Posted on 03/23/2008 11:36:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Americans finding soaring food prices hard to stomach can battle back by growing their own food. [Click image for a larger version] Dean Fosdick Dean Fosdick
Home vegetable gardens appear to be booming as a result of the twin movements to eat local and pinch pennies.
At the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta this winter, D. Landreth Seed Co. of New Freedom, Pa., sold three to four times more seed packets than last year, says Barb Melera, president. "This is the first time I've ever heard people say, 'I can grow this more cheaply than I can buy it in the supermarket.' That's a 180-degree turn from the norm."
Roger Doiron, a gardener and fresh-food advocate from Scarborough, Maine, said he turned $85 worth of seeds into more than six months of vegetables for his family of five.
A year later, he says, the family still had "several quarts of tomato sauce, bags of mixed vegetables and ice-cube trays of pesto in the freezer; 20 heads of garlic, a five-gallon crock of sauerkraut, more homegrown hot-pepper sauce than one family could comfortably eat in a year and three sorts of squash, which we make into soups, stews and bread."
[snipped]
She compares the current period of market uncertainty with that of the early- to mid-20th century when the concept of victory gardens became popular.
"A lot of companies during the world wars and the Great Depression era encouraged vegetable gardening as a way of addressing layoffs, reduced wages and such," she says. "Some companies, like U.S. Steel, made gardens available at the workplace. Railroads provided easements they'd rent to employees and others for gardening."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
.We recently ran into an old friend we had lost touch with, who offered us all we could pick up from his yard. Even though others had picked up buckets full before, we found all we can use and more on the 10+ old trees in his yard. All are small to medium size, and NO paper shells. I think the older varieties taste much better than the paper shells. The smaller nuts take longer to pick out, but offer a superior flavor, higher percentage of good nuts, and stay good longer due to the thicker shell.
Today, I'm going back for more nuts, and have been invited to fish in his spring fed pond for crappie and catfish. Crappie caught during cold weather is the best tasting fish on this earth (that I've ever eaten). Ummmmmm, fried crappie, hush puppies, and fries. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
We are approaching the point that we have more pecans than we can use. A friends aunt always told us that having that bounty available and not taking advantage of it is a sin. Maybe it is. If there is anyone in the area that would like some, I'm in Tipton county, and would gladly share a few. Just freepmail me or respond to this post.
I'm a weirdo in that I'm allergic to most kinds of soaps and things that have a fragrance added. In the last 10 years I've thought maybe that was a gift from God so that I just have the plain stuff here in case of emergency. This is one of the reasons that I started growing so many fragrant plants! I love the scents but I'm not allergic to most of the plants in the natural. Except rosemary, too much rosemary makes me sneeze and break out if I rub it on my skin. This, I think, is part of my overall allergy as lots of rosemary is used as a base in many of the fragrant products. Oddly, I am also *very* allergic to eucalyptus. Makes my throat close up and wheeze. I guess I'm just backward.
I need to find that seed pretty soon to plant it in summer then. I just now remembered to go in the other room and put it on my list when I saw this post.
Since there are usually just a handful of each item that's how I've been using them. Depending on the amount of various things that I don't have enough to freeze or can a batch on it's own, I either make up a mess of pints or quarts of mixed dill pickles. With a couple of jalapeno's thrown in each jar. These are a favorite food of both my daughters so they think they've hit the motherlode right now. My youngest is on her way by now and she'll probably take a few quarts home with her. LOL
This is another of my youngest daughter's absolute favorite foods. The year I got all the green tomatoes she made a special trip to visit for the weekend. LOL - It's a 3 hour drive for her. The visit was nice, but I know it had a lot to do with knowing she'd get her fill of fried green tomatoes.
That's a funny story too! and one that anyone who cans or bakes can comprehend easily. LOL
Lloyd doesn't care for sandwiches for supper either. We don't have them very often but when we do he knows I'm either feeling really bad, or that I've been up to my elbows cooking something he'll get to enjoy later. ;-)
The new thing I have that pleases me is a juicer. Lloyd bought it for us last year and I have greatly enjoyed fresh fruit and vegetable juices from it. It's a pretty frivilous thing to me but I like it.
Ping from the Nascar to the garden thread!
I should see my uncle the radio wave guru later this week. I'll ask him then.
Hey, a BIG thank you for the rule of thumb on the jelly and jam without Surejell added. I get aggrevated because Sure Jell doesn’t keep well even if I do buy extra. I’ve got such a habit of just trying to make things without a recipe that sometimes I have to go back and re-do my jelly and add Sure Jell when it doesn’t set. Other times it sets just fine. It’s always kinda an iffy thing if I’m flying by the seat of my pants.
