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Aunt Maggie's Pickled Beets
Myrna Bagge

Latest Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum Souvenir, courtesy of your Tree & Garden Club. Two years ago Keith Richards (aka the Sorghum King and also a vegetable grower extraordinaire) planted beets, which grew so well, we ended up pickling part of the crop.

These were so tasty we were selling them as we were canning them, and then during shows. We also provided them at various Pot Lucks. Because of continued requests, Keith planted a larger second crop in 2006 (which took a day & half to process 42 pints and 72 quarts) and again we sold out with requests for more pickled beets.

So this year, with the help of Guy Horton and his grandchildren, Channing and Forrest Horton Keith planted even more beets. This year on Saturday, April 14, we harvested and processed 45 quarts – crew consisted of Keith Richards, Bea Griffey, Mark & Laura Brown, Irene Stearns, Valerie Myers, Paul Kuns and myself. On Saturday, May 5 we completed 24 pints and 155 quarts.

Keith worked out a system that streamlined the routine, so we were able to accomplish the canning process of this huge crop in one day. On Friday, May 4 – Keith and Mike Churchill harvested and washed beets (6 tubs full)!!!

Then on Saturday we all worked as a team on each stage to completion… i.e. boil, peel & chop all beets…then sterilize jars/lids/rings, boil syrup, pack beets in jars, add syrup & cinnamon stick and do final boil sealed jar processing. A big THANK YOU to our team!

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