Some of you might wonder “what’s on our minds?” We’re in this awkward stage, well into the planning stages of our 2026 gardens, but not able to execute. We’re clearly still paralyzed by cold temperatures, snow & ice and a season that doesn’t begin for at least four more months!
Many of our thoughts drift towards exercising different methods of food preservation. We can’t exactly reinvent the wheel here, simply because we’ve practiced practically every major form of food preservation that there is to know. So, what we’re looking at are ways to create products we really want.
Inspiration comes from within. One of the things that I personally and viciously like to eat are dried Wasabi Peas. I can’t explain the addiction to common folk, but I will devour a half pound of Wasabi Peas in one sitting. I love the face melting experience combined with the guilt free experience of knocking back serious vegetables.
Well, we grow peas. We’re also well versed in dehydration based preservation techniques. There is no reason I can’t create my own dried Wasabi Peas, probably better than I could ever possibly ever buy. I can buy “real” Wasabi Japonica. Not that fake horseradish based “cheap to manufacture, but close enough” wanna-be.
And so, we’re gonna do just that in 2026. Not because it’s cheaper. Not because we have no other use for our peas. Not because we’re social gardeners with something to prove. But because, inspiration comes from within.
During our preservation season, we talk about creating “final products” a lot. This is the key to making gardens work for you. If you freaking love a vegetable, in a particular preservation, that should be one of your main goals to figure out. You don’t “have” to explain it to anyone else, like we do.
This is simply an example of how we plan. But, the important thing is defining those things you enjoy, love, want to learn or have a passion for. When we follow those things, we’re treading new ground. This is what trains us in leading our own lives, as opposed to following what others do.
Our journey is to simply illustrate the things you can do for yourself. If that means learning to grow, do that. If it means teaching yourself a preservation technique, do it. If it means learning how to make a new thing from what you know, congratulations on what you have built!
Let’s use 2026 as our opportunity to grow ourselves!
too funny! I specifically picked out acorn squash to grow this year (first time ever), because I saw a recipe for stuffed acorn squash that looks amazing! But to buy enough from our local store, for a family of 9, would be ridiculous money wise. So I am attempting to grow them, just to get enough for 1 meal. Just because. Lol
That’s exactly the point. We’ve found a huge piece of the garden utilization puzzle to be rooted in the joys of cooking or making various “products” from your garden. When you’re inspired by ideas outside the actual garden, it makes using the garden that much easier!
So true! For the last couple years I’ve been dreaming of this huge beautiful garden full of all sorts of plants….then last year it hit me-what would I grow that we actually eat, and is not readily available at stores?
For about 4 years, I tried growing tomatoes because it seems like the unwritten Alaska gardening rule; “if you can grow tomatoes, you are now officially an Alaskan gardening”! After many fails, I finally told my husband, “why am I bothering?? I don’t even like fresh tomatoes!!??”
This year I have picked out one baby tomato variety to try again…. thankfully, my husband and all our kids love fresh tomatoes! So will attempt to grow them for the family.