Canning, Freezing, & Drying Food for a Large Family

From June 28th to July 5th - buy one, get one 50% off using the code THREERIVERS10 at forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911152.z... - after July 5th, get 10% off with the code!
Learn More About Our Freeze Dryer - affiliates.harvestright.com/1...
Crinkle Cutter French Fry Tool - www.amazon.com/dp/B08RXVB1KN?...
Here is my planner - shrsl.com/3b808
How I Set Up My Planner - • Large Family Organizat...
My Grain Mill - www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYZ3XVK?...
My Mixer - www.amazon.com/dp/B0016KU16G?...
Learn more about where we purchase our bulk food - www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=...
Food Storage Containers - www.amazon.com/dp/B0002H3S5U?...
More FAQs about our family - • Get to Know Me ~ Frequ...
Our Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/threerive...
Follow us on Instagram @threerivershomestead
#threeriverschallenge #everybitcountschallenge
Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

[@AdamW-tx]

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a young girl driving a tractor. You 2 parents sure do fine job with those youngsters. Well done !

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you so much for the encouragement ☺️

[@wendy3437]

I thought the same thing. My daughter Bethany enjoyed doing the outside stuff more than the inside. She does love to cook she says I not a baker you and grandma are the bakers. She is right grandma Arloa my ex mother in law and best friend was the baker. We lost her a year and a half ago and we missed her so much. Your children learn so many skills which is good. My grandson loves to mow the lawn, weed wack, and blow the leaves they go him his own battery. Equipment when he was younger. He also loves to mop and vacuum. I think it is because my daughter always let him help. It may take longer but they learn and then they can help you.

[@freeinghumanitynow]

If $7 for 50 lbs of organic taters doesn't convince folks to grow their own groceries then I don't know what will. 😊 Another fantastic, video, Jessica. Thank you so much for sharing these little snippets of your life and blessed family. Isn't God good? He's just so faithful and we're so grateful!! 🙏

[@threerivershomestead]

He truly is 🙌🏻

[@barnrazedbyjesse6893]

I was in my forties before I realized my kitchen aid stand mixer needed greased. Reading manuals go a long way to keeping equipment running and efficient. Your videos and mass kick off my week in the right direction.

[@bonniehosmer2021]

I did not know this! Thank you!!

[@wendyomalley6433]

I love how your family works as a team!

[@jacquethirlkel3001]

Early Sunday morning before going to church I look for your weekly video. I enjoy the beginning with some coffee and milk and my morning medicine ( I am 72). When I get home about noon I enjoy the second half of your video. You do wonderful family and homestead videos! They make me happy. Thank you so much! God bless!

[@KoniB.]

Funny to hear, to know that others feel as strongly about putting meat and taters away in your pantry as I. It just makes something inside feel safe and warm, knowing I can feed my kids & grandkids & G grandkids any time. With what the Lord provides, we can subsist and thrive. Bless you Jess, for reminding me each Sunday morning how blessed I am.

[@susanmoyer8656]

Good morning! I've so been looking forward to today's post. This has been a week full of ups and downs. Hearing that familiar "Hello friends, this is Jessica" offers a measure of reassurance of the positivity and kindness in the world, particilarly when you've struggled at times to find it. Thank you!

[@threerivershomestead]

I hope this is a better week for you ❤️

[@anitacolotto9282]

Same. I work in car dealership. Administrative. I need moments of bliss and reality 😃

[@lorelei9393]

Its still amazes me how fast kids grow up. Grace is so capable, Levi is a big boy, and Hannah is probably running after her brothers. You're doing a great job

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you so much for the kindness 😊

[@nancyrobertson550]

They are really growing fast. It makes me feel old. Well I am old,pushing 80. I like to can our food. So beautiful to see. ❤️🙏🏻👣👣👀🤟blessings to you and yours 550TX

[@julieemig432]

Great tip on making frozen French fries. Thank you

[@threerivershomestead]

You are so welcome!

[@lucindasutt7365]

Levi, oh my goodness. Look at him. He has grown and learned and this summer helping with the canning. From summer to summer, children change so much. It is pure joy to see them progress in all the ways. I remember when you guys finished the remodel of your cold storage area. It looks so clean, convenient and well lit. I imagine how much you like using that area now and how well it works for you.

[@threerivershomestead]

It has definitely freed up a lot of space in my kitchen! I am very grateful for that!

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

I can't wait for your every bit counts challenge, many channels I watch take part:)

[@bonniehosmer2021]

Love this, too.

