Sometimes, mostly always, I feel bad posting about projects like this because you all read about it from the moment the ideas pop into my head, then I tell Vince; you hear his reaction, then the whole process, then when (if) it happens, you get step by step details. I don’t mean to keep repeating but when we’re working on something like this, it totally consumes me. I’m 100% into whatever I’m doing so . . this is what we’re doing at the moment!
Yesterday evening I finished bringing down most everything I’ll need for the downstairs canning. I’m sure there are things I’ll have to run up and get but, for the most part, I should be ready.
When we moved to Missouri in 2007, there wasn’t room in the sewing room for my big cutting table so we bought a “work bench” at Sam’s Club and I used that for storage and for the cutting table. When we moved to Texas, I had room for the big cutting table but Vince didn’t really want the work bench so I kept it in the sewing room and used it for storage. Here, Vince was going to use it in his shop but then they built in a work bench for him so this one has been sitting in the garage.
It should be perfect for using in here, especially since we already have it and it wasn’t being used. The bottom two drawers on each side are nice and deep. I was hoping the mixer would fit into one of the drawers but it’s too wide. One drawer on the left has dish towels and the shop towels. On the right, one drawer has bags of jar rings. There’s still one large drawer empty on both sides.
On both ends and on both sides of the middle cutout, there’s pegboard for hanging things.
I’m sure it won’t take me long to come up with things to hang on this end. In the center, I have some tools and pots. I will also store the two big canners I use the most in this cutout area.
There are two shallow drawers on each side at the top. One side has zipper bags, Cling ‘N Seal, foil and parchment paper. Also on this side I have jar lids in one drawer.
The other side side has small utensils in one drawer.
I’m really excited to start canning. I’ll wait for the man to bring the milk around 6 a.m. and as soon as he comes, I’ll go down and get started peeling carrots to can.
I moved the Bosch mixer downstairs because I use it for whole wheat bread and I use the food processor, mostly for canning (like shredding the cabbage for the cole slaw I canned a couple of weeks ago). Also, I wasn’t happy with any place I put the grain mill upstairs. I didn’t want to leave it in the sun room where there’s so much sun. I put it in the appliance garage but it was too hard to get it in and out so I put it back on the countertop but I don’t like having so much stuff on the countertop. Since all the grain is stored downstairs and since it’s easier to make the bread closer to where I am most of the time and since baking it at 450 for an hour won’t heat up the house because the door to the garage stays closed, it makes sense to move all that downstairs.
Let the canning begin and let’s see if this plan works as well as I’m hoping.
Ruth says
I see the worktop bench is to the left of the stove where you will be canning. Oh, that looks like such a great setup!! Congratulations on creating your own “workshop!”
Sibyl says
I think you might be a bad influence for me. My current stove I can not use my canner because it’s an induction stove. I love it for cooking, but you have use either stainless steel, or cast iron on it. So aluminum canners won’t work. But my converted garage/den which I use for all kinds of things, like my freezers, storage and stuff–has a hot 220 out there. I could have a new outlet put in and get a regular electric stove and use my canner. I don’t know if I will–but it a good thing to think about. I am using my digital canner now–and it works nicely–but only holds 5 quarts at a time. But it’s a start.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Weigh it all out and if it makes financial sense, I’d do it! But, don’t listen to me.
Sibyl says
Judy I got excited about what I could do–but forgot to tell you—love the way you have everything arranged. Getting everything you need in one place will help also–plus you store your canned goods there also–so no more running up and down the stairs with full cases of jars—which can be heavy at times. Your new stove you did really well on that. Squeaky wheels sometimes get noticed.
Joyce says
My mom had an extra stove in the basement and she loved it. She could bake in the summertime without heating up the house, and she also did canning down there. Plus it was nice to have an extra (big) oven at holidays. The oven upstairs was a wall oven, and it was kind of small for doing things like baking a turkey.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I think today’s wall ovens are larger. I now have the range with the big oven in the kitchen, a wall oven in the kitchen and the new one is supposed to be here in “July”. Now I have the range with the large oven in the basement so we should never lack for an oven.
Liz says
…Do you have a water source close by or will you be able to use that new outdoor sink?
Can you give an update on your worm bin – how are the little wrigglers doing?