In Praise of Peach Boxes

When we lived in North Dakota, we would often buy boxes of Peaches (or other Fruit) to can, freeze or dry. Somehow we had the presence of mind to save the boxes. And save we did.

We even went to the extent of having empty Fruit Boxes shipped with our Furniture and other possessions when we moved here 3 years ago. Please note the little Green tag on the middle box; that tag notes the box was item # 227 on that Big Semi Truck filled with 17,000 pounds of our stuff.

I find it amusing to think about what People save. For some, those little practices are just the ticket for making the work of the home go smoothly; for others outside this practice, their puzzlement is clearly in view.

Saving Peach Boxes sounded strange then and it sounds strange now. But have those boxes ever come in handy. We put Fresh Fruit in them, waiting in cue for processing. Sometimes I even carry Fresh Pies in them when we are headed to a Gathering.

These days, some of the boxes hold Fresh Peaches from our Tree. The boxes are shallow, so the Fruit will not bruise. They are not packed, so air can flow freely. They stack nicely. If you listen closely, you might even hear Melanie quietly dipping in and out of the water to get ready to can them up soon.