“This book wasinspired by a local non-profit organization, Stiggy’s Dogs located in Howell MI, who I had the honor of planning and planting their huge garden in 2012.

From the beginning I was concerned with how many tomatoes of many varieties they were going to get and what in the world would they do with them all?  After all, 66 tomato plants is a lot more than the average gardener plants.  The next concern was canning and meal planning.  After all, they use this garden to sustain their team, volunteers and the veterans who come in for training.  It was important to me that they had many different ideas long term as well as daily use. 

I hope this book inspires them to use a portion of their glorious garden to benefit throughout the winter months until spring arrives again and we can get our hands in the earth and start planting again”

Got Tomatoe’s?

Tomato Canning & Everyday Recipes

By. Doreen Babbit

This is so fantastic that I cry every time I open the book  (and now writing this)… I hope to get past the first page dedication to actually use the recipes.  As much as I want to put this on a pedestal, our garden is over flowing, and I have a feeling this book will be one that will be all *spotted up* with goodness, the corners will be dog eared with my favorites, and recipes will be passed along. After all, our Magical garden is that because of the hands that made it happen….

It all started from our Home Depot event in June.  When Donna and I went to pick up the 260 plants (that were donated from Bonnie) we were overjoyed with excitement! Doreen, Donna sister, who had a garden of her own for years, offered to come over to help. Doreen was overwhelmed as she looked everything over. Donna and I were like giddy little school girls *cooing* over the plants. Doreen, looked frighten as she looked at us “You have no idea how much work, or what to do with this”.  The day before the Home Depot team was to come out and start our garden, Doreen showed up with the Garden Plans. Which was a detailed blueprint of each plant we had, all of them separated and spaced where they needed to be planted, PLUS a list of each plant we had and how they needed to be taken care of! Seriously!

Our garden is Magical. It really is….the fruit and veggies it is producing is amazing. Partly due to the Honey-Bee hive we have some 40ft away. But because of the love that went into it. Each and every person that dug into the ground, help to build the fence, the boxes, planted and nurtured (Elicia Tapani)…… It is Magical because it is giving back, as it does now, with….

Got Tomatoes? To preview and order: