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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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
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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
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Pressure Canning Carrots & Onions, with Herbs | Raw Pack Method
These are not metallic tasting! Done with carrots, onions, herbs, and a light broth, these canned carrots will take your food storage up a notch with delicious and flavorful carrots that can then be used as a side, in soups or in sauces. Here I go into tools you need, ingredients, and step by step Read more
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Growing Potatoes in Cardboard Boxes (with pictures)
No need to over complicate growing potatoes. This vegetable will grow just about anywhere, so long it’s not waterlogged. Growing them in cardboard boxes is an easy way to not only grow potatoes but help kill off grass for a future garden bed. Here I go into how to properly put together a cardboard box Read more
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Hardening off your Seedlings without a Greenhouse
Hardening off is the process of bringing your seedlings from the indoors to the outdoors, in a way that doesn’t stress them out. You do not need a greenhouse to do this, and within a week you can get your seedlings out of your house and into your garden safely. Here I go into a 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:

