Weekly Prep Thread, July 23-29, 2006

[A.T.Hagan]

Well, it was a good prepping weekend even if my plans did go awry.

Friday I bought another trolling motor battery as part of our emergency lighting and to swap with the other battery on the fence charger. Saturday we made a Wally World run for canned goods and dry storage foods, more than two hundred bucks worth. It rained off and on all day today so I spent the morning repacking food into canning jars, vacuum sealing and labeling. The Avery Wizard for Word is great for this. Spent the better part of the afternoon putting it all away. The Dun Hagan food storage space is at a premium so I have to use it as efficiently as I can which makes for a lot of effort getting it all in and properly rotated.

Cleaned up the garden some more in between thunderstorms (it was a very boomery day). Nothing out there now but the peppers, eggplant, okra, the Swiss Chard that is valiantly struggling to hold on and the butternut squash that is winding down.

We're gathering a dozen or more eggs a day now and they haven't all come online yet.

How's it going for you folks?

.....Alan.

 

[theoutlands]

cleared some felled trees out of the goat-pen and burned them off y'day.

Bought more canned meats for the pantry. LdyH says the food stores are up to about a year, overall, without growing anything. Will be buying more of them over the next two days as they are on sale.

Goofed off today in a major way.

 

[Simple Man]

Topped off my hygiene and cleaning supplies, and replaced a few open and used items in the first aid kits.

Oldest son gave his bearded dragon to his cousin 2 weeks ago, and we got to sell off his tank and stuff this weekend. Wife also sold off 2 pieces of furniture, so we've put all that ca$h money to the side.

Been reading the "Have More Plan" again, and have been toying with the idea of ramping up my rabbit breeding again. Used to sell rabbits just cuz the kids loved rabbits, and I got to recoup some of my money that way. But this time around, I'm looking at meat production...

 

[Deena in GA]

A friend delivered a load of wood (pine) already cut into sections - all hubby and sons have to do is split it which is easy with the gas splitter.

Bought another 60 rolls of toilet paper. While we were in the store getting the tp we checked out a small buggy of stuff marked 90% off. There were votive candles in there for $.09 and a candle in a jar for $.19. Operating under the theory "you can never have too many candles", we bought every one.

Canned more peaches today and yesterday with tomatoes to be canned tomorrow. There will probably be pears to can this week too.

 

[Green Co.]

Our summer heat/showers humidity have doone in the garden. Okra & vine peaches are still looking good, but I tilled in the rest of the crops. Working on weed control until the fall plantings in Sep & Oct.

Alan, or anybody, ever try a late planting of corn? I should have about 80-90 days of good weather left...maybe the 'coon problems I've had in the past wouldn't be so bad...It just pains me to see all that good dirt remain fallow.

I did notice a new batch of three bunnies in the garden. Mama didn't eat much, but I may have to set the traps before I'm over run.

 

[LilRose8]

I noticed this morning that my pet food supplies and toilet paper are running low...a trip to the store is planned today to beef up those holes in the preps.
I have strawberries in the freezer that I will be making jam from later this week.

My preps have taken a hit this year due to the divorce and getting the house ready to sell....I have to find someplace to store all my preps and haven't figured that out yet.
Any suggestions?

 

[alpha]

I finished roofing the Turkey pen to keep out that %*&%* weasel and hunted down another old satellite dish mechanism to mount another 500 watts of solar panels. We too had thunderstorms all day Saturday, but Sunday provided another opportunity to thank God for not only the weather, but the wisdom to prepare.
I got to thinking about all the folks that talk about it but never do anything... I'm afraid I know where they'll all be when TSHTF.

 

[Inkywon]

Finally enough in bank to contact Water well drilling people and get our own well.
So will be calling them. Garden is bare Water supplier people said no outside watering. We are using our gray water for the okra though.
Got to get the greenhouse back in order, caulk ect
Finish topping off food supplies, We are at 5 months hoping for 7 months.
Order blade for hair clippers, order canner seal, order seeds.
Type a step by step instructions for what to do. If this or that happens.

 

[Deena in GA]

Alan, or anybody, ever try a late planting of corn? I should have about 80-90 days of good weather left...maybe the 'coon problems I've had in the past wouldn't be so bad...It just pains me to see all that good dirt remain fallow.

We've never tried a second crop of corn before, but this year hubby did plant a small area of it in both the regular garden and one of the raised beds - just to see if we'd get anything. It's been in for about two weeks now and only three plants have come up. I really think it's just too hot and dry (although we did water some) for anything to grow good.

 

[prudentwatcher]

I've hit the stores hard the last two weeks, using coupons and buying on sale, I've spent well over $200 on stuff. A good bit of that is fresh meat that was on sale for terrific prices, but there was also pasta, rice, olive oil, canned fruits and veggies, toilet paper, feminine supplies, shampoo, bottled water and the ingredients to make another batch of Jesse's scotch broth (I make a 16 lb version). Tomorrow is a trip to PetsMart to get more pet food. All the gas cans are full and have had Stabil added. We got a dolly and board to use to haul the generator around, so we won't have to move it by hand (sucker is heavy). It's too hot here to do much of anything, but I just can't set the a/c higher than 77 or I'm miserable. Not looking forward to the electric bills, especially since they just got permission to raise the rates.

 

[Simple Man]

Alan, or anybody, ever try a late planting of corn? I should have about 80-90 days of good weather left...maybe the 'coon problems I've had in the past wouldn't be so bad...It just pains me to see all that good dirt remain fallow.

The old timers here in East TN told me that you gotta have your corn in the ground by July 4th if you hope to see any of it, and you'd better use a quick growing hybrid. 1 year I did get a small patch in late like that. Think it was some burpee hybrid that had a 70 or 75 day maturity. Results were so-so, but I think it's cuz things started out too hot and dry, but I did get corn.

