FOOD Food Shortages | What You Can Do Before It’s Too Late

[summerthyme]

Purple beans are definitely easier to see to pick. I haven't grown them in several years, but they were fine...

Summerthyme

 

[WanderLore]

Amazon has some. Everyone else is pretty much sold out.

I'll try, and our local greenhouses are open, see what they got

 

[Cardinal]

The PVC is the frame work for plastic to allow us to greenhouse the plants during the freezes. Otherwise, we couldn't keep them going.

It also gives us the ability to wall of the plants from the dam*ed deer. If you are not careful, they will mow down 6 months work in an hour at night.

Ya now, I'm thinking ti wouldn't be too much work to run heated water thru those pipes, and have a nice warm ghouse for plants that like warmer temps. Put it on a pump with a timer. Like with an aquarium.

 

[20Gauge]

Ya now, I'm thinking ti wouldn't be too much work to run heated water thru those pipes, and have a nice warm ghouse for plants that like warmer temps. Put it on a pump with a timer. Like with an aquarium.

Yeah it would. All we need to do is cover it with plastic for most days. When it is really cold, a small tiki pot inside seems to work. Nothing more is needed where we are. Other areas? good luck!

 

[mudlogger]

Southern Exposure is selling seed again, but when they've filled their daily quota they shut down til the next day.

They have Summerthyme's pepper, and purple beans.

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Saving the Past for the Future

 

[dlee]

We were canning hamburger patties Sunday evening, well he was, and I walked into the kitchen and said 90 minutes for quarts, wasn't sure why I was possessed to do that, and he thanked me he was going to process them for 75. We very rarely can in quarts anymore, mostly pints and pints and a half, but did so for the hamburger patties.

We invested in a 22 qt pressure canner and so far canned Lamb Made homemade spam. We have canned beans, potatoes chicken, hamburger and soups. We can about every other day. The canned potatoes are nice homemade potatoe salad yesterday. We also have more dried potatoes and carrots and veggies.

 

[Cardinal]

Yeah it would. All we need to do is cover it with plastic for most days. When it is really cold, a small tiki pot inside seems to work. Nothing more is needed where we are. Other areas? good luck!

Tiki pot? who knew...yeah, that is a butload easier.

 

[jward]

I just wanted to drop this link in for any who are stuck on a city lot and feeling overwhelmed, under inspired or unequal to the task of feeding themselves. This, guerrilla and forest gardening and keeping the small animals are all just a few of the countless ways to start exactly where you are and begin to make a dent.

Don't forget the Cuban example of feeding themselves, or the importance of the Dacha's to Russian folks' food supplies, either. It is definitely doable, there are examples out there, and a free man not only has to keep control of his weapons, he must never ever relinquish control of his food supply! OK, I just made that up, but I bet if I knew history, I'd find it a true thing : )

Meet The Family Growing 6,000 Pounds Of Food A Year In Their L.A. Backyard



mbg Senior Sustainability Editor By Emma Loewe













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From the street, the Dervaes family home in Pasadena, Calif., about a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles, resembles most others on its suburban block. But a quick peek around the corner reveals a backyard brimming with plots of fruits, veggies, and a rogue chicken or two.
The family of four produces upward of 6,000 pounds of produce a year on their tenth-of-an-acre property—nicknamed the Urban Homestead.

Meet The Family Growing 6,000 Pounds Of Food A Year In Their L.A. Backyard

 

[Nich1]

We invested in a 22 qt pressure canner and so far canned Lamb Made homemade spam. We have canned beans, potatoes chicken, hamburger and soups. We can about every other day. The canned potatoes are nice homemade potatoe salad yesterday. We also have more dried potatoes and carrots and veggies.

What is your process for canning potatoes? I expect to have some later this spring/summer. I've tried keeping them in the crawl space covered with lime but it didn't really keep them too well that way. It was suggested by a neighbor. Canning seems like a good option.

