Produce pickers pickle perfection

If all this talk of pickleball and pickleheads has you craving pickles, head over to the Dripping Springs Farmers Market and get a jar of this year’s crop of pickled cucumbers, carrots, and other vegetables.

Grey Skelley of Shipps Lake Ranch sells her jars of ‘Pop’s Bread N Butter Pickles’ from a recipe her father taught her. Her father loved to cook, having learned from his mother, a Depression- era cook who made everything from scratch. Skelley also offers butchered cuts of her naturally-raised, grass-fed Angus beef from her ranch and jams from this year’s fruits and berries.

Another vendor, Dylan Kongos from Songland Farms, offers pickled radishes, carrots, and pickled pico de gallo from his micro-farm in Wimberley. Songland Farms was started in 2021 by Kongos and Amber Denison in Wimberley. Together, they grow a variety of produce including tomatoes, carrots, onions, potatoes, peas, corn, okra, and edible flowers. The small farm also has 100 fruit trees, and Kongos sells his produce at the Dripping Springs and Wimberley farmers markets.

Pickling is one of the most ancient methods of preserving food. Before the advent of the global supply chain that provides year-round fruits and vegetables, homesteaders would pickle their produce at harvest to last through the winter months. Home picklers often develop their own recipes and techniques, passing them down through generations. This blend of tradition and innovation is what makes pickling special, connecting us to our past while allowing us to create something uniquely our own.

Pickling is also a sustainable practice. It reduces food waste by extending the life of seasonal produce and allows for the enjoyment of fruits and vegetables year-round. Inexpensive jars can be reused, stretching your food budget by purchasing produce when local seasons provide an abundance and better prices, if you don’t grow your own produce.

Pickling at home is a simple skill to master. The recipes are basic, but the artistry comes from experimenting with different spices. Below is a basic pickle recipe you can use to pickle cucumbers or any vegetable of your choice. Try experimenting with different spices or a medley of veggies to your liking.