I always add a little lemon or citric acid for the acid and if I know something doesn’t have enough pectin I add some apple juice but that doesn’t always get it right for me. And the thing I hate about recipes *is* that they are usually for small batches. I know the “gurus of jelly making” say it’s better to do small batches but I always just have a batch of fruit and want to use the amount I have.
My daughter was just driving through and stopped to visit. She encouraged me to try making wine from this cantaloupe juice. LOL... probably end up with cantaloupe wine vinegar. Should make tasty herb vinegars. ROFL
Hard to believe WestCoastGal just pinged me to this thread a week ago. I love it here! And like you, I feel like I've hit the motherlode. People who actually think about and talk about the things I like to do!!!
I am emailing that link for Tennessee Gardening From UT to my daughter in northern Alabama. I think she'll be able to get some good ideas from there too. She's only 20 miles south of TN.
I am really honored to get to chat with you and the other folks here. Yes, we can still find the good people around. :-)
I grew up in a pecan bottom. We shelled 'em and froze what we kept. Sold a lot to get by through the winter. Before Ziplock bags sometimes we'd get freezer burn but after Ziplocks I've kept them for years in the freezer and they're still good.
My Grama used to put them in quart jars dry and process them in a water bath without the water covering the lids so the jars would seal. I don't know how long she processed them to get them to do that but it might be worth an experiment if you have too many for the freezer. These days I worry about the electricity going out and having no freezer so I'm trying to do everything I can without freezing. We have a generator but in a catastrophe will not be using it for long term things like the freezer. I've agreed to use other methods of storage for the "catastrophe stash."
My mom and dad still live in the pecan bottom but I didn't get any nuts from them this year. If I get time I should get some pecans from them and experiment with that "canning" method. Will keep you informed of that. Please let me know if you happen to try it.
LOL!
LOL I love it.... Somebody else who cooks like I do....
I think on a prior message someone questioned the legality of winemaking at home... Far as I know, it is perfectly legal to make up to 200 gal. for home use per year - I wouldn’t even come close to that.
Instead of the usual wine making, I tried something that I saw somewhere online - no fancy air lock, no special equipment, or anything. It uses juice, sugar and yeast in a 2 liter bottle with a balloon on top. I tried it once with apple juice. Worked great! I have one going now with Cran-Apple juice and 3/4 cup sugar (using about 1/8 tsp. of bread yeast) and have one working with peach puree. I am not a connoisseur of fine wine and do not really care for the dry types - prefer a sweeter wine, so it might be OK. The apple was great just a bit drier than I liked so increased the sugar by a quarter cup.
Will let you know how these batches work out.
Heh - my mom and dad and a neighbor across the street had a wonderful remedy for the squirrel prolem. They paid any kid who shot a squirrel a dime. :-) Back then a dime bought us a snack! :-)
Oh man! You are right about that crappie!!! I love fried crappie and haven't had it in years!!!
I have trouble following recipes. LOL Not because I can't read 'em... but because I always think, "but this and that would just make it *so* much better."
Here in Texas we can make wine at home all we want as long as we don't re-sell it. My younger daughter has a friend who has been to "wine making school" and is now starting his own winery. They've been encouraging me to try some winemaking with all that I do and the only reason I haven't done it is time. My other half here loves wine. He likes the drier ones while *if* I have any I too like the sweeter ones. I'm just not much of a drinker of anythign but water. But I'm going to try making some for him and for my own use in making jellies.
I do make a lot of wine jellies and herb jellies with a wine base. For many years my jellies have been my personal "thing" for gifts. Some of my friends and family have made it a point to tell me not to try to give them any other thing for gifting occasions. LOL
That said, I'm leading up to a question for you here. You have talked about some commercial experience and I need to find out what kind of licenses or whatnot I need to sell my jellies. The young friend of my daughter's has said that he would sell my jellies and homemade bread at his winery store. I just don't know if I have to jump through legal hoops to put a label on my jellies to sell 'em. Do you know anything about that?
Good old Orange Peel!
Last month when I did the once monthly basics trip to the grocery store they had 4 pound bags of navel oranges for $1.29 so, I bought some and my favorite way of eating them is to peel and eat the sections. But before disposing of the peels, I got this urge and so I diced them and put them in a pan with 3 cups of sugar cooked to about 220 degrees and let them sit for a few hours - then heated again since there was still some juice left. Well, we have been enjoying some really good candied orange peel. The sugar crystallized and it turned out great. Stored in zip-lock and everytime someone goes by it we have been eating a handful of candy... Mmmmm Mmmmm good.
Regarding your question on making and selling jelly and jam...
Texas is probably much different than Delaware, but here you now have to have an inspected and approved ‘certified commercial kitchen’ with attached dedicated restroom and hand washing station (kitchen sink won’t do) and doors to separate it from the rest of the house - nary a pet or plant anywhere in order to make anything you will sell for human consumption!!!!! Requirements are asinine!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is so bad that Delaware State College has set up a special kitchen that meets the requirements and they will rent it to you to produce your product - jam, jelly, bread - or even cookies if you want to send them to a church or school bake sale. Have you EVER heard of such #$%^&*(#$%^& government overbearing stu...... OK, you get the point...