[@iartistdotme]

Hannah's smile is very contagious - thank you! I also laughed at the beginning when she climbed onto the porch railing for a better view then had to squat down to see since the top railing was still too tall to look over. SO CUTE. I never thought to use the tops of the onions for flavoring and have no clue why? I won't be tossing that ever again!

[@thewitchykitchen]

Getting a freeze dryer has been god send. I got sick in January and are still struggling with the aftermath. This means that the most of the food preservation has been my son’s job instead. It’s so easy to use, and we get great product out of it. It’s also the only good method to preserve cabbages. Which we grow and eat a lot of. I checked and rehydrated, they are a little softer than fresh, but taste completely like fresh. We have already done a test batch of slaw and it turned out perfect. I love having 4 gallons of it on my shelves. It also prevented a garlic disaster. My soft neck garlic turned out as garlic leeks this year. I figured out what I did wrong, but we had 15 pounds of garlic leeks. We pealed them as we do leeks, leaving about 3 inches of the stem on. Then we ground them up. About 1/3 was put into ice cube trays and frozen. The rest went into the freeze dryer and we ended up with a fantastic strong light green garlic powder. My leeks also gave me the largest harvest I have ever had of my cold weather crops. We ended up with 100 pounds of leeks. Half went into the freeze dryer and the rest was frozen. We are also trying something new this year. I don’t have a lot of protein sources that I tolerate, but duck meat I do, so this year we bought both ducks and chickens as meat birds. We are going to process the ducks next weekend. It’s a big money saver too, since the prices for duck meat has gone way up. We are talking about close to 100$ for a 5 pound duck. Since we moved to America I have also missed having larger ducks to work with. All of my recipes are meant for 8-12 pound ducks, and here 5 pounds are what we can get. In two weeks our baby chicks will arrive. 8 Austrolops for eggs and 16 meat birds. Have you ever grown any grains? I am experimenting with gluten free grains this summer. So far it looks like Amaranth, flax and Sorghum grows the best.

[@threerivershomestead]

I did wheat one year, but for how much space it took up and how long it took to harvest/process we never did it again. There were more efficient things to grow in that space.

[@thewitchykitchen]

@@threerivershomestead I see. Here it’s so hot that many things won’t grow in the beds, this time of year, and I didn’t want to leave them empty. Then I read that Amaranth and Sorghum both love the hot temperatures (we get up to 118f), so I thought why not try. If not then the beds would stay empty. I do worry that it will be too much work to process them, but if it is, we can use it for the animals.

[@sura2047]

Aw little Hannah at the end just makes my heart melt 🥹 my baby girl is 8 months old and I just adore their little faces. You have such a beautiful family, the children are so capable, well done. It’s funny you say that about canned potatoes, I don’t like them straight up, but canned in meat stew I love them! I think with the meat they go great.

[@anitacolotto9282]

I use that expression too! ❤️🦋 “Squirreling away “ Especially at Christmas time. I tuck away great finds and sale items all year in a closet and then have a wrapping day, I make tea, get my self set up by our fireplace and surround myself with the goodies I found for family and friends. Getting up off the floor is hilarious to watch! 😬

[@laurielyon1892]

I use that crinkle cutter to make fries also, but I don't have room in my freezers, so I canned them like that. I can easily take them and put in my air fryer and make fries quickly whenever I want them.

[@threerivershomestead]

Great idea!

[@mysticmom616]

Levi and Hannah are getting so big!!❤

[@joanreid2804]

I find Im always a little disappointed when your videos end. I thoroughly enjoy them. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge with us.

[@kathleencasella4703]

I think little Hannah looks like you Jessica. What a precious little gift from God, as are the your other children. Have a good week. ❤

[@threerivershomestead]

She definitely favors me. Thank you 😊

[@PaulaDumitru-oy2kk]

Hannah is growing up so fast. Have a great week!

[@karenmurray5970]

Loved to see Grace driving the tractor. I grew up on a farm and started driving the tractor when I was 10. Nice to see all your canning you did this week.

[@rinap6283]

Hannah is so adorable. I love the way she smiles at your camera. She is growing so fast, along with her brothers and sisters.. You surely got your money's worth with your potato harvest.

[@cynthiaruiz1120]

Jessica, I love you and your family. You are doing a fine job raising and feeding your children, teaching them such valuable lessons.❤❤❤

[@rethawilson6289]

Your baby girl is getting so big. Looks like brother standing behind her. Oh Jessica so blessed

[@sunshineonmapleridgeacres1376]

Good morning from midwest ohio!! My strawberries and peas are done! Im canning beans today, harvested some beets, pulled our garlic and most onions. Im off to take care of all my birds now!

