Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: May 3 ~ 9, 2020

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Hope the beginning of this week finds you all doing well...

The weather and I are not getting along out here on the farm - more rain last night leaving standing water in all three gardens has me wondering if I'm ever gonna get in the gardens to plant....then I look at the calendar and remember that it's still early May and think maybe I just need to chill :lol:

I did go back to the small local nursery yesterday and some more plants - most are for other people: sis in law, best buddy, etc... but I did get a couple for myself - don't know how I forgot to get San Marzanos and Amish paste for canning tomatoes with my earlier order. Got good news that the Farmer's Market is a go for the season; and that she did grow some yellow beets this year to see how they would sell - I'm not picky on the color of the bulb when I'm buying them for greens, but I only like the yellow beets to eat; they are sweeter and don't taste like dirt :lol:

So, plans for today:

*Dig up the two small maple trees that are growing up in one of the flower bed and plop 'em into pots for a bit until it's a good time to plant the in the front yard - we lost one of our two big maples back in 2012; the other one this past year. Both were planted by my parents when they moved to this farm 62 years ago, so it was a bit emotional for me to watch them be cut down, but finding the two sprouts in the flower bed brightened my day - hopefully in 50 years or so my grandsons will point out the two big maple trees in the front yard and tell their grandchildren that the trees are descended from trees planted by their great-great grandparents :)

*Dig up the bee balm in that same flower bed and put the clumps to rest for a bit in some containers; then lay down cardboard or black plastic to kill the weeds before I till that bed and replant the bee balm.

*Take the boys on a walk around the farm, take some scavenger hunt sheets with us along with some bags to collect leaves, etc... to ID when we get back home.

*Weed 2 flower beds and put down more mulch.

*See if the black dots (tadpoles) in the stock tank are growing any legs yet :)

*Put mulch down on the back side of the compost piles - if it's not too wet to haul it in the Mule.

*Do a little work in the shed and see if I can find more junk to throw away - I'm paying for trash service; might as well make it worth the price!

Dang, I'm wore out already just making the list - reckon I'd better get to work and get some of it done!

Take care all; stay safe and sane if you can!
 

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We are having at or near record high temps here for the last couple weeks and the same is predicted to continue for the next ten days at least. Fine with me though I do expect freezing temps to return. Hope I am wrong about that.
Wife has her strawberries thinned out and now besides the raised bed we also have a large patch of strawberries near the apple trees. The apple trees all have buds on them! The raspberries are starting to leaf out. The blueberry bushes appear dead.
Late last summer we had some store bought potatoes that went bad before we used them so I planted them. Sure enough they grew and had little potatoes under them in the fall. Too small to use so I left them in the ground. As I expected now we have new potatoes starting to come up there. If they do not freeze off we should get an early crop from them.
Though it is warm here we are a little afraid of planting our garden yet. Last year we were still getting freezing temps the first week of July.
Our neighbors asked if we wanted more raspberry bushes because they want to thin theirs out. I think I might get some and plant them in a couple different spots on our property and see if we can get several patches started in scattered spots. I think the elk will likely leave them alone though I know rabbits like to eat the new shoots.
On week eight of isolation.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Our tomato plants are getting big and had lots of blooms, but the harsh weather a few days apart knocked the blooms off, so it will be later rather than sooner we'll have tomatoes. We planted 6 or 7 weeks ago. My two eggplant plants look piteful. Cuckes are looking pretty good, green bean plants have a few little beans on them, the squash plants have blooms.

We lost one of our grown billy goats. He was one of the three wild ones that came around here last summer. DH is pretty sure our big big mean billy goat probably hurt him so much that he died, he was way off in the woods. Sad, his name was Junior, RIP.

Judy
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Not much of anything going on here today. I'm certainly looking forward to a fun day out on the town tomorrow, though. It's been two months, since I went out into town shopping. The only place I've gone was to Dollar General for a "snatch and grab" run. I have no idea what to expect. I'm prepared to go to Walmart and several different grocery stores if I have to to get all the items on my list. Hopefully, Sam's will be back in stock of everything I need there. I've got to fill all the holes in my pantry, and stock even more of everything. The only disappointing factor will be that our favorite Mexican restaurant is still closed to sit down meals. We usually eat there after a long shopping day, before we head back home. We still have to wear masks when in public here, so will continue to do that, plus we are gonna be wearing gloves as well.

