I could never in a hundred summers get tired of this.
Hello, again!
Looking for a spot to enjoy the long weekend of Independence Day, we took the teardrop camper up to Marion County Lake. Just an hour outside of Wichita, the lake offers boating, fishing, swimming and access to miles of gravel roads to explore by bike. For the holiday, we enjoyed the concert by Wheat State Revival and then fireworks. With camping spots starting at $8.00/day, you have to check out the park.
Jeremy and I had freeze-dried vegetables in the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer last week. Taking the freeze-dried bell, Hatch green chile and jalapeno peppers, onion, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, mushrooms, beets and green beans with us to camp, it was time to try our hand at using the vegetables as intended. With a quick rehydration of the vegetables, they were a perfect complement to grilled chicken. A green chile and vegetable egg scramble was a great way to start the next morning - fresh, healthy vegetables without the prep they normally take. For dessert, freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches were hard to resist.
For gardeners and outdoor adventurers, managing food efficiently is a shared goal. Whether you’re preserving a garden surplus or packing meals for bikepacking, a freeze dryer offers a flexible, long-lasting solution that goes far beyond traditional food storage, such as canning or freezing that can be labor-intensive or degrade food quality. Using low temperatures and vacuum pressure, the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer removes moisture while preserving flavor, color, and up to 97% of nutrients. In addition to freeze drying produce and herbs like I have, you can even freeze dry whole meals. It's easy and healthier than processed foods.
For backpacking and bikepacking, lightweight, calorie-dense nutrition is important. Some options I'm interested in trying include freeze-dried oatmeal with fruit, soups and stews, protein snacks and fruit leathers.
For those who travel in trailers or campers - especially off-grid - freeze-dried food is a space-saving essential. Lightweight and compact, it frees up cooler and fridge space and doesn’t require power to stay fresh. Just add hot water for a quick, hot meal.
It's also great for things like emergency meals, pet treats, bulk buy savings, and diet-specific needs. If you are wanting to check out the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer in action, visit our West 13th Street Store. We’ll have freeze-dried Hatch green chile peppers available soon in the stores as well!
We also visited the towns of Florence and Emporia over the weekend; it was a fun time visiting the main streets of these Kansas towns. I hope you’ll get out and about and let me know where your favorite hidden spot is to visit, bike or camp in the region.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