[@stephaniefortney5851]

Love the idea of homemade frozen fries! So much better than the ones in the freezer section at the grocery store.

[@brittanykeith9561]

"Squirreling things away" 😂 love it ..and the joy in which you said it hehe

[@Tia-vj9ox]

Thank you so much for sharing ! I am not a homesteader, but I love listening to you and have received many ideas that even apply to my life. ❤️

[@chelinfusco6403]

🥰Your little ones, aw, I could hug them all. Little Hannah and her beautiful little teeth, climbing everywhere. Enjoyed the video...oh, I almost forgot, Levi...😂that look after a job well done. *Hugs*

[@deecooper1567]

Loved seeing the kids help with chores. Especially the precise working of the tractor 👍👍 That’s how I was raised, helping & learning 😊 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@christineayre796]

Good morning from your neighbor in midstate Michigan! Sunday morning first thing lis morning with Jessica! Thank you for keeping us motivated!! I have so much to do in the garden! It will get done. I am grateful for your video that keeps me moving along. Hannah is getting so big!! What a beautiful baby!! Have a blessed week Jessica!

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you! You too!

[@rockymountainhomesteadangela]

This is what my weekend looked like. Lots of preserving 🤪 I am thankful hubby just bought me a second Presto pressure canner this weekend so I can do two batches at once. Love to see your kids helping with the process! ❤

[@TampasCreekHomesteadandMore]

How love how everyone works together. I've learned so much following along with you all. I've just purchased land for our homesteading journey. I can't wait to implement what I've learned from you and vlog it all. ❤❤❤

[@claudialeger3208]

All the children are growing up so quickly. Watching Hannah climb the deck gate, how can that be? Your children are healthy and quite a responsible group. You guys have done well and given them life skills forever. Plus the garden looks amazing. Abundance everywhere under your watch eyes, Jessica. Thank you for the tips on preserving. Have a blessed week!

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you for the kindness and encouragement ❤️

[@marking-time-gardens]

Blessings on your family and growing season Jessica!🌻🐛Carolyn in Ohio 🌿💚🙏💕

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you! You too!

[@irenesoutar1254]

Thank you for sharing today’s video, looks like things are getting busy and it’s great to see how your children take responsibility for so many chores. Life skills are amazing, what a blessing to be able to share them with your family. God bless you all.

[@miss_mish]

Thanks as always. Have a blessed week.

[@samanthaclark5348]

Good morning Jessica and thanks again for all you share with us!!! Have a blessed week to you and your beautiful family 😊❤

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you! You too!

[@junebug9229]

Oh my goodness Jessica! Levi’s toothless smile melts my heart. One of my favourite ‘phases’ of raising my boys. ❤ Thanks for another great video. I’m going to try your method of making frozen French fries!! 🥔🥔🥔

[@cynthiatait7708]

Such amazing videos and hints, THANK YOU for taking time to teach us, you are a treasure and a gem to us.!!! Again we THANK YOU!!!! ❤

[@threerivershomestead]

You are so welcome!

[@jenniferrescott1149]

❤ the French fry idea.

[@dinahquillen9380]

Beautiful ending that little face made you smile to your toes. Thanks.

[@villagesteader3552]

Always great to see you and your family working together! Our weeds need to be dealt with too. I’m battling with my second round of hives already this year, so things are going slowly forward, hopefully I will have no more this season. God bless you and your family♥️👍😎.

[@user-in2lu6mp7p]

Love canning also, it's so nice having full shelves!

[@marierobinson3935]

ooh exciting times ahead in the garden❤❤

[@celestejohnson9227]

I enjoy canning and preserving season. I always have hopes of getting at least 1 ripe tomato by July 4th. This year I’ve had 3 so far. I never buy tomatoes from the store so it such a treat to have garden fresh tomatoes again. My freeze dryer is running almost 24/7 as well. It’s a beautiful time of year.

[@susanoswalt1169]

Miss Hanna is growing up so fast,such a sweet smile God Bless 💖

[@joyces.9021]

Love your potato preservation ideas.

[@raynonabohrer5624]

Another great video. I love have the children help you. 😊

[@plot1895]

That was super Jessica, thank you.

[@pinkmom76]

This year we are growing our potatoes in a 5 gallon bucket and they look awesome.. We also are doing this with onions. Our garden has given us a struggle this year with the heat and all the rain.. but we we will be grateful for what ever we are able to preserve for the winter months.. We are in MI so just up from you ..

