WEE ACRE

06/05/2026

All in the family ( Allium family) Garlic scapes and spring onions.

Garlic scapes and spring onions are prized spring alliums that can be used interchangeably or together to add a fresh, vibrant, and mild garlicky-onion flavor to your cooking.

Spring onions-great raw including the greens, or in cooking to add a fresh, mild onion flavor. Use in stir-fries, soups, and salads, with the white parts being more pungent and the green tops milder.

Rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants, they offer health benefits like boosting immunity and fighting disease.

Garlic scapes- Garlic scapes are the edible, curly flower stalks of hardneck garlic plants, offering a milder, sweeter garlic flavor than cloves, and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are versatile and can be used in place of garlic or green onions in dishes like pesto, stir-fries, and sautés, or grilled, roasted, and pickled. To prepare, trim the tough, fibrous bottom and the flower bud tip, then chop or use them whole.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Hummingbird at feeder.

06/04/2026

Dust bathing is a natural behavior where birds (like backyard chickens) roll in dirt to maintain feather health and control parasites. The fine particles absorb excess oils and suffocate or dry up external parasites like mites and lice.

06/03/2026

There is a pint and quart of strawberries of strawberries on the stand!

05/31/2026

🍓 There is just something magical about seeing jars filled with whole strawberries lined up on the counter.

Every year I try to preserve a little bit of summer, and these canned whole strawberries do exactly that. Their bright color, sweet flavor, and beautiful shape make them one of my favorite pantry treats.

On a cold winter morning, opening a jar of strawberries tastes like sunshine in a jar.

Yield: Approximately 8–9 pints

Ingredients:

🍓 4 pounds fresh strawberries
💧 4 cups water
🍬 2 cups granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Wash strawberries carefully and remove stems and hulls.
2. Leave the berries whole.
3. In a saucepan, combine water and sugar and heat until the sugar completely dissolves.
4. Keep the syrup hot while preparing jars.
5. Pack strawberries into clean jars, fitting in as many as possible without crushing them.
6. Pour hot syrup over the berries, leaving ½-inch headspace.
7. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed.
8. Wipe rims clean and apply lids and bands fingertip tight.

Processing:

💦 Water Bath Canner

• Pints: 10 minutes
• Quarts: 15 minutes

(Adjust for altitude if necessary.)

Favorite Ways to Use Them:

🥞 Spoon over pancakes and waffles

🍨 Serve over vanilla ice cream

🍰 Layer onto strawberry shortcake

🧁 Top cheesecake or angel food cake

🥣 Stir into yogurt or oatmeal

🍓 Eat straight from the jar with a spoon

The berries soften slightly during canning but still hold their shape beautifully. The syrup becomes infused with strawberry flavor too, so nothing goes to waste.

Looking at these jars reminds me why I love preserving food. A few hours of work now means enjoying the taste of fresh strawberries long after berry season is over.