Will also be going by the nursery to pick up tomato plants, potting soil, cucumber seed, and more squash seed. I've still got plenty of green bean, pea, lima bean, and corn seeds. It was too wet and cold for me to have an early spring garden, so I've missed having fresh salads to eat. I have radish seed along with loose leaf lettuce, green onions, and mustard seed for the spring planting. It's finally stopped raining, and warm temps are here to stay!

I'm so glad that we didn't get around to taking up all of our raised beds last year. We never thought we would be able to garden again, but with what's coming, we may have to crawl around on the ground to get it done, but we will do our best.
 
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tech

Veteran Member
Tomatoes doing well, but it'd be nice if they would turn. Peas are blooming, canaloupes are setting, corn breaking thru and asparagus is about ready to go to seed (first year).

Wife got the kitchen freezer defrosted and we took inventory while at it.

Life is good :)
 

WanderLore

Veteran Member
4 hours in garden areas today and piddling. Got more planted and cleaned up. Its a lot of work this time of year, but with any success, there will come a time of sitting by the gardens watching plants produce!
 

ginnie6

Veteran Member
did nothing here today. Tomorrow is a new day though. Gonna put out a few more spaghetti squash seeds and start a few more tomatoes. We lost a few in the storms last week. Then I need to can some beans. Dd did kidney beans last week while I did potatoes. Now I need to get black beans, pintos, and maybe some baked beans done. I also need to clean the laundry room and organize it so I know what pantry items I have in there. We won't be going anywhere this week as we've been in contact with dd's boyfriend who tested positive Friday. I even organized my quart jars by wide mouth or regular. Guess I'll get the pints done next.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Today we went to walmart, DH needed something and I went along for the ride. As I wandered around walmart looking for something I might need, there was not much I could think of. So since DH has been putting the frozen vegetables in the dehydrator I bought more to dehydrate. And I got ice cream, picked up another case of 1/2 gallon canning jars, I've got crackers that need to be vacuum sealed. I also bought a George Foreman single serve grill for $15.

Last night I cooked those Smithfield pork riblets, big pan in the oven and two large crockpots, lots of meat. It was to die for. We can't eat it all before it would spoil in the fridge, so lots of it will go in the freezer. It was so good we stopped by savealot and I bought the last box they had. I paid just under $15 for ten pounds, the cashier said they have had them on sale in the past for $9. And actually I got the ice cream there and four cans of pineapple slices to dehydrate.

Judy
 

prudentwatcher

Veteran Member
Stopped by Publix to pick up a few things. Got some canned beans, some salsa (BOGO), some flour tortillas (BOGO), some cereal (BOGO), some granola bars (BOGO), peanut butter (BOGO), milk, bread, eggs (back to a normal price), and some baking mixes. They only had Charmin toilet paper, but did have four or five kinds of paper towels. They also had Lysol wipes, packs of 3 containers, the first I've seen in a couple of months. Bought a package of those. Still have some big holes in canned veggies, soups, pasta, rice, dry beans and baking products and in cleaning supplies. Had enough to get a $50 gas card for $40. At my current rate of gas use, that is two months plus of gas :)
 

moldy

Veteran Member
DH picked me up some produce from the local grocery: lettuce, cabbage, celery, baby carrots, 1 grapefruit, 2 oranges, 2 limes, 3 potatoes, 4 apples, 1 mango, 4 bananas... I think that's it... for $15. He got 2, so that will hold us probably most of the month. I made grapefruit marmalade with some of the last ones - very yummy.

I worked today (and tomorrow and friday and saturday night), and teach on Tuesday. My other days off I need to plant more in the garden, pick up stuff lying around (tons of twine and trash that gets blown in) and do some cleaning.

Met with a client today - I need to advertise to get more, but I may wait on that for a bit. I also need to decide if I want to do any kind of canning classes this summer. I'm having some trust issues, so I might have to see if I can rent a church kitchen and restructure the classes to fit in that type of venue.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Moldy, its a good thing to be wary of people, sometimes its just so hard to know who to trust. There are only two maybe three people I really trust. My husband, my brother, and the new young pastor who is about two miles up the road. I don't know him very well but I just get a good vibe from him. My two sons on the other hand, well its kinda hard to trust someone who has no time for you. I certainly could not call them in an emergency because the rarely answer my calls.

Judy
 

moldy

Veteran Member
Unfortunately, Judy, I understand exactly what you mean. 2 out of my 4 kids I would not count on for help. The other 2 have significant others that I would trust more than my other 2 kids.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Same here, Judy. Our youngest son who has MS cut us out of his life completely right before last Christmas. We haven't heard a word from him since.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Gosh, it was so good getting to taste freedom again! We broke our isolation after 6 weeks, but it had been 2 months, since going shopping. I had a list of everything I needed to fill in the holes in the pantry. We donned masks and glove, and away we went!

Our first stop was at Sam's to get a car wash. After sitting for 2 months with all the pollen, it was awful. Yellow pollen covered the whole car even though it has been under the car port the whole time. Went on into Sam's. Didn't have to wait in line to get in. Store was fully stocked. Some items were low, but not out. Everyone, including the store workers were wearing masks. I saw a few people not wearing them. I managed to get everything on my list and then some. They only had limits on certain items. All meat was plentiful, except there was no pork, except for a few hams.

Next, we went to Walmart. No waiting in line to get in. No directing the herd with markers and directions on the floor. Was free to go anywhere in the store. Almost everyone there were wearing masks. It wasn't at all crowded, so practicing social distancing was not a problem. I got everything on my list there, except yeast and Lysol spray. Completely out of those. There was plenty of bacon, ground beef, steaks, roasts, etc. Chicken was in abundance, but there was no pork, except for the bacon, and 2 family packs of pork chops. I got those.

So, now my pantry is fully stocked again, and I'm going to be adding to my stock of food by using any storage space I can find. Right now, my pantry room is full. I have already started using the space against an empty wall in our bedroom to stack and store food. Under the bed is another good place. I have an outdoor storage barn that I can move non food items into if I have to.

We're going back into town tomorrow for a trip to Lowe's. I'm going to be buying more garden seed of all types for storage in the freezer. We have enough for this season. Cary needs to pick up some things there, too. He also wants to stop in at Harbor Freight for a new grinder.

All in all, we had a blessed day!
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
My van was so bad with pollen that I could hardly see out the windows, DH washed it a little at a time and when we took it to town on Sunday it looked pretty good. It could still use a good going through the car wash. After having gone to town 2 times in one week I don't feel so cooped up.

Our handy man came to day to work on fencing. He and DH are social distancing, no masks. I haven't seen him yet, but then I just got up about 1/2 an hour ago.

Judy
 

Cardinal

Chickministrator
_______________
Well, I am going through my food preps thanks to being unemployed and that unemployment comp not materializing as of yet.
I am grabbing as many free gardening books and aquaponics books off of Amazon and PanBear posts.
So I am filling my time with reading an notetaking.
I did want to get some container berry bushes from Sam's, but no $.
My chickens are getting big.
I have to laugh, out of five, only two are true bantams. The other two are barred rocks and I'm pretty sure one is a french silkie. Oh well, they all seem to be hens.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
My van was so bad with pollen that I could hardly see out the windows, DH washed it a little at a time and when we took it to town on Sunday it looked pretty good. It could still use a good going through the car wash. After having gone to town 2 times in one week I don't feel so cooped up.

Our handy man came to day to work on fencing. He and DH are social distancing, no masks. I haven't seen him yet, but then I just got up about 1/2 an hour ago.

Judy

My car was so bad that Cary had to wash the windshield, before he could see how to drive. Forget the side and back windows. We got a free carwash, though. The computer system was messed up at the carwash. The manager came over to see what our problem was, told us that we needed a wash so bad that he would give us one for free. He programed it in manually. Free is good!
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Well, I am going through my food preps thanks to being unemployed and that unemployment comp not materializing as of yet.
I am grabbing as many free gardening books and aquaponics books off of Amazon and PanBear posts.
So I am filling my time with reading an notetaking.
I did want to get some container berry bushes from Sam's, but no $.
My chickens are getting big.
I have to laugh, out of five, only two are true bantams. The other two are barred rocks and I'm pretty sure one is a french silkie. Oh well, they all seem to be hens.
There is a Barred Rock bantam... are yours a *lot* larger than the rest? Also, Silkies are definitely a true bantam, although they're a PITA if you want egg production... thry do lay (albeit not very well), but they go broody almost constantly.

Summerthyme
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Our temps are crazy this weekend! The cold front moves in Fri. The low for Saturday is 39! Sunday low 48! We've had Highs in the upper EIGHTYS all week! Northerners can expect SNOW! Crazy times we're living in!

It's the same for us. Temps almost reaching 90 every day, but the next several days, it's only going to be in the 60's or low 70's with overnight temps in the low 40's. One night, upper 30's with a chance of frost! Definitely weird weather for us. I'm glad I decided to wait about putting our tomato plants out!
 

Cardinal

Chickministrator
_______________
There is a Barred Rock bantam... are yours a *lot* larger than the rest? Also, Silkies are definitely a true bantam, although they're a PITA if you want egg production... thry do lay (albeit not very well), but they go broody almost constantly.