 

[Nich1]

We were canning hamburger patties Sunday evening, well he was, and I walked into the kitchen and said 90 minutes for quarts, wasn't sure why I was possessed to do that, and he thanked me he was going to process them for 75. We very rarely can in quarts anymore, mostly pints and pints and a half, but did so for the hamburger patties.

I just canned some hamburger today. I cooked the hamburger first, crumbled and drained before putting into the jar. Then, add a little salt, a little of the grease/broth, but not filling the jar and process. To do a patty, how do you get them into the jar...wide mouth, I suppose? Who knew? I'd like to try it if you don't mind giving some tips.

 

[Millwright]

Anybody got some insight to freeze drying hamburger?

What is suggested, cook to remove some of the fat or just raw?

 

[WalknTrot]

This looks like a good time to put in a plug for The Ball Blue Book. Always open, read and follow to the letter whenever you are canning. The latest recommendations by the industry and USDA. Never half-ass canning.
Haha! Whoa. Seems late-comers are gonna pay a premium. $25.99 for a soft-cover book that usually goes for 6 bucks at Walmart.
JARDEN HOME BRANDS 1440021411 37Th Edition Blue Book, 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches, White brown: Hearthmark: 0752913195778: Amazon.com: Books

****Other approved, safe, up-to-date and useful option: online USDA canning guide****
National Center for Home Food Preservation | USDA Publications

 

[Quiet Man]

time to put in a plug for The Ball Blue Book

Wow, it looks like you started something -- One listing for 'new' copies, priced at $13, had 6 copies sold in the last hour.

 

[WalknTrot]

Wow, it looks like you started something -- One listing for 'new' copies, priced at $13, had 6 copies sold in the last hour.

Haha! I won't take credit. Afraid it started long before tonight.

That online USDA guide is downloadable and very good. I put it on my tablet and laptop years ago. Looks like the best option at this point.

 

[jward]

Don't forget the local and state libraries have all, or almost all, gone digital as well, and you can grab it free, for a time, at least, that way.

 

[changed]

Not a food shortage, but went to Walmart in Georgia today and the TV shelves looked like the toilet paper aisles last week. I asked a worker about it and he said they don't have any in the back either. I suppose everybody got their tax refund and the covid stimulus and went shopping for a new tv.

 

[rafter]

This looks like a good time to put in a plug for The Ball Blue Book. Always open, read and follow to the letter whenever you are canning. The latest recommendations by the industry and USDA. Never half-ass canning.
Haha! Whoa. Seems late-comers are gonna pay a premium. $25.99 for a soft-cover book that usually goes for 6 bucks at Walmart.
JARDEN HOME BRANDS 1440021411 37Th Edition Blue Book, 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches, White brown: Hearthmark: 0752913195778: Amazon.com: Books

****Other approved, safe, up-to-date and useful option: online USDA canning guide****
National Center for Home Food Preservation | USDA Publications

They are getting hard to find. I found a used one thru Amazon and it was a spiral one. Also got the farm bureau canning book that everyone was talking about a few weeks ago. Looking for used ones can usually get results.

 

[packyderms_wife]

I just canned some hamburger today. I cooked the hamburger first, crumbled and drained before putting into the jar. Then, add a little salt, a little of the grease/broth, but not filling the jar and process. To do a patty, how do you get them into the jar...wide mouth, I suppose? Who knew? I'd like to try it if you don't mind giving some tips.

There’s a thread where I put the info in granny’s kitchen here at a TBK, I’m on my tablet now so I’ll post the link to that thread tomorrow.

 

[Nich1]

There’s a thread where I put the info in granny’s kitchen here at a TBK, I’m on my tablet now so I’ll post the link to that thread tomorrow.