[@threerivershomestead]

It has definitely been a difficult year. It has been hard to get any weeding done in the garden here because it's either too hot to work or it's raining!

[@mistygrider7825]

​@@threerivershomesteadI feel you there, we are in Al . & it has been absolutely miserably hot or pouring buckets of rain from the heavens ! I started & planted everything but pretty much just let God take it from there 😂 Well I helped a little but mostly just watering. Thanks for the inspiration you give us when we are weary 🤗

[@tammypoling9618]

Thank u I just ordered the fry cutter

[@nadinefrandsen6087]

Hannah is so precious💗

[@journeywithnichole]

Levi captured my heart a couple years ago, and seeing his smile today filled my heart. His smile looked EXACTLY like yours! Sending your family so much love! ❤

[@sarahkendall8441]

Loved this video! You inspire me in new ways every week! Now I am itching for this year's beef to can stew meat. I just finished my first canning project of the summer this morning, sliced peaches, and am canning beans this weekend.

[@jenniferadkins4326]

You give the best ideas!! Thank you!!

[@threerivershomestead]

You are so welcome!

[@dforgivenmerryheartfarm5066]

Thank you so much for showing us the frozen French fries! I will definitely be doing this!

[@threerivershomestead]

You are so welcome!

[@AndreaLovell2024]

Thank you!

[@ahllainegonio8410]

Bravo to the parents. So proud of Gracie, one of the future good homemaker.

[@sandrawyrick]

Enjoyed it! Look at that beautiful smile!

[@catracampolieto8989]

I love canning potatoes. I haven't made french fries for the freezer yet. I hope the rain stops so I can harvest my garlic and potatoes. Have a great day.❤❤❤

[@bethanya2025]

Thankful for these videos where you’ve taken time to educate us / narrate what you are doing. So helpful as I’m on the brink of getting our homestead going, preserving food, etc. You are an inspiration!

[@threerivershomestead]

Glad to help!

[@stephaniehill655]

That was the best end of your video.....a beautiful smile. Thank you so much for sharing. God's blessing over you and your beautiful family

[@ramonamoore62]

I too love having canned potatoes on my shelf. So convenient for almost everything. Thank you for another wonderful video. Have a blessed week 🙏

[@maryellensunflowergirl8132]

Wow nice potatoes harvest. Cute little helper. Good job

[@ldg2655]

I had a lot of problems with rot, the first year that I grew and braided garlic. This year I knotted my bulbs in pantyhose hose legs to (hopefully) prevent rot by not letting the bulbs touch each other and they get plenty of air through the fabric of the panty hose. We’ll see how well this works..

[@toniscaglione7451]

YOU GO Gracie!!!!! LOVE seeing the peek-a-booers on the new deck! LOL! Thanks Jessica and beautiful family! ❤❤❤

[@jeffreygraf3358]

God bless you and your family.

[@leoratriden8757]

lil hannah is adorable! thanks for sharing jessica! have a great week.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you! You too!

[@sabrinaknapp256]

Yay! Homemade frozen french fries are definitely my favorite way to preserve our potatoes! I agree that prebaking is the best way to go. I tried the blanching method for the first year but the taste and texture were just a bit off. I definitely think I like the prebaked homemade ones better than anything you can buy at the store. We also prebake cubes for making hash later. Thanks so much for the videos.....I miss my days homeschooling my boys and your videos are a great way for me to reminisce .

[@carolmalko615]

My goodness what a wonderful video, Jessica! I love your French fry idea. I'm clicking on that gizmo you used! Was that Grace or Elizabeth driving the Kabota? I get so confused which is which. I can't keep my grandchildren straight either, lol. My 12 year old granddaughter drives ours around like she's been doing it her whole life. These kids today amaze me. Have a great week.

[@threerivershomestead]

Grace is the older one with the brown hair. Elizabeth is two years younger and has blondish hair.

[@lisabillard8049]

Enjoyed your video. Watching you can motivates me to get it done. Thank you for showing the freeze dryer and changing the oil. I’ll be doing my first oil filtering soon and it was a good lesson.

[@supersarah429]

I love your purple and blue printed dress. Very pretty print and looks comfy.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you so much!