Actually, I should spread a little rain on everyones parade - In most states it is illegal to sell, barter, exchange, or even GIVE any plant material (seeds have their own legislation and require germination testing too) without a special nursery license (free) but entails an inspection by the department of agriculture - Federal Gov’t is pushing hard for other states to follow their ‘Model’ legislation.
Since I have about 75 chickens, I have to register my flock location, number of birds, type of birds, breed of birds, what I intend to use them for, etc. too.
Grrrrrrrrr did you have to open that can of worms -
And I was having such a nice day too. (grin) But you did it sooo nicely, I will forgive you.
That rain is what I’ve been afraid of about marketing my jelly. That’s actually why I haven’t done anything about it in the 2 years since I got the offer. Just figured it’d be more trouble than it’s worth.
We do have a friend here locally who built a winery. The things he has to go through just to get the littlest thing - like a change on his label - are totally assinine. I wouldn’t have the patience for it.
Guess I’ll just stick to my old fashioned gifts. LOL
Yep, I know the feeling -
Hmmm We must all be worthless nothings...
Church says we are all sinners
Government says we are all criminals
Geesh lower than a snake...
Oh, careful on crafts - don’t dare sell them - don’t sew anything for any child 12 or under starting this Tuesday.
Of course they just granted an extension of 1 year for the ‘outside testing’ but they can still find you guilty if they decide to check you.
OK, pity party over - sinner/outlaw that I am - back to work at living. :-)
The greening disease spread by the pest could be a catastrophe for the $1.2-billion industry.
By Jerry Hirsch
January 26, 2009
State agriculture inspectors are stepping up their efforts to battle what they believe is an agricultural time bomb.
After discovering what's known as the Asian citrus psyllid in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego last week, the farthest north the bug has been found in the city, agriculture officials warned that the bug was rapidly moving north since crossing the Mexican border at Tijuana in July.
The pest is responsible for spreading citrus greening disease and causing catastrophic damage to orange farms in Florida and Brazil. Agricultural officials warn that the same disease could be a catastrophe for California's $1.2-billion citrus industry.LINK
Okay, howcome the don’t sew anything to a child under 12? I sew for my grandkids and 3 of ‘em are under 12.
signed,
outlaw wneighbor
I’m glad you found us :)
I actually found this when granny went missing. I’m glad we have her back and that this thread has become so useful. I along with everyone else have learned so much from the information posted here.
Thank you for finding my place. :D
We have a LOT of wind blowing today and a chance, a slim one, of rain.
I am so very thankful to you for linking me here from the NASCAR thread. With my limited time I don’t usually go browse for new topics. On my breaks I read some news, check out nascar.com and jayski and sometimes do some garden reading and recipe searching but that’s about my time limit. I love this thread and I’m sure you notice that I am loving Granny’s company also!
It’s so nice to be able to come here and “have a conversation” on my schedule. I don’t have to cut short my projects to talk on the phone or visit in person. Makes me feel like I do talk with someone through the day whether I’m working a job, gardening or cooking. Thanks!
The wind here has been horrible also for 3 days now. I ended up putting my seeds down Friday on the dining room table as I couldn’t even mix up my seed starter soil out in the wind. It has not died down since either.
I was hoping for some of that rain AND that when it came the wind would settle a bit. Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen today though I did open my rain barrels in hopes of filling them.
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Beginning Feb. 10, all products to be sold in the U.S. for children below 12 must pass toxic tests for lead and phthalates under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. But because it covers all products, untested items are considered dangerous even if it has yet to be proven to contain lead.
The stringent regulations has caused a stir among retailers, especially used clothes stores, because it may result to thousands of children’s clothes being declared unsafe and have to be thrown away, warned Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops.
Store owners from children’s clothing to handmade toys warned that if the law will be strictly implemented they might have to close their business and file for bankruptcy.
No, my outlaw friend you are OK to make them for the grandkids but don’t you dare knit a baby bonnet to sell!
And Don’t you dare sell kids clothes at a yard sale!
Oh, in the magnificent intelligence of governmental bureaucrats - Uh, well we are going to postpone the requirement that you use outside testing lab for a year - Uh, but if we test your stuff and it is not up to our standards, you’re toast even before next year!
So, thrift stores either check all their merchandise or throw it out! Crafts people BEWARE!
Good grief. And I crocheted them to sell last year. criminy!!!
Great tag line BTW
This all was a fluke as someone on one of LucyT’s 0bama threads asked about the communist manifesto and the answer was that granny always had the best info on communists but she had been missing since 12-29 after being admonished by the Mod.
