Summer is all about the harvest and finding ways to use all of your beautiful produce you have spent so much time planting and nurturing over the last season.

Using what’s in your garden is not only delicious, it is also a smart way to keep nutrition in your diet and save you some money but using fresh from the garden rather than buying from the shops.

A homemade gift made from your garden produce is a thoughtful and delicious way to spoil a friend or family member too.

Check out some of the tips below!

Tips for Summer Harvest

• Freeze grazed zucchinis and such for use later. We use them in zucchini slice, savoury muffins and add into a bolognese sauce.
• Pickle leftover vegetables. This allows you to enjoy pickled vegetables like cucumber in salads and on antipasto boards.
• Freeze berries. We love grabbing a bag of frozen berries for muffins or into smoothies and even into a festive punch drink.
• Too many of one veggie? Swap with a friend for something else you will use. Find a produce swap group in your local neighbourhood or on Facebook!
• Make passata and bottle with all your tomatoes. If you have oven dried some, why not whip up a quick passata and bottle the delicious fresh flavours. All you need is a bit of onion, garlic and mixed herbs and you have your own sauce. also great as a homemade gift idea!
• Pesto is a great way to use basil and rocket. We add Gotu Kola to our pesto and toss through a potato salad for something delightfully different.
• Ask a friend what they do with their excess produce – you might find some new things to try with your produce
• Don’t forget flowers are edible too! Use society garlic flowers to dress up salads and stir-frys. Sweet flowers like are delicious on a dessert and look great too. Try adding to your next try when making ice to really make your summer drinks ‘sing’! We love using violas, Chinese lanterns and pineapple sage for something special.