The Cottage Vegetable

Nestled in the lower peninsula of Michigan, incorporating a garden 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

  • Strawberry Rhubarb with Lemon Jam | Small Batch, Water Bath Canning

    Strawberry Rhubarb with Lemon Jam | Small Batch, Water Bath Canning

    This jam recipe includes equal parts rhubarb, strawberries, and the brightness of lemon zest, and makes an even 8 jelly jars. Rhubarb jams of any sort are very hard to find in stores or in local markets, making this yet another homestead special for me (one, I’d rather not miss out on too, since it’s… Read more

  • Upside Down Yogurt Cake, Using any Seasonal Fruit Toppings

    Upside Down Yogurt Cake, Using any Seasonal Fruit Toppings

    The best part about this cake (besides the flavor) is that it’s flexible enough that you can change the fruit toppings up to reflect what is in abundance in your gardens, farmer’s markets, U pick farms, or what fruits you have canned up yourself. It’s a great way to slow down with a sweet treat… Read more

  • Chive Blossom Vinegar

    Chive Blossom Vinegar

    Chive Blossom Vinegar is a homestead special, as in you’d be hard to find this anywhere to purchase outside your home! This vinegar is great for upcoming summer salads, marinades, dips, or even to use in upcoming pickling recipes. Here I go into tools, ingredients, instructions on how to make your own Chive Blossom Vinegar.… Read more

  • Canning Plain Pumpkin (& how to purée it later) | Pressure Canning Recipe & Video

    Canning Plain Pumpkin (& how to purée it later) | Pressure Canning Recipe & Video

    Although, winter squashes and pumpkins can sit at room temperature for several months, this is a great way to bust through the tedious work of using that pumpkin and getting them in a more approachable form. Canning them plain, gives you the most versatility with your pumpkin, and it’s a very straight forward process. Here… Read more

  • Mini Fruit Tree Guild for Small Gardens | Companion Plant for Dwarf Apples or Pears

    Mini Fruit Tree Guild for Small Gardens | Companion Plant for Dwarf Apples or Pears

    Dwarf fruit trees have really given anyone a great chance to grow their own apples or pears in their gardens. But instead of planting them in a monoculture, using companion planting to create a Fruit Tree Guild is a great way to integrate these trees in, without much sacrifice on garden space or practicality. Here… Read more

Thank you!


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Disclaimer Page

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


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