Growing up in the 1970's

I can't tell you how many times people asked this question.  How did you survive on $3.50 or $5.00/hour? Or whatever you were making at the time... Well, it's not easy but nothing worthwhile ever is.  We had a large garden, we planted enough of everything to supplement our family and have extras to trade with our friends, neighbors and relatives. We canned or froze anything we couldn't eat right away. My husband was a hunter and fisherman, so we had wild fowl, fish and venison so add to the freezer. We raised chickens for eggs and meat. I baked bread, cookies, pies, etc.  We rarely had the funds to purchase those things, you learned how to do it yourself.  We made our own pie crusts, biscuits, and breads.  Things that most people had to during that time. Growing up in a rural area, we were often harvesting berries, or gleaning the fields of local commercial farms to supplement our pantry.  We worked with local groups to spread the chores of gleaning so that...

We always had what we needed. One thing I clearly remember, as a child in the '70's, was that mom always saved produce.  No matter how banged up there was a use, we preserved it by cooking, canning, freezing, dehydrating or eating it! We'd spend hours in the kitchen blanching and peeling peaches or tomatoes, or whatever was in season. We kept a garden when we were able, traded or bartered for other produce when it was available, and we preserved whatever we could for lean times.  Living in the desert doesn't lend much to gardening so I often find myself reviewing the produce sales and thinking about how to preserve the items on sale.  Can I freeze it? Maybe can it? Can I make up sauces, dressings, or stock? There are many ways to make use of those sales, generally what is in season at the time. Making jams, jellies and compotes are always simple and generally the most efficient way to use up leftover fruits.  I like to put over ripe fruits into the freezer, and store...