Potatoes out the ears.....canning potatoes round 1

Have you ever read the story "The Little Red Hen"? Well in that story I was always the fat cat. I never would help plant, sow, harvest, prepare, or cook the wheat. I mean that was the little red hen's job. Right? I did however always want to eat the bread.....

Well this year I've turned over a new leaf. I didn't help plant or sow...I came in alittle late in the game, but I think I'm slowing catching on and catching up...

Last Saturday we went out to the farm and dug potatoes. I don't have any pictures to share, because I didn't use my own camera...that will never happen again....Anyway, I 'm not a digger of potatoes. I'm more of a gatherer, hauler, mover of drinks, everything else but digging kind of gal. I'm what you call the big helper...LOL So, what does 3 giant rows of potatoes look like?

It looks like this.

Yes, I know that's alot of dirty, dirty potatoes. How does one clean that many at one time?

This is how...

Look how shiny clean they are now.

We set up a cutting station. And we got busy. During this part I've realized I'm more of a cutter/chopper of the potatoes. I mean I like filling the jars to, but there is something in me that wants to hand put them in, and bang them down to fit more, and redo it and redo it. Then I check the lid to see if it's tight, then I check it again, and again. So that part is harder for me.

We were so busy that I didn't take another picture until the end when we realized we were in trouble with time. Yes sometimes time is not a friend, but an enemy.

We cleaned and cut enough potatoes for 200 quart jars. We were really flying by the seat of our pants last night. We had cut all the potatoes, and had more outside that were wet. What were we going to do. We couldn't stay up all night and process them, we couldn't clean any more. It was getting really late.

The ones in the jars already we filled with water, and put saran wrap over all the jars. The ones still wet in the trailer we brought inside the porch, and laid them all out on towels to dry. How much more you ask?

This is how much more....

That's alot more potatoes. I think we will get 200 more jars, and Josh thinks we will we have 300-400 more. It will be nice to see who is closer. We should make a game....LOL I got home took a shower, and climbed in bed. It was 12:30 a.m. Right before I went to sleep I said a quick prayer that the potatoes would be alright over night...

I didn't think I would like this at all, but I really love it. I could never thank my wonderful Sister In Law/BFF Amanda for really showing me the ropes. She just about knows everything, and can do everything, and she is great fun to hang out with. It takes a small village to store so many potatoes. In are village we have Amanda, Josh, Me, Chris, Pat, Farrel, and Courtney. I think I'm so tired I am confusing storing potatoes with raising kids....LOL Tonight will be round 2. I will take actual pictures of real people instead of all pictures of potatoes...LOL