Wife's a Vegetarian - Any Good Veggie Storage Strategies ?

[betachz]

Hi all!

My wife and I are about a year out from moving aboard and wanted to get some thoughts on keeping veggies fresh and crisp in the humid and salty world of living aboard. Since my wife is a vegetarian, veg will be a primary source of food on our boat along with fish (which she does eat also).

Containers, strategies, veggies that keep longer than others, anything else you can think of would be helpful.

Thanks!

[storyinframes]

This would be an interesting thread to watch for. even I am vegetarian- no meat and fishes.
Can you refrigerate the green vegetables for couple of days? Yes, I guess so. But what about if you are on a longer voyage?

[Astrid]

Try home canning. It is not too hard at all to make all sorts of vegan type sauces for pasta and rice dishes.

[Butler]

Sprouts are a good way to get some fresh veg. I use a lot of root veggies also... yams being my favorite. Roast them on the bbq in foil w butter. Can eat them straight from the foil or ???.
Rather pricey but maybe worth it on a long passage might look at freeze dried veg. Can contact Mountain House or one of the other producers and see what might be possible with quantity breaks. I know they used to sell #10 cans of things like peas but I doubt they could be re-packaged successfully... maybe someone else here has had experience with this.

[S/V Antares]

While we are not vegan but I am surprised how well veggies keep in our boat. Much longer than at home. I attribute this to the "Frost Free" cycle on the home unit. The Boat fridge is smaller and has much more concentrated thermal mass. The home unit uses a fan to pump cold air from the freezer into the big box where it dries out the fresh stuff. Our veggies keep weeks, not days like at home.

Our "Veggie " friends seem to do well with root veggies and dried staples. One can get local produce or imported fresh most places. It just cost a bit more.

[HopeFloats]

Get a copy of "Sailing The Farm" by Ken Neumeyer. I used some of his ideas for sun drying fresh vegetables and using salt to preserve fresh vegetables in areas where they are expensive and tough to find.

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by HopeFloats

Get a copy of "Sailing The Farm" by Ken Neumeyer. I used some of his ideas for sun drying fresh vegetables and using salt to preserve fresh vegetables in areas where they are expensive and tough to find.

+1

I've had this book for years. I'm not sure if it's still in print. You may find a used copy on Amazon.

Also, brown rice, lentils etc, plenty sprouts, and throw in a handfull of tvp (textured vegetable protein) to almost any hot dish. Adds protein and simple.

[maxingout]

We are almost vegetarians and have not had any difficulty obtaining a good supply of fruits and vegetables all around the world. In most cruising destinations, the indigenous people can't afford to eat red med. We eat what the locals eat, and we never run out of fruits and veggies.

Even in Sudan, we ate red delicious apples from Washington State that were for sale in the local market. They also had great local watermelons in Sudan.

Good veggies and fruits have been available everywhere we go.

[betachz]

you guys are great! Keep'em coming. I'm gonna have Leigh check out that book suggested. Glad to know it's not a HUGE problem anyhow.

[gasaholic]

Seeds link here

without question, a great resource!!!!

i grow all my own food at the moment. You can eat sprouts raw.

I've been a raw foodie for a year now. (lost 50 lbs, cholesterol went from 300 to 130 without meds, skin cleared up, etc. ) it has been the most amazing journey.

i intend to continue on the boat. you can (and should) sprout all your beans and lentils, and sprouts. I also grow wheatgrass and juice it daily along with other veggies.

i'm not necessarily anti-animal, i'm more anti-poison (hormones and antibioticsd, steroids, corn feed, farm raised mercury filled, cancer causing crap!)

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by betachz

Hi all!

Since my wife is a vegetarian, veg will be a primary source of food on our boat along with fish (which she does eat also).

LOL
I am a vegetarian as well
Apart from Beef, which I also eat some of, and pork and chicken, I have some of that as well and lamb and duck, and I have a bit of fish as well

But I am a vegetarian

[skipmac]

Found very few fresh veggies in the far out islands of the Bahamas, better in the Caribbean.

Winter squash, potatoes, garlic and onions, lots of onions. A good, hard onion will last a long time, even without refrigeration. When you run out of everything else fresh you can sauté a fresh onion to add to things like spaghetti sauce from a jar, dried beans or any other canned or dried vegetable you have.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

We keep onions, potatoes, cabbage, red and green, and summer and winter squash, spaghetti squash in cargo nets. Tie them off under way so they don't swing and bruise. SharperImage sells lock n lock style containers that keep food fresher longer and some of them are big enoguh for veggies and have a grate onthe bottom to keep moisture off the peppers, broccoli, carrots and the like. Kept those for weeks, I also use canned corn and canned tomatoes, but no other canned veggies.

Dried mushrooms, beans and tomatoes are staples.

[storyinframes]

Boatman61 advises that u can grow sprouts too from a small flower pot. Nice idea.

[storyinframes]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Found very few fresh veggies in the far out islands of the Bahamas, better in the Caribbean.

Winter squash, potatoes, garlic and onions, lots of onions. A good, hard onion will last a long time, even without refrigeration. When you run out of everything else fresh you can sauté a fresh onion to add to things like spaghetti sauce from a jar, dried beans or any other canned or dried vegetable you have.

How is veg situation like in south pacific?