wonderful folks you two are.💕👏

[@CLFL14256]

not at all close to Cindy

[@beatieswanepoel3004]

Amazing what you guys are achieving. I have a small container veggie garden for myself and preserving and now that my granddaughter moved in I would like to expand it. Thinking of placing cardboard down and pebbles or such, and containers spaced on it. Gardening is therapy, good for the soul. 🌹🐝🇿🇦

[@juliegeorge8533]

Do they have food banks in Portugal? xx Yes it is wonderful to swap and gift xxx

[@helenagracio7556]

Julie George - Ye. It's called Banco Alimentar.

[@TheRealBigfeet]

Can we see some dehydration videos please it would be nice to see some dehydration recipes, also some medicinal balms and teas would help a lot of people.

[@heatherrobertson9159]

Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 Great be job you guys are doing. Such a diverse team. I noticed that a freeze dryer called harvest right big in homesteading in America . I watch living traditions homestead. They do a lot of experiments with the freeze dryer. Even cost to run the machine. I would love to own one one day.

[@lesleysluyters2165]

Love your videos…so laid back and fun….all your hard work really pays off. If I were twenty years younger I’d be doing the same. We lived in Africa for 35 years and did it all there….I loved it. . . In UK now so it’s container growing now ….just for fun…🤣🤣 good luck with future projects ❤️❤️❤️

[@billnewman5900]

I like the " First resort"

[@LCamp-cr7fs]

Growing up in postwar Germany, my parents gardened to provide for the family year round. Lots of canning and cold storing. It was a lot of work. You will figure out how much to grow for your needs. I have to agree with many other comments about donating excess produce.

[@lieselotte521]

Harvesting home grown potatoes gives a feeling of special joy, which can last for days. I think that is therapeutic,don't you ? Your veggie garden is so beautiful, and I can see the joy it brings you. 🍠🍊🍅🍇🍈🍒🌰🌽🐌 You've done the RIGHT THING at the right time. Kind regards from Liese in Austria.

[@luminyam6145]

I love your videos.

[@torisharpley2370]

I would live to see your little Community, neighbors, surrounding Area just to put in prospective. You say you live in the middle of nowhere!!! From Louisiana USA love to watch y’all

[@Strange-Viking]

Hi guys I remember that way in the start you bushwhacked lots because of all the overgrowth so I dont know the current situation but if its coming back in certain parts you might wanna grow like a 10m2 of corn mixed with wheat and have that area for chicken feed. Even letting them loose in there once its high enough, the chickens will weed it, eat it and everything they cant reach will become food for them later. I wonder if that would work, no idea to be honest, its sort of a new idea (well to me it is). So that 10m2 you can just let it run wild, apart from the occasional weeding in the start. And once the corn and wheats are ready you can just cut a few every day, letting them drop and lay at the spot so the chickens do the rest of the work. The chickens would love it for sure and it would make for healthy chickens I guess. With minimal effort from your side. And maybe a beehive or something like that? Also minimum effort. Cant wait until I get enough money together to be able to do something like this 🤣 just need to buy a piece of land with a derelict on it. Soon though! p.s. awesome vid, like always!

[@rachelj4970]

I would definitely buy orange blossom soap!

[@antonymorris1962]

I'm not a religious commenter but just wanted to say I think your channel is brilliant. Informative, you dont take yourself too seriously, humble and hardworking and the fella has a James Bond-esque suaveness to his voice haha. Thanks

[@christinetrewin9717]

I only grow a little of salad crops as only I eat them, hubby is not a veg lover. My go to is freezing for excess fruit etc. I can then enjoy my efforts later in the year. I always have a little chuckle at the end to Kylie’s disembodied ‘Bye’ 😍😎🇫🇷

[@annhardesty1696]

Requesting you grow fava beans, please!

[@601salsa]

Think about getting a rain water harvesting barrell (maybe try to keep in the shade given the sun over there), add water, then add weeds as and when you find them. Let them break down and dissolve. Use the solution to fertilise your veggies. Top up the water.

[@keyem4504]

I really like your attitude. So relaxed. I like it. And just a hint on pronunciation of the German Word "Hügel". The H is pronounced as in "high", not as in "huge".

[@tatianaschoenfield9819]

Where I live in Portugal we have a store that cooks for struggling families. One who can afford buys a lunch menu and the struggling family has a pass and only pays a fraction of the price. Great concept and they would love your food donation. See if one is in your area. There are also young families who live paycheck to paycheck.

[@601salsa]

Have a give away stall for locals to give backl. Also you can make Chestnut oil.....