So I went looking and sure enough she was missing - Then I contacted everyone who used to hang out with us on the Threat Matrix thread where granny was a driving force of information as she is here. Finally we found her phone number and then Vel wrote the letter to Jim and the Mods and we all signed it...........the rest is history and here we are!! :) The only thing we can ever thank the communists for I guess. lol
I’m watching all the oak tree limbs blowing hard in the direction of my windows. One is whining kind of like a high pitched fog horn, must be rubbing on something. OR it sounds like a spooky ghosty sound. Yikes. LOL
I see rain over in New Mexico, they said if we get anything it will be about 3am.
Well praise God! I am glad ya’ll got Granny back. What a loss!!!
Those limbs aren’t going to break your windows are they? I know you need rain, but you don’t need it raining in your window!!!
Different weather places have said different times when our rain might start - if it does. Some said this morning. ok cross those off your list. waiting to see if the night ones are right. There are a lot of darker clouds now.
The wind is still destructive though. It has all but torn apart my old stick and plastic makeshift greenhouse. Yesterday we tried to save it a bit by tying an old comforter and rope all around it just to secure it. That’s still there but the wind has torn up other places now.
So far, as long as the limbs don’t fly off the tree we’re good. This house is completely surrounded by trees, my friends call it the tree house.
Unfortunately there’s no way to tie a greenhouse down in this, I’m guessing the gusts are about 30mph.
I meant to ask everyone if they have grown blueberries?
Oh boy,
I have tried and tried to raise blueberries - My mother tried for years before me. They live but just don’t grow!
County Agent says I should not have any problems - even made sure had recommended varieties - Fizzzzzle!
I know they will grow around here, because there is a commercial grower not far from us, but all kinds of compost, sulfur to acidify to right pH and all.
So, this year I am trying some Garden Huckleberries maybe I can grow them.
Sorry I was’nt more help.
p.s. what happens when we get to 10,000?
Never grown any berries except mulberries. They don’t do well in my part of the country so I never gave it a shot.
My man here if from Maine. He says when we find our new place that *he* is planting blueberries. He says he’ll dig a pit and haul in the soil for ‘em. LOL - if we get to that point I’ll keep you posted.
I keep being told that when I am taken to Maine for a visit that we will go blueberrying. It sounds like something I would enjoy but I'm going to have to pick an awful lot of 'em to cart back home and put up from the looks of it.
I keep thinking that we are going to have to make this trip in August. I'm told that isn't the prime time to vacation in Maine - but I don't handle cold weather well and I want to see the country and have a great time! I can't wait to go! I would go today if we had the money for the trip! ;-)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2181392/posts?page=1
I started the new thread.......
Will come back and answer posts in a few minutes.
Love to all of you,
granny
bump.
Very enlightening.
thanks
Thanks everyone for your input.
I think I will just stick with strawberries.
We did get a little rain overnight, it’s wet outside. :)
ping, great threads on survival
Look for BCS tractors on Google. Also, check out www.earthtoolbcs.com
Granny, will this thread continue?
Thanks for everything.
Love,
Joya
Welcome and I am so glad you found our thread, have you checked the new one too?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2181392/posts?q=1&;page=51
Yes, I have typed your name before I think, forgive me, as I am not one to remember names and the last couple days have dealt with so many new ones, that I may go into hiding for the night.
I /we tried to cram as much information as possible in the thread and there is a lot, and so much more to learn for all of us.
All you need to do is join in, post as you will and there is no need to be a lurker, we have lots of those.
We are all survivalists, the word survival means many things, tonight folks in Oklahoma are praying they will survive a tornado that hit them.
For me food and supplies are first and the knowledge to make do, if I don’t have what I wish I did have.
For some it is protecting the supplies and for all of us it is being prepared and not left on the side, asking what happened.
I pray that you and yours will always be safe and happy.
Aren’t Freepers awesome!!!!
Good, glad something rang a bell.
I love cornbread.
And applesauce.
Oddly, I am also *very* allergic to eucalyptus. Makes my throat close up and wheeze. I guess I’m just backward.<<<
I have the same problems with lots of medicine, any pain pill, gives me with drawl symptoms, feels like bugs crawling on me and sounds magnify, not fun.
I had only had about 3 codine pills, that the doctor ordered and got all strange, so the then teenaged sister went for a neighbor who called the doc and that was the end of pain pills.
No aspirin or penicillin either.
I like all vegetables as a jalapeno combo.
Love sweet dill pickles, use the juice to put onion slices in.
I should see my uncle the radio wave guru later this week. I’ll ask him then.<<<
The radio in the bedroom is on the bed and even under the sleeping bag, still won’t allow a station through the static.
Except some odd music station and I want talk radio...LOL
Please, if you think of it, do ask him.
The computer has a new power pack.
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