Citrus fruits often hang heavy and unpicked on thousands of local trees. When they fall to the ground, the fruit is wasted. Saving that citrus, as well as figs, grapes and apples, is Senior Gleaners of San Diego County.

By Laura Woolfrey Macklem: Starting this month, OsideNews introduces Preserved Home, a column devoted to homemade and home-preserved recipes.   I grew up in Escondido, and my best friend growing...

I remember driving from Escondido to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas as a teenager, passing produce stands overflowing with fresh blood oranges and other fruits and vegetables. Before I knew about preserving, I would stop along the road just buy a little here and there, and savor the produce fresh. I may not have preserved fruit back then, but what I have preserved are memories growing up surrounded by citrus and avocado groves, friendly produce vendors, and, most of all, a very best friend.