[@montedaestrada3563]

There is so much you say regarding growing, sharing, swapping, more friends than in the UK etc that strikes a chord with us and our own experience of living here in Portugal. Regarding growing tomatoes for processing, we did that and Sarah made enough sauce, chutney etc that lasted 3 years!

[@gaynor3976]

Love to see what you produce each video, you're both doing a cracking job. Xxx

[@wendypanozzo9133]

What a glorious, abundant way of life! I'd love to be neighbors with you guys and share the bounty!

[@rudymazar8666]

We all learn to plant accordingly after a few seasons

[@module79l28]

If you weren't so far away, you'd be my go-to egg supplier. Of course, it would depend on how much "excess" eggs you have.

[@chidkarma1553]

Keep doing what your doing if more people think & do this we don't need big farms and we all get what we need . The little things :-)

[@zitaleonardo1170]

Please make crystallized Orange peal like the French do.. it’s so good for fruit cake, and so expensive!

[@manuelmachado1276]

awesome

[@amazonwarbitch]

Since you seem to have a constant surplus of oranges, have you considered making orange curd? Same thing as lemon curd, just different citrus. It's super tasty!

[@saa8458]

I always wanted to try making chestnut meal and then make a filling with mushrooms 🍄 to put into homemade ravioli and serve with a mushroom flavoured sauce. 🤔

[@lucyyoung5307]

Hi. Just came across your channel so I’m a newbie.

[@e.r.4077]

Chestnut purée, roasted chestnuts... Raspberries, blackberries for the future.

[@monalingan9523]

Another enjoyable video. Love your sense of humor.

[@dorislewis2852]

I watched an interesting youtube video a while back. I think the name is Martha Mir preserving food without all the gadgets.

[@nancibishof6462]

I wonder if you could put chicken wire at the base of your raised beds before filling them to thwart the voles. Its always an adventure with my garden and lots of surprises. Home grown just tastes so much better.

[@helenlazoga1487]

Hi, great video. I've just subscribed after watching you. Just wondering, where exactly are you situated? I myself are living in northern Greece ( have you ever visited my country?) what really impressed me was your spirit and attitude of caring for people other than yourselves. You're a lovely couple and I look forward to more of your videos. Happy gardening!!

[@royaldame6492]

Have you considered getting a freeze dryer? It is a great way to preserve food

[@happycamper4329]

Ditto with others who have suggested donating excess to a food bank. There's a comment from a Richard Warren below who is setting up an orphanage in Portugal. Perhaps you can help them out a little with excess produce in the future?

[@rachelfrees1268]

Buy a cider press and make wonderful cider and hard cider.

[@alybridgwater3282]

You can use your orange peel for a cleaner and it is very good

[@rudymazar8666]

Orange essential oil is a great idea for excess oranges... dry peels are the best fire starters for your fireplace.

[@waltermcphee3787]

And marmalade

[@mikejust3790]

very ambitious ..

[@chrissteere9494]

As someone who grows Asparagus in their garden, you might want to move the Asparagus that you have planted. I am in North Carolina, USA that has similar weather as you (but more rain). My established plants are in one row and they are about two meters tall and two meters wide after they go to fern. They will spread as they establish. When we move to our next house, I will plant these in its own location away from the other vegetables.

[@curiouscat3384]

Carolina here too :) My asparagus has it's own far back corner of the fence around my 2/3 acre - a total frothy floppy mess for months until it dies back in winter

[@reubenhooft541]

Interesting

[@carolbulmer8253]

I like that you are growing and gifting🙏❤️❤️

[@jaypeeters]

You two are amazing, and a real good example of what folks could be like... so in tune with the earth. There is no other channel I watch were I comment so frequently! I admire the fact that you just give things away. Are there any foodbanks in your region? Btw Definetely buying your line of soaps for my wife (when they exist)!

[@juliegeorge8533]

The gifts of food plants and seeds is just wonderful too xxx

[@williammcduff6531]

quite the productive garden you have. Just a thought on preserving I make fermented sauerkraut and pickles also.

[@suzilouden5964]

Not a cheap investment but if you have the produce and the cash to buy.....it's a very worthwhile investment 😊

[@lorimontcalm9086]

I'm just wondering, are there homeless shelters, or women's shelters that could benefit from your abundance? You guys are so amazing. Hugs from 🇨🇦

[@nvdb-77]

Plans and plants! 😅 Luxurious position in life to have too much food! 😊 Hats off to you for creating this beautiful garden and abundance of food!

[@F-J.]

Get your self a freeze dryer and make lots of fruit powders as well as dried fruit AND EGGS.

[@martinlehtonen]

have you thought about doing a DIY solar food dehydrator?

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@douglasdeans2839]

By not selling at market you do release yourselves from the pressure of "got to grow so much excess to be able to sell".