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Post by handmaid on Mar 16, 2022 21:34:55 GMT -6
DD, I just read your post about canning and sales. How do you organize your pantry? I love the concept of keeping the jars filled, but our storage space is minimal. I keep it extremely organized, and am not sure how to handle random canned goods.
Tomorrow we go to The Farm, aka my farmer in-laws. We are helping replace the barn floor, and will discuss possibly moving to work the farm with them. 😳 Just a lot intimidated at the moment.
Yesterday I pulled out most of our old strawberry plants. We purchased everbearing ones this time. Berries at Costco have risen $5 a bag. And I just saw canned chicken there is now $4 more. Salad is $3 more a container.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Mar 17, 2022 7:02:11 GMT -6
DD, I just read your post about canning and sales. How do you organize your pantry? I love the concept of keeping the jars filled, but our storage space is minimal. I keep it extremely organized, and am not sure how to handle random canned goods. Tomorrow we go to The Farm, aka my farmer in-laws. We are helping replace the barn floor, and will discuss possibly moving to work the farm with them. 😳 Just a lot intimidated at the moment. Yesterday I pulled out most of our old strawberry plants. We purchased everbearing ones this time. Berries at Costco have risen $5 a bag. And I just saw canned chicken there is now $4 more. Salad is $3 more a container. I know handmaid. The prices are just going through the roof. My husband went to the local lumber mill to buy some rough cut lumber for pouring some concrete sidewalks because this winter has been super rainy and he wanted to make me a sidewalk to keep me out of the mud. He is afraid I am going to slip in the mud out there and fall while feeding up. Anyway the guy at the lumber mill would not take money but instead wanted to trade the lumber for fresh eggs. Geez that is getting bad. Eggs here are out of sight price wise and the shelves seem to stay empty. The same with chicken. I have shelves and a small room that I heat and cool with lots of insulation in the shed that I store extra freezer and canned goods in. I have a small shelf in the laundry room that I store some canned and dried goods and I have a lrge closet in my guest room that I store buckets and jars in. Plus I keep some jars in my cabinets in the kitchen.
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Post by handmaid on Mar 17, 2022 8:29:37 GMT -6
My husband went to the local lumber mill to buy some rough cut lumber for pouring some concrete sidewalks because this winter has been super rainy and he wanted to make me a sidewalk to keep me out of the mud. He is afraid I am going to slip in the mud out there and fall while feeding up. Anyway the guy at the lumber mill would not take money but instead wanted to trade the lumber for fresh eggs. Geez that is getting bad. Eggs here are out of sight price wise and the shelves seem to stay empty. The same with chicken. I have shelves and a small room that I heat and cool with lots of insulation in the shed that I store extra freezer and canned goods in. I have a small shelf in the laundry room that I store some canned and dried goods and I have a lrge closet in my guest room that I store buckets and jars in. Plus I keep some jars in my cabinets in the kitchen. Eggs for lumber?!? That is very interesting. We have been praying about what to do if the dollar crashes. Sounds like people are already moving to a barter system, especially for food. The sidewalk sounds like a good idea. We have a walkway we need to change because it is a muddy mess whenever it rains. Why did he decide on a concrete path instead of gravel? I think I will just start the sales canning and worry about storage issues later. Been mulling over a freeze dryer too. Though the price is astronomical!
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Mar 18, 2022 6:08:23 GMT -6
My husband went to the local lumber mill to buy some rough cut lumber for pouring some concrete sidewalks because this winter has been super rainy and he wanted to make me a sidewalk to keep me out of the mud. He is afraid I am going to slip in the mud out there and fall while feeding up. Anyway the guy at the lumber mill would not take money but instead wanted to trade the lumber for fresh eggs. Geez that is getting bad. Eggs here are out of sight price wise and the shelves seem to stay empty. The same with chicken. I have shelves and a small room that I heat and cool with lots of insulation in the shed that I store extra freezer and canned goods in. I have a small shelf in the laundry room that I store some canned and dried goods and I have a lrge closet in my guest room that I store buckets and jars in. Plus I keep some jars in my cabinets in the kitchen. Eggs for lumber?!? That is very interesting. We have been praying about what to do if the dollar crashes. Sounds like people are already moving to a barter system, especially for food. The sidewalk sounds like a good idea. We have a walkway we need to change because it is a muddy mess whenever it rains. Why did he decide on a concrete path instead of gravel? I think I will just start the sales canning and worry about storage issues later. Been mulling over a freeze dryer too. Though the price is astronomical! I like that I can take the hose and broom to it and gravel hurts my ducks little feet
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Post by handmaid on Mar 21, 2022 20:42:26 GMT -6
Eggs for lumber?!? That is very interesting. We have been praying about what to do if the dollar crashes. Sounds like people are already moving to a barter system, especially for food. The sidewalk sounds like a good idea. We have a walkway we need to change because it is a muddy mess whenever it rains. Why did he decide on a concrete path instead of gravel? I think I will just start the sales canning and worry about storage issues later. Been mulling over a freeze dryer too. Though the price is astronomical! I like that I can take the hose and broom to it and gravel hurts my ducks little feet OMG that was funny!!!