Found it! Didn't know there was a Granny's Kitchen. Looks like a lot of good stuff there. I saw the info about the patties so I'm going to try it tomorrow. Wish there were wide mouth pint jars...maybe there are but I don't have any. Four patties would be the most I would want at a time. I'll do it anyway. I did see that you have to drain the liquid and carefully remove them from the jar to prevent breaking them up. Since this is for times when meat may be hard to come by, it may be a while before I get to use these! Meanwhile, I'll have to learn to make hamburger buns. :-) If the burgers are drained enough, that should work. Thanks for the help, PW.

 

[WalknTrot]

For those older canning books, check the times, pressures and recipes against the USDA site. I know with the Farm Journal books...a lot haven't been reprinted since the 70's. Safe canning has evolved a great deal over the past 50 years.

 

[mecoastie]

For those older canning books, check the times, pressures and recipes against the USDA site. I know with the Farm Journal books...a lot haven't been reprinted since the 70's. Safe canning has evolved a great deal over the past 50 years.

Absolutely. And look at those old recipes grandma used to do. A lot has changed and while nothing bad happened to grams and gramps it is better to be safe.

 

[Freeholder]

I just wanted to drop this link in for any who are stuck on a city lot and feeling overwhelmed, under inspired or unequal to the task of feeding themselves. This, guerrilla and forest gardening and keeping the small animals are all just a few of the countless ways to start exactly where you are and begin to make a dent.

Don't forget the Cuban example of feeding themselves, or the importance of the Dacha's to Russian folks' food supplies, either. It is definitely doable, there are examples out there, and a free man not only has to keep control of his weapons, he must never ever relinquish control of his food supply! OK, I just made that up, but I bet if I knew history, I'd find it a true thing : )


Meet The Family Growing 6,000 Pounds Of Food A Year In Their L.A. Backyard

This family is good for inspiration, but keep in mind that LA, where they live, has nearly a year-round growing season. In colder climates, it would require covering the back yard with green houses to replicate what they’ve done. It’s possible, just a little harder in a cooler area.

Kathleen

 

[20Gauge]

This family is good for inspiration, but keep in mind that LA, where they live, has nearly a year-round growing season. In colder climates, it would require covering the back yard with green houses to replicate what they’ve done. It’s possible, just a little harder in a cooler area.

Kathleen

a little?

Try a heck of a lot harder.

I used to grow things in California. I had a 10 by 20 back yard at the time.

Put some decent dirt in and water regularly and I had an old fashion paper grocery bag of tomatoes each day from May until September. I had more beans that I could have ever eaten, I had more produce than I possibly could have ever eaten in two years. People would see me and run away as they had too much from me and didn't want more. The ability to grow in southern California, (where they are) is legendary.

I thought because of it, I was a "great" gardener. Nope even a horrible gardener like me, can feed themselves in S California. It is that easy to grow things.

 

[Freeholder]

a little?

Try a heck of a lot harder.

I used to grow things in California. I had a 10 by 20 back yard at the time.

Put some decent dirt in and water regularly and I had an old fashion paper grocery bag of tomatoes each day from May until September. I had more beans that I could have ever eaten, I had more produce than I possibly could have ever eaten in two years. People would see me and run away as they had too much from me and didn't want more. The ability to grow in southern California, (where they are) is legendary.

I thought because of it, I was a "great" gardener. Nope even a horrible gardener like me, can feed themselves in S California. It is that easy to grow things.

I’ve never been farther south than Sacramento (and that was only to use the airport) so will bow to your superior knowledge. It is possible to have good gardens in a colder climate, but you need more space and the ability to put food up for the winter.

Kathleen

 

[20Gauge]

I’ve never been farther south than Sacramento (and that was only to use the airport) so will bow to your superior knowledge. It is possible to have good gardens in a colder climate, but you need more space and the ability to put food up for the winter.

Kathleen

It is crazy easy. No real bug problems, plenty of sunshine, great soil and plenty of water. Now when you get to a farm that depends upon rain, different story. Reliable source of water, all is good.

 

[Dennis Olson]

While it might work in SoCal, it wouldn’t in SoTex.

