This open discussion forum is just that an open discussion where you can post your preps and homestead progress for the week, or ask questions about any topic that you need help with.
All that I ask is that you keep the discussion somewhat related to the topic of prepping and or homesteading.
Worth Checking Out:
- My Newest Blog Project – TN Concealed Carry
- My Brothers New YouTube Channel Tennessee Redneck.
- And a new fiction book that one of my readers just released Alien Outpost.
- And last but not least check out Concealed Carry Resources and Knife Laws in Tennessee.
Alright… now over to you all…
This week I have been canning, dehydrating, gardening, and attending a class on quilt making. I am buying veggies to can and dehydrate. We love new red potatoes roasted with rosemary seasoning. I canned 4 1/2 quarts of new potatoes yesterday. They look great. Will cut in half to roast. I also learned how to can okra for frying when opened.
Prepping has become a daily mindset. Something is in the air. My feeling says more than one nightmare is staring at us. Keep preparing for whatever comes our way.
DocJ, you are right and honestly it will be more like what Matthew Bracken writes about, it has been gradually working into what amounts to hell for people who still believe that all police and military are our friends, some are but most have been and will continue to follow orders. More importantly, I truly believe that people have far to much faith in the system, when the system is absolutely broken, I have faith in myself and my very close MAG.
Jesse, the system is beyond broken in so many directions and from top down. Soon the first domino will fall. Add to that volcanoes with unlimited supply of lava, 2150-2750 earthquakes a week. A normal before Hawaii volcanoes started erupted was less than 300! We are experiencing earth changes that are affecting food production. Some in the south are considering shade cloth as they saw their garden are scorched by the sun. For years, I plant so my veggies and rooted hard cutting received little afternoon sun. It is worst now. I tell people to watch grocery shelves. Best way to monitor loss food production. Empty shelves or food sections being reduced are good indicators.
Keep your articles coming, Jessie.
Docj, I plan on it for now!
I have actually lost plants summer to heat and many are stunted with the 100* that have been receiving over several days. If it keeps up it’ll be like a zone 7 here lol. I’ve never needed a sun screen before but may grab some for the future since most days are hovering near 90* and the screens are gone locally. Been having a real hard time with weeds this yr also just can’t keep up.. if NY is this hot can’t imagine what you all are experiencing in the southern states!
It is scorching down here JD. Today we got some rain in TN. Humidity is still high making the “feels like” temp over 100!!!
Docj,
Great comment and as true a statement as I’ve ever heard.
Potatoes are my favorite food, and new potatoes are the best. I canned them for the first time last year. Some were with green beans, and some were without. How do you can your new potatoes?
Prepared Grammy, I watched Wanda on Deep South Homestead cann potatoes. Their motto, “Garden like your life depends on it. It does.” She washes new potatoes, boil potatoes for 3 minutes, process for your altitude for 40 minutes for quarts.
At the cannery we wash and cut ours. Fill jars with hot water and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Sometimes when eating we will then take the skin off easily. Sometimes we lightly mash them with a fork before we eat them. Cuts down so much on spoilage.
Docj,
Have you tried okra dehydrated? If you have a lot of veeggies coming in need canned this mght be one way for you to free up the canner for other things..
My family and a few others who I know have tried it dehydrated., like it better than fresh..It is not as slimy.. To dehydrate is easy, Just wash and cut okra in even slices, put on trays..dehydrate. pack! in jars. I use pints and there is enough in the jar we can have it 3 times.. for the two of us. To use cover the amount / half of what you want as finished/with very warm waere and cover, with saucer/weight to keep all submerged…. let sit for 45 min- one hour..pour off any excess water.. then treat like you would fresh
. I have not tried it canned.
I have not canned okra either. I used to freeze it but now I dehydrate it.
It’s nice to have this forum back. I’ll keep it short and sweet.
*My canning and freezing of vegetables has come to a screeching halt due to a visit to the ER just as my garden is coming on strong. I’ve given everything picked this week to my kids and a coworker, and they’re appreciative.
Be prepared. Stay safe. He’s in charge.
I forgot to add that we’re leaving tomorrow for a camping trip in TN. Our plans have changed a bit due to my health issue, but we’re looking forward to some time away. Maybe a little fishing is in order, and shopping for cast iron at second-hand stores is a possibility.
PG:
With everything that happened to the DW’s ATV & trailer, we never did get in any fishing on our trip. She bought her 1st licence in years and didn’t get to use it.
After what we’ve had happen this week, and my health was only the start of it, we’re going into this camping trip with no plans. Evidently our plans are useless lately.
PG, the best laid plans of mice and men. I’ve found no matter how well you plan failure is always apart of it, which is why we *you and others and I * are adaptable:)
I wanted to do some camping and white water rafting, but I don’t think I can be out that long.
I meant hiking and rafting.
My kind of girl PG. Hope you can get some fishing in while away. Remember a bad day camping is better than a good day at Work!
PG: prayers for your health and safety as you travel. I hope you are able to get some R&R this week.
Thanks, Evergreen. You said you were a bit younger that AP, but that you went to school with him. What school did you attend? (Abbreviations are all that’s necessary.) He went to more than one district as he was growing up. I’m really curious if we’ve crossed paths too.