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Apr 5, 2022 6:18:50 GMT -6
With 2 days of rain in the forecast I got some gardening done yesterday. Dug up some rhubarb and separated and replanted and also dug up a pampas grass and separated and moved to a new location as it was too shaded where it was. I canned 18 pint jars of green peas that I caught on sale last week. Caught pork butt on sale also and am experimenting with canning pulled pork for sandwiches and making breakfast sausage with some also. I can grind my own much cheaper than I can buy it.
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Post by handmaid on Apr 5, 2022 7:59:39 GMT -6
With 2 days of rain in the forecast I got some gardening done yesterday. Dug up some rhubarb and separated and replanted and also dug up a pampas grass and separated and moved to a new location as it was too shaded where it was. I canned 18 pint jars of green peas that I caught on sale last week. Caught pork butt on sale also and am experimenting with canning pulled pork for sandwiches and making breakfast sausage with some also. I can grind my own much cheaper than I can buy it. It is just starting to stick in my mind about your advice on canning up sales items. For vegetables, do you tend to can frozen or fresh items?
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Apr 5, 2022 19:54:15 GMT -6
With 2 days of rain in the forecast I got some gardening done yesterday. Dug up some rhubarb and separated and replanted and also dug up a pampas grass and separated and moved to a new location as it was too shaded where it was. I canned 18 pint jars of green peas that I caught on sale last week. Caught pork butt on sale also and am experimenting with canning pulled pork for sandwiches and making breakfast sausage with some also. I can grind my own much cheaper than I can buy it. It is just starting to stick in my mind about your advice on canning up sales items. For vegetables, do you tend to can frozen or fresh items? Either really whatever is on sale. I buy frozen veggies like corn and peas and mixed vegetables and can or dehydrate. Did you know canned veggies in jars will last longer than in a tin can. Many times I can buy meat on sale and can soups cheaper than I can by them in a can. I can buy meat on sale and grind for sausage cheaper than I can buy sausage premade. I can buy pork and make buckboard bacon for seasoning and smoke cheaper than I can buy it. Look for sales in the frozen veggies because you can throw them in the freezer and can them at your leisure. Rainy days make great canning days.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Apr 20, 2022 5:36:31 GMT -6
The temperatures are supposed to be up in the mid sixties today according to the weather forecast so I am back to the garden again. The duck house needs cleaning out again and the compost piles need turning. Maybe a bit of weeding too. Always something to do here.
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Post by handmaid on Apr 20, 2022 7:10:17 GMT -6
Taking care of grandma today. Hoping to pot up some of the seedlings tomorrow. And planning to get a start on flowers.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Apr 23, 2022 6:12:59 GMT -6
80's today. Yay
Spent the entire day yesterday in the gardens. Lots of compost being put down and spring weeds pulled. Crops of greens thinned etc. No rest for the wicked.
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Post by handmaid on Apr 29, 2022 10:30:32 GMT -6
Well I managed to kill thrree of the five tomato starts my father-in-law gave me. Ugh. So off to the store to buy some. Got the beds mostly weeded.
We are debating putting wood chips downin the raised bed aisles to make it easier for lawn mainenance this year. We still dont know if we will be selling this year.
Have a few house projects to do today before the rain comes in. Grateful for a day at home.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on May 1, 2022 8:23:31 GMT -6
Quiet Sunday morning here and I actually slept late and enjoying a cup of hot tea right now.
Got about 1/4 inch of rain last night. We have been doing so much weeding and gardening lately. Temps have been in the 70's and between rainy days the working in cool. Been turning my compost piles pretty well daily. Took out 4 sifted wheelbarrow loads of compost/soil for planting things. Dug up and moved 2 blueberry sprouts and potted 6 into pots. Dug up 2 small juneberry sprouts and potted into pots. All my black currants rooted and I am planning to give some to the young neighbor couple for a start. Blueberry bushes are loaded. Gooseberry crop is healthy also and the black currants are blooming. The Juneberries have berries on them for the first time this year. They are 2 years old. Pears are growing and had just a few blooms on one but they didn't set. Picking lots of asparagus right now. iris are blooming and also columbine. The peonies are also looking good but no blooms yet. Planning on setting out broccoli and cabbage starts next week since hopefully frost has passed now. Figs are starting to bud out.
Found one of my hens setting yesterday so looks like I will have chicks.
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Post by handmaid on May 2, 2022 21:41:03 GMT -6
Got painting done today. Transplated some berry volunteers to pots for my husband's co-workers. Tomorrow bills, then it is grandma duty the rest of the week.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on May 5, 2022 5:13:22 GMT -6
Bills paid and grocery shopping out of the way yesterday. Got animal feed unloaded. Wow the price on those groceries was a shock. Lord the prices are rising right before your eyes. Had to put chicken wire around the garden boxes to keep the rabbits out. Got 19 broccoli and 15 cabbage plants set out. 5 romaine lettuce plants and 3 bok choy plants out. Garden boxes are filling p fast. Tomato plants are coming along good. Red beans are up and sweet potatoes are doing great. After these storms go through I am hoping to get cucumbers, squash and okra in the ground.
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