Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: August 21~27, 2022

[WanderLore]

That's true about the Amish. However they all have lots of different birds in the yard. Chickens turkeys guineas geese ducks etc plus the dogs. So hopefully that takes care of that problem somewhat

 

[summerthyme]

Summerthyme you are not weird, you are just a rare woman. And I mean that in the most positive way. You have helped many people with the wealth of knowledge that you have.

Awww... I'm blushing! I thank you... I know I've been blessed with a very interesting life that has taught me many varied things... I'm happy to be able to share the knowledge. I've always said my main strength is a good memory, so I only make mistakes once!

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Our big Sam's order was just delivered. The rest of it is coming tomorrow. I'll be glad when all my seeds come in, too.

I've been looking through a new Blair catalog that I just received in the mail. I haven't ordered from them in a while but am considering ordering some clothing from them. All the stores I usually shop in town have all gone to trashy styles, and I'm tired of going everywhere trying to find something I like that will fit. With this catalog, it's free shipping on all orders, and they have my size in just about everything.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Well, I knew Cary was outside doing something with his big tiller. I thought he was going to till up the back garden spot to sow turnip seed, so I didn't think too much about it. He just came in the house and wanted me to come see. OMG! He's done tilled up the whole back side of our property and sowed late purple hull peas, and part of the area in turnips! He said he was bored!!!!!

 

[WanderLore]

Son has to work 90 hours this week. So I'm at his place I mowed an acre with the push mower grass was extremely high holy smokes

 

[summerthyme]

Well, I knew Cary was outside doing something with his big tiller. I thought he was going to till up the back garden spot to sow turnip seed, so I didn't think too much about it. He just came in the house and wanted me to come see. OMG! He's done tilled up the whole back side of our property and sowed late purple hull peas, and part of the area in turnips! He said he was bored!!!!!

Ouch... I hope he stays bored enough to keep up with the weeds! Planting is the easy part!

Summerthyme

 

[nomifyle]

So our power went out for two hours. The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come out and bamb, off the lights went. We decided not to start the generator. I think all the heat we endured back in June might have toughened us up a little bit. we ate cheese and crackers and then DH took a nap. I was reading Patriots by James wesley rawls. I haven't gotten very far into it and I also have subsequent books of his.

Now I want a nap.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Ouch... I hope he stays bored enough to keep up with the weeds! Planting is the easy part!

Summerthyme

I'm gonna remind him how bored he is when it comes time to weed it!

 

[Barb]

My daughter brought me a fresh Colorado peach this morning and it was so good. She is canning peaches this evening.

 

[briches]

I had a doctor appt this afternoon so ran “into town”. While there I ran into Costco and topped us off more on some vitamins (multi and calcium) as well as acetaminophen and naproxen. I also got turmeric, black pepper, and two more bug things of Folger’s coffee.

I had a credit for five below and got ten pairs of socks. It was hard finding something practical and useful in that store, but figured it would be fine to tuck them away.

On the way home, I stopped at a family dollar (rarely go in there), and got a couple things of Jergens lotion (shelf said $3.75 but rang up $4.35), dish sponges (shelf said $1 but rang up $2.35), dish detergent, pasta (2), and some spices for my son. The cashier was friendly and did honor all the posted prices and was apologetic. I know they are doing all they can to keep up.

Amazon order of the large 32oz shampoo and conditioner arrived today along with the battery operated lanterns (with batteries).

I’m not sure why, but I’ve felt the urge even more so recently to keep working my lists.

Slow and steady. I’m trying.

 

[WanderLore]

Hike with kids group tomorrow. Probably be last of the year. Work on making fire, cooking, shelter building. Identify trees and edible plants. Got to get these littles hooked on prepping at a young age!
Probably go over field medicine too. Always good refresher.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've got my canner going again this morning. More ground beef. I'm gonna start laying in dry pintos, limas, and black-eyed peas when I get back to the grocery store. I don't have a single bag of dry beans/peas in storage. I'm going to can them, since Cary said he thinks they will taste just like the ones in cans from the grocery store. He hasn't liked them too much when I've cooked them in the past. I guess he thinks canning them will change the taste.

