Nestled in the lower peninsula of Michigan, growing a garden full of veggies and plenty of flowers to help my family to become healthier has been a passion of mine for years.
Here on the The Cottage Vegetable website, you will find pantry friendly recipes, canning ideas, and gardening tips to help bridge the gap between your garden and your kitchen.

About
My name is Chelsea, and I am a wife and a mom to three children that we currently homeschool. I grow veggies, fruit, medicinal plants, and flowers in my own garden each year. I am passionate about organic gardening, nourishing foods, and natural homemaking without the social media aesthetic being my leading factor! I have worked as a RN for 10 years and through that experience at the bedside, I have been passionate about living a healthy lifestyle through both conventional and holistic pathways.
I am determined to give recipes and tips that are pulled from personal experience. And yes, this website is AI FREE!
We currently live in a beautiful Michigan countryside setting of 3 acres. Along with my family we have a large garden, chickens, ducks, and our dogs named Rex & Starry.
Welcome to The Cottage Vegetable
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Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Here I go into pumpkins for homemade pumpkin puree, tools you need, ingredients, and instructions for these sourdough pumpkin spice pancakes. Let’s Dive In… Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Pancake Recipe Pumpkins to Grow Growing your own pumpkins or buying pumpkins from the farmers market is the best way to save money on pumpkin purée. Pumpkin & Read more
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Dill Pickle Relish | Whole Ingredient, Small Batch Recipe | Water Bath Canning
Even if you have just a few pounds of cucumbers from the farmer’s market or your garden, here is a recipe to make a delicious dill relish for all your summer foods. The balance between the dill, the vinegar, and the slight sweetness makes it a versatile relish for your kitchen. And one that is Read more
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Bread and Butter Pickle Chips | Whole Ingredient, Small Batch | Water Bath Canning
In this recipe I show you how you can transform just a few pounds of cucumbers into delicious Bread and Butter pickles that uses whole ingredients (no need for premade pickling spices here). Seeds you need, tools, simple step by step instructions here: I also recently changed my associate’s disclaimer which is linked. (No more… Read more
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Lemon Balm Lemonade Recipe | Cottage Pantry Recipe
Lemon Balm Lemonade is super easy to make and takes advantage of some great herbs you have growing in your garden. It’s a floral lemonade that is so refreshing, especially as the hot & humid summer months are settling in. Here are my exact measurements to make a half gallon jars worth of this delicious… Read more
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Useful Seeds to Plant in July for the Autumn Garden
July is the best time to get any last-minute seeds sown so you can grow a final crop this fall. But since it’s such a short time frame, it’s easier to make sure you are planting seeds that are actually useful and will come to full maturity before the season ends. Let’s Dive In… Useful Read more
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Raspberry Preserves | Water Bath Canning
This is a recipe for raspberry preserve, which is different from raspberry jam. Jam is specifically cooked until its thick and Jello like, while preserves are just sweetened and cooked berries or fruit. Preserves are a handy ingredient for toppings and mix ins, and this recipe for raspberry preserves, in particular, hold a slight ‘lemonade’ Read more
Thank you!






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My Printable PDF Garden Guide:
This 20 page, printable PDF file, is a guide to help you plan out your next garden that leaves behind the fluffy, trendy projects social media pushes, and helps nail down what you NEED to do for yourself.
Like I always say, “a frugal garden is one where every pound of produce is used”. And this 4-step guide is here to help you grow a garden where everything is found useful to your home.
Buy your digital copy today, so you can take use this winter taking your time getting ready for the next growing season!
Gardening for your Kitchen: A practical guide to plan and plant a backyard garden that actually helps you in the kitchen.
Sold through Pay-Hip for $5 (click HERE)


-Chelsea, The Cottage Vegetable





Contact
If you have a question, you can Contact via email here, I will respond as fast as I can:
