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

[Profit of Doom]

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

Herbal remedies?

 

[Grouchy Granny]

delete

 

[zeker]

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.

I have canned potaoes but they end up being mushy

perchance I am leaving in too long?

 

[mudlogger]

I have canned potaoes but they end up being mushy

perchance I am leaving in too long?

What kind of potatoes did you can? Russets?

I always can Yukons or Kennebecs--they have a tighter texture to begin with.

Time is 40 minutes at the appropriate pressure for your elevation.

 

[Dafodil]

Firstly, price. Renting a house in the country outside of austin is very expensive. Probably close to $3k a month. Secondly, I won’t be doing this gig forever, and then I need to be closer to the tech market. Now when I retire, I can do anything I want. Lastly, availability (shudder).

And then there’s the move itself. I’m not physically able to do it.

I had a perfect place for sale but it was in MS. My inlaws home sold a couple of months ago. 40 acres, brick ranch with a well and a fish pond. First people who saw it bought it! Thank God! The alcoholic woman was driving us crazy! My hubs was only charging her 250.00 just to keep a car in the carport! She was a NUT!

 

[Dafodil]

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.

Same in Kroger today! The sheep were buying chips/cola with their stimulus checks! Don't get me started!

 

[Dafodil]

Don't one that triggers the cycle by sticking the bag in a slot.

Look for models that you have to place the bag and flop the lid and push a button to start the cycle.

The automatic ones are a pain and use too much bag material.

Sweet Alice brand from Amazon! Had an expensive FoodSaver gave it to my son, we like this brand better! We use it every week.

 

[ginnie6]

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.

I noticed the same thing here last week. Not a tv to be found. I was wondering if the supply lines on things like that have dried up?

 

[lonestar09]

Microwaves, toaster ovens and even pellet/bb rifles were sold out.

 

[Millwright]

Hamburger rocks.

For freeze drying, not dehydrating.

 

[Dafodil]

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!
What part of GA do you live?

 

[packyderms_wife]

I started a Canning Recipe and Chat thread in Granny's Kitchen for the month of May! I'll get the link in a bit.

Canning - The May 2020 Canning Recipe and Chat Thread!

Yup, I just made this a thing here at TBK. RULES: Only, and I mean this ONLY, share for use tested safe recipes! NOTE: Some of the recipes in the older Ball Blue Books have been revoked due to siphoning issues, etc. BBB has an online PDF of their most recent books if you need to double-check...

www.timebomb2000.com

 

[bluelady]

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

And, they have dedicated their lives full time to this pursuit, dad and IIRC maybe 4 adult children. I didn't read the article this time around, and haven't kept up with them for quite a while, but studied their setup seriously way back when. Their idea is to prove what CAN be done, and they've done a great job, but even they I think admit that it's unreaslistic for most people with jons etc. to do even close to all that (they even make their own fuel!). Still very inspirational and great ideas. We can always do more.

 

[summerthyme]

What kind of potatoes did you can? Russets?

I always can Yukons or Kennebecs--they have a tighter texture to begin with.

Time is 40 minutes at the appropriate pressure for your elevation.

Yes, this. Look for a "waxy" type potato... often sold for making potato salad. Dunno about the time... I haven't looked it up recently.

Summerthyme

 

[20Gauge]

SE GA

 

[Freeholder]

Was talking to a friend today (she was returning my post pounder, which she’d borrowed) and she mentioned that her next-door neighbor will sell parts of cows when he has enough people to split one. So I asked her to find out what a quarter or a half would cost, and when he gets enough customers lined up to take a whole steer, we’ll fill our freezers. I will can some, too - I do like canned red meat. I could also have asked the guy who runs the cows in the pasture that wraps around our place. But one way or the other, we should have meat.

Kathleen

 

[homecanner1]

Thank you for that tip on using the canning ring to cut out the hamburger patty, so it fits. Clever.

I've pressure canned spaghetti sauce with ground beef and it really was overcooked, too soft, not enough texture that I like. I now prefer a marina sauce (onions, green pepper, celery etc) and just add fresh meat but that is assuming there will be supply! Patties in broth sounds nice for a casserole of Salisbury 'steaks' in winter and as an refrigeration free option to try and add it to sauce

Remember you can do your canning outside over a fire if galley kitchen space in an apartment is an issue. Some LDS stakes have a communal kitchen you can arrange to use.

10 Tips for Canning Over a Wood Fire - Modern Homesteading Off Grid - An American Homestead

I guess wood fire canning is pretty uncommon these days, but we decided to try. Like everything els

anamericanhomestead.com

I've done peaches, pears, made applesauce, apple butter, orange marmalade for decades. I never considered canning orange wedges themselves rather than turning into a preserve first. I tried it as an experimental batch and they turned out superb (using a bit of orange juice in the recipe I tried ) Have to remove all the pith.

They look similar to this, these are not mine but that is exactly how they turned out. I got 4 smallish/medium size oranges per big jar. The peel was candied, sugared and saved also. I do that on a baking sheet in low oven. And that is why my pizza pans are some of my most important possessions. I dry herbs on them for 6 wks every summer on the dining room table too, not just for pizza or baking holiday cookies.

As for our fearless leader Dennis, we know kitchen space is a challenge in his life right now! But he taught many of us from 98-99 the basics on food prep storage, shelving, timely rotation, dehydrating and so many other rock solid basics etc.

He was teased by national media for his expertise and leadership after Y2K. Today that is what I would call a damn fine pantry. And the mockers may not live to regret their foolishness. This was back when he had the storage space and racks for the full monty. CBS news photo archive. Goals:

 

[jward]

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

Indeed. Tis why I offered it as inspiration instead of an action plan. Dealing with, and creating more favorable, microclimates and growing conditions is a life time's study in itself- but "something is better than nothing" is my motto. : )