We're still getting rain. A slow rain, and it's doing our gardens good. I think I can see my lettuce beginning to come up. It's either that, or weeds. Something is coming up, anyway. I can hardly wait to see how well all these peas are going to come up and do. Gosh, if they make, I'm gonna be busy this fall. I stopped planting peas, because they were so much work. Now, Cary has planted the whole 1/4 backyard in them! He used some old seed that has been in the freezer for several years, so they might not germinate or do any good. We'll see.

 

[nomifyle]

Cool but no rain this morning, although rain is predicted for the next 10 days. Its also humid. I just looked at my watch to see what day it is, its Wednesday.

Yesterday I was looking around for my electric bill, no where to be found. I called the electric company and they said I'd been on no paper bill since December. And I said absolutely not, I always want my paper bill. Watch your bills to make sure you get a paper one if you want one. I pay online for my convience, not theirs. I have a computer for my convience, not theirs. Just like having a phone, its for my convience not anyone elses.

 

[paxsim2]

The contractor just left, I've worked with him before so I'm pleased he's wanting this job. It's a big one.
5 jars of relish done and cleaned up for storage. I could have used 1 more cucumber but it's all good.
Did a pickup order for tomorrow mostly fill in stuff. Grits and oatmeal. I need to fill my glass containers and get them stored.
Stay safe everyone! Love this place!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've been rethinking our breakfast storage foods. I don't have any grits or oatmeal stored. I'd like to do some of that. Can I just store it in glass canning jars, or will it need to be vacuum sealed with O2 absorbers to keep it fresh? I've got plenty of canning jars, but no O2 absorbers.

 

[skwentnaflyer]

I've been rethinking our breakfast storage foods. I don't have any grits or oatmeal stored. I'd like to do some of that. Can I just store it in glass canning jars, or will it need to be vacuum sealed with O2 absorbers to keep it fresh? I've got plenty of canning jars, but no O2 absorbers.

It does get rancid fairly quickly.
Worse, I've been reading that it's not a good idea to feed it to chickens, something about the lignins in it slowing down egg production.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229965802_Comparison_of_normal_and_low-lignin_hullhigh-oil_groat_oat_as_energy_sources_for_broiler_chicks

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oats are not widely utilised in poultry rations. The principal reason for this is their high fibre content. Fibre is not very digestible by poultry and its presence impairs the digestibility of energy and other nutrients. A new low-lignin hull/high-oil groat (LLH/HOG) oat was developed recently and the present study was conducted to determine its nutritional value for poultry.RESULTS: In experiment 1, gain of broiler chicks fed the control was higher (P < 0.01) than that of birds fed normal oat. Gain and intake of birds fed LLH/HOG oat were superior (P < 0.01) to those of birds fed normal oat. Feed conversion (FC) was higher for birds fed the control than for birds fed normal oat (P < 0.01), while FC for birds fed the control and LLH/HOG oat did not differ (P > 0.05). FC was better for birds fed LLH/HOG than for birds fed normal oat (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, weight gain (P < 0.01), feed intake (P < 0.01) and FC (P = 0.07) declined as the level of LLH/HOG oat in the diet increased.CONCLUSION: Feeding LLH/HOG oat to broilers improved weight gain and FC compared with feeding normal oat. These results give a strong indication that LLH/HOG oat is superior to normal oat as an energy source for poultry. However, despite improvements in chemical composition, LLH/HOG oat is still inferior to wheat for use in broiler rations. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry

 

[nomifyle]

I've been rethinking our breakfast storage foods. I don't have any grits or oatmeal stored. I'd like to do some of that. Can I just store it in glass canning jars, or will it need to be vacuum sealed with O2 absorbers to keep it fresh? I've got plenty of canning jars, but no O2 absorbers.

I had a large glass jar of oatmeal in the cabinet. I got it out to use some and it was nasty with something. So from that time I vacuum seal my oats and grits.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Glad I asked! I'll just get a few boxes of each for the freezer then. Thank ya'll!

 

[Dinghy]

I've been rethinking our breakfast storage foods. I don't have any grits or oatmeal stored. I'd like to do some of that. Can I just store it in glass canning jars, or will it need to be vacuum sealed with O2 absorbers to keep it fresh? I've got plenty of canning jars, but no O2 absorbers.

I just vacuum sealed some of mine in jars, no 02 absorbers. In the past I have just sealed them in food saver bags.

