Welcome to DC! I am one who does a lot of preserving...and gardening. Although, our garden season is just starting now. Yesterday we planted two apricot trees...maybe we'll have apricots in 3-4 years (supposedly they produce fruit when 5-6 years old--and these were 2 year-old trees). I am really excited about the apricot trees <g>.
I make a pesto from corriander. I've also made it using swiss chard and basil. Easy ways to use up a lot of what's in the garden <g>.