HHS ‘05
We’ve crossed paths. 🙂
You went to school with my son.
What a small world 😀
I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and told to eliminate seeds from my diet. My blood work came back “Perfect, and I mean PERFECT,” according to my doctor. (A CT scan showed diverticulitis.) I think it’s perfect, which isn’t bad for a woman who’s going to be 55 this month and prescription-free, because I’m active and eat well. I eat blueberries and/or strawberries EVERY day and lots and lots of other fruits and vegetables. My freezer is already full of berries from this year’s local harvest. Two of the grandkids always want berries when they come to Grammy’s house. I’m concerned that when I change my diet I’m going to eliminate one problem, but more are going to occur. I don’t want my cholesterol, BP, and weight to go downhill. What on earth do I do?
Do you get a lot of dietary fiber?
I don’t eat a lot of whole grain, but I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I’m getting conflicting information on whether or not I should be eating whole grains.
There is definitely a lot of conflicting info out there. Luckily, we do have several good GI specialists in the area.
Who would you recommend?
Dr. Tibrewala.
Thank you.
You’re welcome!
I always tell my patients when I do education on diverticulitis (I am an RN that has worked with a GI specialist for 7 years) to think of your stomach and intestines as a highway. When it’s new it’s smooth and everything flows well. As it gets older it gets potholes. Potholes, as we all know, collect “stuff”. Diverticuli are the intestines potholes.
Diverticulitis is when that “stuff” causes an inflammation of the intestines. It can be, in rare cases, exceedingly dangerous. Repeated episodes can cause a thinning of the intestinal wall and lead to a ruptured intestine and peritonitis..
So you need to avoid eating things that do not digest well or leave significant residue to collect in the potholes. Seeds and nuts are the number one culprits, followed by veggies that have nibs (such as corn or the eyes in black-eyed peas, for example). Fruits that are eaten with the seeds intact (like strawberries, sorry) are also very likely to cause a flare-ups in some people.
The best thing to do is to talk to a dietician, take him or her a list of what you normally eat in a given week and go over it. If you are having diverticulitis, something in that diet is triggering it.
RB, what an excellent explanation 🙂
I’ve worked in surgery for 7 years, but I’m a new nurse and just started cross training to endoscopy. I’m a lot more fascinated than I thought I’d be.
Evergreen, Do you work at a hospital or office? In H, or are you in a surrounding county?
I work at a Hospital, in will co.
PG, short answer…Add enzymes, probiotics,.K2,… chew food very well.. Avoid all seed until intestine is healed. give it plenty time to heal…. avoid constipation..learn to massage bowel, to help it empty..Increase water, pure clean filtered water., maybe with lemon…if’n u like it.ad a little good fats to your diet/coconut oil/olive oil…it will give you a smooth move.
.. Any food you know gives you a problem add papaya or bromelin enzyme..(meat tenderizer with no msg/ mccormicks is one brand there are others… dollar general has a good one.i use it. cheaper).
. Everlasting tea one cup q 2-3 days, best with lots of mint., hot or cold. no matter . has many benefits.to tell you would make me sound like a sales person.. good for IBS, lactose intolerance, crone’s asthma, bronchitis, Copd….wonderful for inflamed intestines..(Chronic Gastritis…). I got em’ I know..
This should get you started. Congratulations on being med free. Coconut and oive oil/ sun butter will keep cholestrols balanced.
Mazola oil was developed to make cows fat. It does and it will. ..peanut oil will make triglycerides spike ,..ie . did my DH.’s
Anonamo Also; Thank you for the tip on “bromelin”. I am definitely going to get some. It has gotten to the point, I have to watch way too much of what to eat, lest I bloat like a pregnant cow and it is no fun. Bread (any kind) in particular gives me fits lately.
Is “Everlasting tea” a brand name? I drink a ton of tea and always willing to try something different in teas.
Camping! Yay! So are we, headed out Monday!
ANOTHER DRY DAY HERE IN SEATTLE MORNING ! YES I know about the trips to the damn ER to much !! OK here is the good stuff I planted some sweet corn WOW I have a bunch of ears of corn this is the first time I have try to grow it ! LOVE my little city veggie garden!(yes I do live in the city )
We love sweet corn.
Make sure you have a way to defend it against four and two legged critters. Raccoons, deer, and people all love corn.
The coons and squirrels ruined my corn the last two years. We got an electric mesh fence halfway through last summer. It’s really done the trick…so far.
The blue jays are the worst here ! If it well grow and it edible I am learning to grow it ! This is so new to me I always though food. Came from the grocery store I wish I learn this years. Ago. ! My tomatoes are doing good I fried two of them up yesterday ! So much difrent than the store bough. !
Sarah, you are now an enlightened one! Years ago my youngest son showed a picture of himself to grade school classmates. He was milking our Jersey cow Daisy Mae. One little girl declared “it is NOT true, milk does NOT come from there.” When the teacher finally convinced the little girl, milk does indeed come from cows, her response was telling about society today. The young lady then stated, “I will NEVER drink milk again, from now on I will melt ice cream and drink that.” Every garden expansion, each new crop you add will bring your closer to food security.
I am 73 and as I said I wish I started farming years ago I have to say to everyone here I have learn a bunch “THANK YOU”