 

[Dinghy]

I had a large glass jar of oatmeal in the cabinet. I got it out to use some and it was nasty with something. So from that time I vacuum seal my oats and grits.

Freeze them for a few days. They can get pantry moths. I had a container in my kitchen that got crawly bugs and webs in it. Ever since, I freeze them the same as flour.

 

[Dinghy]

I’m so excited I had to post this. My daughter entered a jar of my jalapeños in their fair this week. I didn’t know she was going to do it until the day she was taking them in. First time anything of mine has ever been entered, and I never expected to win anything. She won a couple ribbons too, but I don’t know the details yet. She’s big into canning, and now freeze drying, so I’m really happy for her.

 

[moldy]

I keep meaning to do entries for the fair, but I just get too busy. Today I canned the last of the potatoes we dug, blanched corn to freeze dry, and tried to clean up for campers and get the cobwebs out of the portapotty. I still need to pick broccoli and sort apples.

 

[WanderLore]

Hike. 1 mile hike in. Bushy forest. Everyone packed up.
Made our camp on waters edge. Fire, cooking, boys made lean to twig shelter with floor. Used machete to clear camp area. Discussed trees and bushes and noxious stuff. All kinds of fun.
Everyone filthy exhausted and hungry when we hiked out. Best part is they LOVE it.

 

[skwentnaflyer]

I keep meaning to do entries for the fair, but I just get too busy. Today I canned the last of the potatoes we dug, blanched corn to freeze dry, and tried to clean up for campers and get the cobwebs out of the portapotty. I still need to pick broccoli and sort apples.

I think you have a story, too? You mentioned a while back that you didn’t have time to post, and so I was kinda watching for it...

 

[skwentnaflyer]

Hike. 1 mile hike in. Bushy forest. Everyone packed up.
Made our camp on waters edge. Fire, cooking, boys made lean to twig shelter with floor. Used machete to clear camp area. Discussed trees and bushes and noxious stuff. All kinds of fun.
Everyone filthy exhausted and hungry when we hiked out. Best part is they LOVE it.

Start em young, so it’s normal and natural

 

[moldy]

That was last Wed or Thursday. Ww picked and processed enough apples to make 150 gallons of cider. I'm still a little sore!

 

[paxsim2]

I have grits that are past the date about a year that i just used and they were fine. The instant and 5 minute grits keep better than the long cooking ones. I empty them into glass jars and they keep well. I do freeze them 3 days before I put them up.

 

[skwentnaflyer]

Well, went out to check on my garden after the hail storm last night......the cantaloupe vines look really beaten down. Don't know if they will perk back up??

They have a total of 12 melons after I picked the one which was big. It is still slightly green, but will, I'm sure, be much better than store bought.

It was not only hail last night, but a drenching down pour of rain......nothing can be done in the garden until it dries up some.

Man!! My neuropathy in my feet from my back being so messed up is KILLING ME TODAY!!! FEELS like someone is sticking red hot BIG NEEDLES in my toes and in between them!! Sometimes it is all I can do to get back to the RV from tje garden.....about 100 yards.

Today I have done NOTHING, but check the garden and feed the animals and it is REALLY HURTING!!!

Could use some prayer if you could spare a minute.
Sorry to be a wimp and complain.......

This could be a possibility for you also. Screenshot from a cancer treatment group. I've heard of using capsicum for migraines, same principle, depleting substance P.

 

[nomifyle]

I have grits that are past the date about a year that i just used and they were fine. The instant and 5 minute grits keep better than the long cooking ones. I empty them into glass jars and they keep well. I do freeze them 3 days before I put them up.

i didn't eat grits for years and years because I do not/did not consider them healthy. I am however eating them now from time to time. I have both the instant in packets and quick grits.

 

[ioujc]

This could be a possibility for you also. Screenshot from a cancer treatment group. I've heard of using capsicum for migraines, same principle, depleting substance P.

This may very well work!!
I have used pepperizine extract before (extract of black pepper) and it was very helpful for my arthritis. This was before the neuropathy was so bad......I would imagine that red pepper would also work.....even better!! Thank you for that idea. I will find some an try it out. Thank you again!!

