The Garden Way: Cultivating Intentionality in a Fast-Paced World.

A Surplus of Citrus…

If you’ve read my posts, you already know that I do NOT like to waste what the Earth gifts me.

I recently received a surplus of oranges (from various places – oh, the timing of it all). I was in the middle of researching traditional ways to decorate for the winter holidays, in an effort to keep life simpler and closer to nature, and to make a lower impact on the environment by avoiding synthetic decorations (I LOVE being able to recycle decor by feeding it to wildlife, composting it, or using it to mulch my garden).

I decided to dehydrate some orange slices to use as both decor and future simmer pot jars.

Dried Orange Slices (Oven Method)

Ingredients/Tools

• Oranges (of course) – this is a good way to use oranges that might have some dings or discolored rinds
• An oven set to 200 F
• A sharp knife
• Parchment paper
• A baking sheet

Directions

1. Cut oranges into slices about 1/4″ thick.
2. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place in a 200 F oven for 2-4 hours, until slices are dried. They will still be pliable – they will dry more as they cool. Don’t overdry them or the sugar will scorch.
4. Set the baking sheet with the orange slices on the stovetop to cool completely.

If you want, you can simply air-dry the slices. This, of course, takes longer, but requires no energy input. If you have a food dehydrator, you can dry them quickly in the machine. I don’t have one, so I use the oven. Make sure that your slices are dry enough not to allow mold to grow on them – leathery is good, wet is not.

Uses for Dried Orange Slices

I used mine as table decor around a candle I bought from Tractor Supply. They add a rustic, homey look to my dining table, and they smell great. After I’m done with them, I will create simmer pot “kits” by placing the slices in Mason jars with other “found” materials, such as dried apple peels from the kitchen, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, dried cranberries, bay leaves and thyme from my pantry, juniper and cedar essential oils from my oil stash, lemongrass and peppermint from my herb garden, and some tiny evergreen cones that came in one of my Writual Monthly Boxes. After I simmer, I sometimes add the used simmer pot elements to a bucket of kitchen scraps I feed to the pigs (being mindful not to use any essential oils that could make them sick).

Of course, you can string your dried orange slices on twine to create a fragrant garland for your tree or home. The garland can then go out as a treat for the birds at your bird feeder.

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