[@user-hs9zu8tb6v]

You are an inspiration to do little bits of canning at a time. I don't have to do a ton at once. I hate to waste - be it food, energy, or time. You might consider filling that last empty spot in your canner with a quart of dried beans. Rinse the beans, fill your quart jar about 1/3 full, fill with water, and can with your meat as beans take 90 minutes also. Also, I've found that with my freezedryer, Dairyland oil stays much cleaner and lasts longer.

[@bonniehosmer2021]

Thank you so much for showing how to freeze potatoes. I am going to do this for my husband and bag them in single serve sizes for his air fryer. Thank you!

[@threerivershomestead]

Hope you enjoy

[@jeneanegarwood7528]

LOVE watching you and your family work together on your farm/homestead!! It is such a blessing seeing your family in such a loving, caring and teaching environment. Thanks for showing us how to freeze french fries. So simple and so much healthier. I really like the idea of how you canned the ingredients for your beef stew. I appreciate you sharing all these great ideas. Have a wonderful and blessed week!!

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you so much!

[@ritahall8653]

Beautiful babies

[@threerivershomestead]

Thanks so much

[@gramcracker1616]

I so enjoy watching you preserve your food and explaining why you choose certain methods and what you do with it. It just makes me happy to know you are looking to the needs of your family.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thanks so much

[@lindabrown2170]

Thankyou for a great video. Those potatoes looks so delicious.

[@rhondamiller4077]

I see a corn pro trailer! I used to sell those and now my husband builds them!

[@janetstryczek3311]

Thanks for sharing ❤.

[@cdavid2486]

Loved your canning project...never thought of using garlic scapes and green onions in canning!

[@lindajames4122]

Great video Jessica.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you!!

[@elizabethlink3993]

💚 All is looking good, Jessica! I'm going to go harvest my garlic today, hope it has bulbed up more thsn it was a month ago, its so mild over the winter here in California, it starts growing not long after it's planted in the Fall. Fingers crossed. Love seeing your daughter (Elizabeth, I think) moving hay bales with the tractor! Hannah is so adorable ❤ 💚

[@bearzhere]

I just got a freeze dryer and havent even set it up yet. Thanks so much for showing how easy the oil is to change!

[@threerivershomestead]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AZJH8374]

Why don't you have the 5 tray Harvest Right insert?😊❤God bless you all and many prayers 🙏🏻 Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and Eucharistic Minister 🙏🏻 ☦️ 💙 ❤️

[@M.P.4.18]

Amazing

[@LadyP1]

Thanks for sharing.

[@gloriadavidson8599]

Another great video 👏👏👏 As always a pleasure to watch 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Love from the UK x

[@kb_family5798]

You are amazing, Jessica. You have such a beautiful personality. Thank you so much for sharing and bringing us along. You're a serious inspiration. May the Lord bless you and keep you and your family.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you so much!!

[@theresaegbuniwe5808]

Great video!

[@threerivershomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@karenlyle322]

Great video ❤❤❤

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you!!

[@marionharris9801]

Thank you for being so inspiring. I adore your way of life. I live in Germany with my daughter who has long Covid and can't find a garden but thanks to you I have started to can a bit here and there what's in season and what I can get at the market. God bless. ❤

[@threerivershomestead]

God bless your daughter. I hope she finds healing soon 🙏🏻

[@marionharris9801]

@@threerivershomestead thank you

[@ritabaker3113]

Blessings dear

[@bettyadkisson1681]

I was out of potatoes but then I remembered I had canned sliced new potatoes 2 pints so I drained then and fried them up,even my son loved them. So I sure will be canning up more of them and a combo of carrots and potatoes for all dinner pies and making up a big batch of pie crust for the freezer . And one big BlackBerry cobbler the old fashion way mother use too make with only bacon grease oh what I would give for just one pieces of her cobbler and yeast biscuits. So much better then any store bought breads. And will make the pop tarts too.

[@punkyfish1977]

I'm in the UK and my garlic has done the same this year. The bulbs are huge. I only planted a few so now I'm wishing I had done more lol

[@sheliaheverin8822]

I like to make up a bunch of mashed potatoes, usually do 10# at a time, add my heavy cream and butter and put in containers in the freezer. If I want mashed potatoes, I take them out to thaw and heat in the microwave...tastes just like fresh.

[@threerivershomestead]

Sounds great!

[@mommabecky83]

I just bought my first pressure canner and i am suuuuuuper excited. I think i want to do chili and canned chicken

[@jankotze1959]

Good to see you clean the vacuum vessel, any dirt of any kind will take longer for the vessel to come to the required vacuum or it will never come to the right vacuum

[@maria_w311]

Good morning Jessica 👋🏻