 

[ReneeT]

Prayers offered for your son, Wanderlore; that he gets through his work week safely - and gets enough sleep! Is the kids' group the 4-H group, or a different group? I'd love to send my grandsons over to hang out with the group (and I'd help!), but I'm betting it'd be a long drive

I was pretty toasted by the time I got home yesterday afternoon - tried to nap before I went in to work but that was a no-go; went to co-worker Buddy's house (same town as work and doc) and tried to grab a couple hour nap after work/before my ortho appointment but couldn't fall asleep - probably had something to do with the 5000 mcg B-12 that I washed down with a cup of coffee about 5 am but at least it got me safely through the appointment and trip to Aldi and Rural King afterwards. Heck - I even remembered to carry in the groceries and fill hummingbird feeders after I got home! I ended up having a standing knee x-ray which showed that that the knee was bone on bone on that side; got steroid shot to the knee that will get me through vacation at least; then will talk to him about taking the Euflexxa shots again. He told me knee replacement was in my future, but that we could fend it off for a while. I figure that once I retire there may be less abuse to the knees, so maybe that can put it off even longer.

I'd planned to go to the pool today with the neighbor lady, but I need to pick beans again, and I'm betting I could get one or the other done, but not both 'cause I'm still a little achey. I'll pick and wash them, then leave them for Hubby to snap while he watches TV tonight. I may prep them for the canner tomorrow before I go in to work, then let him can them. I need to wash down the porch (whose idea was it to plant grapes on the west porch to help block the sun, anyway?! Oh yeah, mine....) but Hubby said no because he's afraid I'll slip and fall. I'll just steal the younger grandson after the football game Saturday and turn him loose with the hose - I'll give him 5 bucks to wash the porch, and another 5 bucks to wash my van; he'll think he's rich

Well, the leaves on the grapes are dry, so I guess it's safe to go out and pick beans. Take care all; stay safe out there!

 

[ReneeT]

Oh - oatmeal and other grains - for use within 6 months, I vacuum seal them in generic food saver bags and put them in metal tins (I frequently find holiday tins at the Sallies, etc...); they may last longer than 6 months, but I rotate them so haven't had any issues. For longer storage, I keep them in the freezer in zipper freezer bags.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

For longer storage, I keep them in the freezer in zipper freezer bags.

This is what I'll do. I just want some on hand to eat from time to time, since neither oatmeal nor grits are something we eat every day. Adding a bit of variety is all. I always buy the instant oatmeal and grits in the variety flavor boxes. They should keep for as long as I need them to in the freezer.

I got my canning all done and put away for this week. I added another case of ground beef to my stash of canned meats. My second Sam's order came late, yesterday, and I was able to add another 8 cans of roast beef, also, along with other storage foods.

Wouldn't you know it?!!!! Went ahead and planted the mustard, turnips, and lettuce thinking all our hot weather was over. NO! It's supposed to be 102 with heat index, tomorrow! That's going to stunt it all I'm sure, since all of it is already up. We have plenty of seeds, so we may have to replant, later. I'm determined to have me some fresh greens!!!

I've been cleaning house and doing laundry, today. With all the rain, I've waited about doing the laundry, until I could hang them outside. Today is sunny, so I had a lot to do. With my dental problems and the ear infection, I didn't do any house cleaning. I have been going like a gangbuster this morning.

 

[nomifyle]

We went to Wednesday night prayer meeting at church last night. No one was even talking about how high the prices are on everything. One wife was saying her husband only eats meat and potatoes, no vegetables. He'll hunt and fish to sustain his appetite.

The pastor was talking about their annual trip to the smokies in October. His wife, who is a pediatric NP, was talking about the young mothers in teen challenge that don't have the money to buy necessities. She would like to see people making donations.

Some one else was talking about another fund raiser.

I wonder if these nice folks have a full pantry. If I asked they would say yes, but what my definition of a full pantry is probably not their definition of it. My one friend that knows what my pantry is thinks I'm excessive. Although she has gone from buying a couple of cans of something to buying a flat of that item. I'm sure she doesn't have more than one flat of say corn.

I placed an online order for wm this morning, maybe it will come when DH is not at the house because he will say something about it.

