Peaches!

I bougth 5 boxes of peaches (seconds) from Wilson-Banner Ranch.

They brought them up to the farmer's market, which was really handy.

I paid $15/box.

51 quarts, 39 for us to keep

Our new neighbor, Aubrey H., came over to learn and to help.

For the first time we set up the hot water bath pot on the outside camp stove, along with a card table for jars. It worked out well: didn't make a huge mess on the stove, freed up stove and counter space, maybe kept the house a little cooler. I was impressed the propane lasted all day. Also, the water heated back up to boiling much quicker than it would have on the stove, so we could keep the jars going through a little quicker.

May need to borrow another hot water bath canner next time. I've decided that's about the only way to make it go faster, is to have 2 going, with maybe 3 people helping. Probably not worth buying a second canner at this point, unless I found one really cheap at a garage sale or something.

I guess a pressure cooker would also be quicker, but come with its own learning curve.

I think I would can homemade soups if I had a pressure cooker, though.

Also: a bunch of canning jars at the thrift store for $.50 each (so half price compared to new.) Tempted to buy them, but did not. You would still need to buy lids/rings for them. Although a random lady brought me hers, after she saw me coming out of Ace with a couple boxes worth. She also said I could have her sisters', who lives in Seattle and should be coming out in a month or two.

Still to can this year: salsa, maybe some blackberry jam