Summerthyme
Yes. I should take a pic. Although I thought maybe I got some hatched at different times, when I bought them they all looked the same size. Just growing at different rates. The two I am certain are banties are much smaller that the others.
 

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Our temps are crazy this weekend! The cold front moves in Fri. The low for Saturday is 39! Sunday low 48! We've had Highs in the upper EIGHTYS all week! Northerners can expect SNOW! Crazy times we're living in!
Frost here this morning.
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
Picked up a few more cans of veggies and a container of dried fruit. Not much in the scheme of things but it's adding up. Not even close to a year's or a winter's food for the family but we've enough to keep the wolf away from the door for a while.

I find it very calming to know there's a little put by. Insurance.

Some people think preppers prep out of fear. They don't understand or refuse to understand that many prep so we don't need to fear. There are people who can't understand the peace of mind and spirit that comes with doing what you can to prepare your home and family for emergencies and hard times. It is a gift knowing that barring a true crisis or disaster, we will not be dependent upon others or the government.
 
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Digger

Veteran Member
I have been adding to the garden. I still have a few things to get planted. I would like to have it finished this week.

I caught a swarm of bees in my swarm trap. I moved them to a hive a couple of days ago. The girls are bring in pollen, so I guess they are happy. Today I plan to open the hives I bought to check on them and add honey supers while I have the tops off. I have one more hive body, so i think i will put the trap back up.

We bought 2 more packages of bacon and one smoked sausage for the freezer. Kroger shelves were pretty well stocked,except toilet paper and yeast. There was Kroger brand TP, but not a lot. No yeast at all. Meat was limited but I don't remember the limits. T saw the sign in a frozen meat case. We did not buy from that case.

We got the hay field fertilized. We will be cutting in the next 2-3 weeks. Our night time temperatures are going to be in the low 40s later this week. That is cold for May in Arkansas.

I bought 100 pounds of chick starter yesterday. I didn't think to ask if they are having any issues getting feed. We go to a family owned feed store instead of one of the chain stores.
 
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nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I bought chick starter last month a the small privately owned store in the little town up the road. The prices seemed very reasonable. DH still doesn't get it about keeping a good supply of feed, but when the opportunity presents itself I buy extra. He's always fed his chicks oatmeal or something like that, which works, but I think the chick starter works better.

Judy
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We went to Lowe's this morning. Cary needed lawn and garden supplies. While I was waiting on him, I went to the garden and flower section. I bought 3 hanging baskets of begonias, and a nice potted plant for the front porch to go with my houseplants that I take out there for the summer. I wanted some hanging baskets of ferns for the back deck, but they were out. I knew I should have gone ahead and bought them while at Walmart Monday. Hopefully, they will still have some on my next trip. We also loaded up on all different kind of garden seed for next year. Better to go ahead and get them now in the case there's a shortage.
 

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
After 8-weeks of isolation, my wife really wanted to go grocery shopping in our closest small town. I was against going but I decided early on in our marriage to let her have her way 99% of the time (mostly because most decisions made little difference to me one way or the other).
So anyway we went to town this morning. It was very busy. Bought a whole lot of stuff but mainly all food, enough to refill our pantry. Forgot to cash or deposit our stimulus checks.
Grocery store was out of some things but shelves were mostly filled. About half the people had masks.
Now we will stay home again and hope we don't get sick. Virus is active in our small town.
Saw two dead elk along the road to town. Huge waste of meat(why don't people slow down).
 

ivantherussian03

Veteran Member
The local corporate airline went out of business. The bought up or drove the mom and pop airlines out of business. They were owned by L48 investors that ran up 90 million in debts, probably caused by all the crashes from in ill advised situations with unvetted pilots. Whole state is feeling the void. Mail is delivered once a week. Amazon orders once a month. Shouldn't complain mail was delivered every 6 weeks in old days.

I started peeling alder trees of their bark in order to smoke our salmon.
 

moldy

Veteran Member
Got some canning done and some garden beds prepped. We are putting carpet between the rows and using black landscaping fabric for the rows. We burn holes in it to plant pepper and tomatoes. I'm thinking g of leaving it in place and rotating the melons and cokes into that area next year. Making more tinctures and elderberry syrup too.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Squash is coming along nicely, but still haven't got our tomatoes planted. This cold spell is bringing us more rain, and frost is in our forecast!!!! We may break a record tonight. I'll have to cover my tender squash plants.
 
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