 

[briches]

Bumping this one as they keep getting mixed up

 

[WanderLore]

Been taking the boys out in the deep woods since they were 2 and 3. They are 10 and 8 now.
I started the hike group "Genesis 1", two years ago when they moved out here, to give them a little social circle with other homeschoolers. We have a green shirt and tag and get patches etc plus little work book my sister made for all the kids. Haversacks she made too.
This is different from the 4-H group. I'd rather do the hike group any day.
Boys are proficient at fire, cooking, various fire starting with flint and steel and at least 3 other ways. Safety is biggie. But if they can't go out in the woods and be a savage, they won't become fearless.
We do a lot of everything in the woods. Through all 4 seasons. Just whatever you can think of.
I teach Creation NOT evolution. Hence the group name and everyone knows the first verse in the bible!

 

[briches]

Happy Friday all! I for one am ready for the weekend. I need to relax a bit from the work week.
I hope everyone here has a wonderful day and fantastic weekend.

 

[ioujc]

Been taking the boys out in the deep woods since they were 2 and 3. They are 10 and 8 now.
I started the hike group "Genesis 1", two years ago when they moved out here, to give them a little social circle with other homeschoolers. We have a green shirt and tag and get patches etc plus little work book my sister made for all the kids. Haversacks she made too.
This is different from the 4-H group. I'd rather do the hike group any day.
Boys are proficient at fire, cooking, various fire starting with flint and steel and at least 3 other ways. Safety is biggie. But if they can't go out in the woods and be a savage, they won't become fearless.
We do a lot of everything in the woods. Through all 4 seasons. Just whatever you can think of.
I teach Creation NOT evolution. Hence the group name and everyone knows the first verse in the bible!

AWESOME!!
THANK YOU!!!
There is a GREAT NEED for this, and Boy Scouts, like my beloved Girl Scouts, no longer teaches character and values. What a fantastic idea for a homeschool group!!

 

[ioujc]

Yesterday I was so tired I couldn't even write about my day!!

I harvested the largest cantaloupe. It was DEVINE!!! It stayed on the vine until it was completely RIPE. It tasted like how I remember cantaloupes used to taste......not like the ones picked green in the store! Juicy, deep orange and was SOOOO SWEET! We ate half for breakfast yesterday.....WE being my 9 month old Doxie and I. He LOVES MELONS!!! He has had watermelon from the store and now, the delicious cantaloupe from the garden.

UNFORTUNATELY, we are NOT the only ones who are loving the melons.......2 does came up out the woods headed for the garden!! 2 of the smaller cantaloupes have been eaten.....leaving only the rind. Now I know what happened to them....I knew it wasn't rabbits, the teeth marks were too big. Well, I do plan on hunting this fall and filling up the freezer...AFTER I get everything in both of them canned. Trying to wait for cooler weather so that I won't die from the heat!!

There is a new development in my aging process, I am becoming weak. I REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT!! I have always been very strong.....even the Physical Therapist said my arms are very strong. I am not sure what is happening.....
I start shaking and can hardly manage to get the things done that HAVE to be done!

I don't know if it is my blood sugar dropping out the bottom......after 4 hours every day in the garden and the heat, it COULD well be that!! Or if I am getting sick....I have had a sore throat and my ear hurts quite a bit, or if at 69 years and 9 months I am just "losing it.'

I DO KNOW I am NOT going to let this continue!!! I guess I will get my weights out and start exercising again!!! I used to be able to bench press 100 pounds and I only weighed 116 pounds! Boy, those were the days!!!! DANG IT!!! I guess we all get old......BUMMER!

Finished planting the potatoes and continued to tie up tomatoes, as well as water, weed and planted some more peas. Waiting to plant the Brassicas and root crops until after Labor Day week end.....

 

[Digger]

I canned another canner of purple hull peas. I gave some watermelons away to friends. There are more than I can eat.

At some point, somewhere on this board, the Hungry Jack dehydrated hashbrowns were mentioned. I had been looking for them each time I thought about it in the stores. I finally found some in our Walmart Neighborhood Market. I bought 2 little cartons to try. They turned out really good. We like them better than frozen hashbrowns. We discussed buying a bunch of little boxes. But I used to order from Emergency Essentials, so I looked there. They had #10 cans of hashbrowns on sale for just under $11. The cost per ounce is close to the price of the paper cartons at that price. I ordered 6 cans of hashbrowns and 2 cans of chopped onions. The cans will store easier and longer.