I've done this for years. I also make my own jellies/jams from fruit found on the side of the road...i.e., blackberries, wild plums, mustang grapes and elderberries. Black walnut and pecan trees are prolific in our area as well. The kids used to love our little expeditions to find things we bring home and put in the oven. We weren't poor by any means... just interested in finding out what our resources were.:)
Bump.
It is extremely unhealthy not to know how to preserve and make food from scratch.
Making your own is fund too.