 

[20Gauge]

While it might work in SoCal, it wouldn’t in SoTex.

My opinion from experience, it can only work in S. California as they show it.

 

[Freeholder]

My opinion from experience, it can only work in S. California as they show it.

And yet they are used as an example for everyone, no matter where they live. Like I said, good inspiration, but in less auspicious climates, some adjustments need to be made.

Kathleen

 

[packyderms_wife]

I just canned some hamburger today. I cooked the hamburger first, crumbled and drained before putting into the jar. Then, add a little salt, a little of the grease/broth, but not filling the jar and process. To do a patty, how do you get them into the jar...wide mouth, I suppose? Who knew? I'd like to try it if you don't mind giving some tips.

Here's the thread were we discussed canning hamburgers, just make sure to drain as much fat off of the burgers as humanly possible before canning.

Canning - Ways to use canned meat

What do you all do with canned beef? We use it for beef and noodles or soup nd stew. It's cubed and browned first. But what about a large chunk? We are canning a roast or two fresh and some from the freezer.

www.timebomb2000.com

 

[packyderms_wife]

Found it! Didn't know there was a Granny's Kitchen. Looks like a lot of good stuff there. I saw the info about the patties so I'm going to try it tomorrow. Wish there were wide mouth pint jars...maybe there are but I don't have any. Four patties would be the most I would want at a time. I'll do it anyway. I did see that you have to drain the liquid and carefully remove them from the jar to prevent breaking them up. Since this is for times when meat may be hard to come by, it may be a while before I get to use these! Meanwhile, I'll have to learn to make hamburger buns. :-) If the burgers are drained enough, that should work. Thanks for the help, PW.

We have a garden forum and a stitching forum here as well! Enjoy. There are a lot of members that post there that never post on the main.

You can buy wide mouth pint jars at places like Walmart or your local farm store.

 

[bw]

Sorry for the thread drift but can someone suggest a good Foodsaver vacuum sealer? I have one but it doesn't seem to seal and get all the air out like it used to.TIA.

The pumps are a very poor design, and wear out quickly. We have a fancy one that sucks jars, but use it only for jars to save the pump. I buy the cheapest style, and have a backup. Look at reviews for those you're interested in, but get the no-frills.

 

[hiwall]

The pumps are a very poor design, and wear out quickly. We have a fancy one that sucks jars, but use it only for jars to save the pump. I buy the cheapest style, and have a backup. Look at reviews for those you're interested in, but get the no-frills.

Yeah the pumps suck - - and not for very long.

 

[Dennis Olson]

In order for certain things to grow well in my area, you’d actually need a refrigerated greenhouse.

 

[Millwright]

In order for certain things to grow well in my area, you’d actually need a refrigerated greenhouse.

They have a lot of those around here....but they ain't growin' veggies.

 

[Profit of Doom]

Anybody got some insight to freeze drying hamburger?

What is suggested, cook to remove some of the fat or just raw?

Hamburger rocks.

 

[Grouchy Granny]

While it might work in SoCal, it wouldn’t in SoTex.

Or in Colorado.... climate is too iffy and we never know what we're gonna get in the next 5 minutes.

 

[Profit of Doom]

What is your process for canning potatoes? I expect to have some later this spring/summer. I've tried keeping them in the crawl space covered with lime but it didn't really keep them too well that way. It was suggested by a neighbor. Canning seems like a good option.

Works good for bodies. Potatoes, not so much.

 

[Profit of Doom]

Not a food shortage, but went to Walmart in Georgia today and the TV shelves looked like the toilet paper aisles last week. I asked a worker about it and he said they don't have any in the back either. I suppose everybody got their tax refund and the covid stimulus and went shopping for a new tv.

They had to buy it. Nobody’s rioting right now.

 

[Grouchy Granny]

delete

 

[Profit of Doom]

They have a lot of those around here....but they ain't growin' veggies.

Herbal remedies?