Salal jam???

I found something new in my yard that is edible and perfect for canning!! I am still trying to identify all the crazy trees, bushes, plants and flowers that we have in our yard. But an old friend helped me identify several of the bushes behind my garden as the Salal plant. Never even heard of it before. But now that I know what it is and have researched it ... turns out the berries growing on it are edible! We have about 7 of these bushes or trees or whatever they are. I suspect they are more of a bush, but some of ours are in excess of 8 feet tall! And they are all overflowing with berries, which should be ripe sometime in August.

I have already found a canning recipe for silal jam, and I already have all the necessary items. It requires very little sugar to can, because the berry is very high in natural pectin, so it gels easily on its own. Which means it should be a healthier jam for us to eat! I will have a shelf full of jam ... and it's not going to cost me a penny! Well, unless you count what we spent to buy the house that had the bushes in the yard ... but I'm not. :)

I am also mulling over money-making opportunities as well, because the foliage from this plant is apparently very popular with florists, for making arrangements with roses. There has to be a way I can tap into that. At the very least, I can spice up my flower arrangements when I bring roses in from my yard.

What do you have in your garden or your yard that can help you save money for your family? Or what would you consider adding to your yard in order to help out the family budget? I challenge you to start planning for next year and see how much you can save. There are so many benefits to having your own produce section in the yard. Not only is it cheaper for you, but you've grown the plants yourself, and you know exactly what was used on them and how they were grown. There's a certain peace of mind in feeding my family food that I know isn't full of pesticides or growth hormones or whatever else you may find at the grocery store. Plus ... it just tastes better when you pick it and serve it the same day!