I'd be interested to know - if you do plant - what you planted and how well it grew.

 

[Green Co.]

Deena & Simple Man, thanks for the advise, but I think I talked myself out of planting. Remembering the 'coon problems with the last crop, & knowing the irrigation/time that would be required during our hot months of August & September, along with the fact that the wife just found some local, I think I'll just rest.

Simple man, I love your sig line, it so reminds me of me

 

[Cag3db1rd]

Went to Walmart in Tulsa, OK to price things-

cornmeal 5# 1.37
AP Flour 25# 4.94
Salt (3 for) 26 oz 0.99
Dry Milk 4# 8.87
Parmalat 1qt 1.48
Sugar 25# 10.96
Veg Oil 1 gal 4.86
Olive Oil 68 oz 16.52
Chkn lg qtr 10# 4.20
Rice 20# 3.98
Pinto Beans 20# 9.37
GV Flvrd drnk mx 0.10

Yes, I consider drink mix a prep food. No one wants to drink water for that long without some flavor.

 

[PilotFighter]

My second refund check from the IRS for a deduction they said I had coming, showed up in the mail yesterday, so I did a little spending, not much though. Picked up 2 new fishing poles. Another dozen DAC hams, several cans of tuna, tamales, roast beef and gravy, vienna suasages, and the little smoked sausages in the cans. Picked up 6 more bricks of 22 LR, and 8 more boxes of 3030 rounds. Going tomorrow to the feed stores and load up on a ton of extra feed for the animals, and a ton of extra seeds.

Oh and 5 boxes of Whoppers. Gotta have my Whoppers.

 

[blueberry]

Been canning sweet potatoes for the last few days. This was a first for me, so I tried a couple of different ways - some in chunks and the small ones were canned whole.

Got a good deal on canned chicken - it was on sale, and with coupons, the price was very low. With school just around the corner, many stores around here will put canning supplies on clearance to make room for school supplies - so I will start looking for good deals on canning lids. You just can't have too many canning lids..... or jars either!

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Picked up a bit of storage food today to cover the things that I didn't get last weekend. Wal Mart doesn't carry the peanut butter we like and I forgot to get the Hershey's Syrup. Some more white flour as well.

.....Alan.

 

[Jim in MO]

The wife just reminded me that the peaches and plums are ready so this weekend it looks like I get to help with canning and freezing those. I love her peach preserves and of course my middle son has been skimming the milk for the cream so I’ll be making peach ice cream as well.

 

[alpha]

Even though I'm collecting parts for another rack of solar panels, we can't afford the panels yet so we picked up another set of deep cycle batteries to add to the storage capacity of our system. Also picked up another 5 gals of diesel (up to $2.98/gal now) for the tractor (have 55 gals now). I'm continuing work on the water wheel since the cost/benefit ratio has been higher lately because of all the rain we've been getting. Fruit trees and berries are starting to peak so we've been freezing and dehydrating blueberries and bananas (in that order) while we wait for the peaches.
Firewood and hay is all in and waiting... waiting.

 

[Jmurman]

I need to buy and put up some more green beans and tomatoes. I still have some corn and beans left over from last year. I might just buy cans this time.

 

[Vere My Sone]

picked up a small all american canner at the flea market
supposedly for dh to sterilize queen insemination tools

don't usually make it over to the part of town where big lots is, but happened in there the other day

found a flat of del monte whole green beans for $.49 a can
they were just date stamped on the bottom instead of the top
sure wish it had been a case instead

dehydrated some more bread--mostly cinnamon

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Vere,

What will you be doing with the dry cinnamon bread? How will you be using it?

.....Alan.

 

[PilotFighter]

Local grocery ran a good sale on canned vegies starting today. Picked up 2 cases of french style green beans, 2 case of carrots, 2 cases of corn, 2 cases of english peas, and 1 case of canned potatos. It was a ton of canned vegies for under $30. Then got 40 boxes of mac and cheese for .20 cents a box. 100 count box of tea bags was going for .59 cents a box, with what I bought a few weeks ago and this evening, I should have enough tea bags now for a few years. Also have 4 new Red Bourbon poults now. Lost one yesterday. Have 2 more pipped tonight.

 

[Vere My Sone]

Well now Alan...
That's a good question

I've read where you can steam dry bread to make it usable
And I know people who use dry bread to make a dish with eggs and milk
Of course, ds likes it just as it is
I figure, when push comes to shove, we'll figure out some way to use it, if needed

anyway, it's something I can do, put it up, and it will last a while
and, considering I have NO money with which to prep, maybe it just makes me feel better to know I'm doing SOMETHING every time I read these threads about all of yall and all the prepping you're doing

 

[Dinghy]

My hubby just got me 6 cases of canning jars at yard sales this morning!!! Some stores have canning jars and lids on sale this week, and I got 6 boxes of lids for $1.19 each. I bought more Tang packets and have added a few odds and ends. It doesn't look like our garden is going to be very productive, so I'll be watching the sales really close!

 

[LeafyForest]

Also got some canning jars and pkgs of lids at a yard sale this week - 10 cents a piece. The biggest item I got this week was another box of 1200 paper plates for $12. - which makes 1 cent a piece. In the regular stores they have gone up to 1 and 1/2 cents a piece so was glad to get them in bulk at Sam's Club. Also got 6 cans of Spam, mac and cheese at 28 cents a piece and Winco still has good canned veggies at 40 cents each. My problem is that I have run out of room to store anything at all - have several boxes in the middle of the floor in the den that I have to find storage for???? Any ideas????