In our last post, we shared how we crafted a beet tincture, and today we are excited to walk through our second favorite way to preserve our beet harvest . By dehydrating both the ruby roots and the nutrient-dense leafy greens, we grind them into a whole-plant superfood powder and pack them into convenient daily capsules .
Why We Love Whole-Plant Beet Capsules
Making our own capsules gives us a concentrated, mess-free way to enjoy the incredible cardiovascular and nutritional benefits of our homegrown harvest year-round .
- Nitric oxide and circulation: Beets are naturally rich in dietary nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide to relax blood vessels, enhance oxygen delivery, and support healthy blood pressure .
- Sustained energy and stamina: Better circulation means improved cellular oxygenation, providing steady physical stamina for long days in the garden without an energy crash .
- Betalain antioxidants: The deep red pigment comes from betalains, potent natural compounds that help soothe internal inflammation and neutralize oxidative cellular stress .
- Greens with micronutrients: Beet greens are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium .
Slicing and Prepping the Harvest
We started with several large, freshly harvested beets and their vibrant green tops .
First, we used a mandoline to thinly slice the root bulbs into uniform rounds, which helps ensure they dry evenly in the dehydrator. Next, we thoroughly washed the beet tops in cold water, trimming away any damaged leaves while keeping the fresh foliage and tender stems.
Dehydrating and Grinding
Once prepped, we loaded the sliced roots and damp leaves across the dehydrator trays in a single layer.
We set the dehydrator to 135 degrees and let it run until everything was completely crisp and brittle to the touch. Once cooled, we transferred the dried pieces to our food processor for an initial rough grind to break down the bulk, followed by a quick pass through a coffee grinder to transform the mixture into a fine, vibrant powder.
Packing the Capsules
To finish the process, we pulled out our Capsule IT manual filling system to pack the powder into size “00” capsules.
Using this setup allowed us to fill and cap 100 capsules in about 10 minutes flat, creating a clean, shelf-stable supplement ready for our apothecary shelf. Taking our garden harvest in capsule form is a wonderfully simple ritual that keeps us energized, nourished, and deeply connected to the food we grow.
RJ Homestead 
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