Why I make salsa, yogurt, jams, etc -- and it might not be what you think

Yesterday morning I took a breather from harvesting and processing fruit. I made the last batch of salsa and another 4 quarts of yogurt, instead. 

I got back to the orchard in the afternoon and harvested all the late apples. Yippie! They're nicely tucked into the spare fridge in the garage. I sorted as I put them away. Good eating quality apples went into the drawers and sauce-worthy ones, front and center where I'll be reminded every time I open the fridge, to put applesauce-making on my to-do list.

But back to the salsa and yogurt. As I was making both, I had a similar thought process about why I make these things. If you'll recall, I make my salsa from all store-bought ingredients. So it's not that I'm using up garden surplus. (Our garden has never been abundant with sun-belt type produce like peppers and tomatoes.) 

Is it because I absolutely cannot afford either salsa or yogurt? No, that's not it at all. 

Is it because homemade is cheapest? Well, being inexpensive is part of it.

Is it because homemade tastes so much better (or more accurately, can be made to suit our tastes closely)? Yes, that's a part of it, too. But there's a much larger reason why I make these things (including jams, pickles, muffins, cookies, anything really, that I prepare in large quantities).

When I have so much abundance of salsa or yogurt, obtained so inexpensively by making it at home, I feel more inclined to be generous with the amounts that I have. 

I've offered loaves of homemade bread to friends whose pantries were much barer than mine. 

I've given jars of homemade salsa to people who've offered me assistance with projects. 

I've thanked people who have gone out of their way to help a child of mine, with a jar of jam or two. 

I've gladly supplied the coffee hour at our church with trays of home-baked cookies.

It is because I can readily see that we have so much, that I easily give. I don't think that's the true definition of generosity. So I'm not confusing what I've done with being generous. I think a truly generous soul is one who gives, though they have little. 

It may not be true generosity, but having an abundant supply eases my sense of "we need to conserve, we could run out".

Where the effect is really felt, though, is right here at home. If I were to buy salsa from the store, I'd likely buy one 8 oz. jar per week, and we'd use it sparingly so that it would last for the 5 of us, for the entire week. But because I make salsa so inexpensively (50-60c per jar), we have at least double that amount per week. 

And the same is true for the yogurt. I used to only buy yogurt when I found it on clearance, and then my family members would be limited to just a couple of small containers each. And there was no telling when I'd find more on clearance. 

By making 4 quarts at a time at home (for under 50c per quart), they each get the equivalent of about a quart of yogurt, as often as I have the time to make it.

By relying only on what is within my budget at the store, there's a feeling of scarcity. By making my own in large quantities, (for the same cost as buying just a little), there's abundance. And that makes my family very happy! And for me, the saying goes, "when the family's happy, Mom's happy!"

Now that is the real reason that I do all these home-makey things in my kitchen!