Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 316 Location: Tennessee
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
The beans are cut up and will probably freeze this batch to use over the next couple months. I had planned to pick blackberries this weekend, but we have the same problem-lots of berries but they are small. It will be alot of effort to pick enough to be worthwhile. Hope to go shopping tomorrow for a 12 ga. pump shotgun.
Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 403 Location: out dispatching ronan...
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:47 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
We started upgrading a dam on our farm today...
The heavy equipment arrived, and the excavator got to work. I shot a few photos and short video which I've posted at my new blog. I'll try to keep regular updates for those interested in farm life and self-sufficiency.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:02 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
CarlinsDarlin wrote:
I've spent the last three days canning constantly (and not spending much time here at the forums, unfortunately) - and still have more to go. I canned up about 40 pounds of tomatoes over the weekend and on Monday. Yesterday, we checked out the peach tree down at my grandma's house (nobody lives there now, since my grandparents are both gone) and the peaches were ready to pick. So, between my brother and I, we got about 4 bushels of peaches. So far, I've canned up 15 jars of peach preserves - using about 1/4 of what I have picked. I'll be canning the rest as plain peaches, probably. I'll get started on them this afternoon.
Today we went blackberry picking. There's a million of them around here, but this year's berries are small for some reason. It would take a month to get enough berries to do anything with, so we quit sooner than we should have. We may go back out tomorrow during a cooler part of the day.
The orchard about a half mile down the road should have apples ready for picking soon. We know the owner well, and he always trades apples with us. Last time, we traded him eggs, and a few jars of apple pie filling that I made up, for all the apples we wanted.
I'm not much worried about our local fruit supply as long as the weather cooperates. Within a half mile walk from the house, we have apples, peaches, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, and persimmons in season.
I also found a rechargable flashlight at a yard sale this weekend - for 50 cents. It's already come in handy. More later...
K
That all sounds like so much fun. You're lucky to have those areas to forage for fruit. I love canning and preserving too but I have too many projects for me to be able to help my wife much this year. She's already frozen a bumper crop of broccoli that just keeps going. The cabbages are coming along so my sauerkraut will be underway soon enough too. So much work but this is the fun stuff. Preserving all that hard work. Actually the fun part is eating it in the winter but that's another tale.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Hagakure_Leofman wrote:
We started upgrading a dam on our farm today...
The heavy equipment arrived, and the excavator got to work. I shot a few photos and short video which I've posted at my new blog. I'll try to keep regular updates for those interested in farm life and self-sufficiency.
Looks good Hag. I bookmarked your blog to keep up with what you're up to. That work looks so easy when you've got monster machine working like that. I'm considering doing the same at my place but that is part of the "ten year" plan that I may not get to.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
mystiek wrote:
The beans are cut up and will probably freeze this batch to use over the next couple months. I had planned to pick blackberries this weekend, but we have the same problem-lots of berries but they are small. It will be alot of effort to pick enough to be worthwhile. Hope to go shopping tomorrow for a 12 ga. pump shotgun.
I think I recently saw your picture over in the picture thread and although I don't mean to offend you, you don't look like the 12 ga shotgun wielding type. Maybe that is what the zombies need to be afraid of.
Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 403 Location: out dispatching ronan...
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
SpringCreekFarm wrote:
Looks good Hag. I bookmarked your blog to keep up with what you're up to. That work looks so easy when you've got monster machine working like that. I'm considering doing the same at my place but that is part of the "ten year" plan that I may not get to.
Dams are so much cheaper than water tanks SpringCreek. And they could probably last centuries. Though my grandfather built that one the hard way, these days its a lot easier. I'd say prioritize your fossil fuel projects now! _________________ My Farm Blog
http://www.taranakifarm.com
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
My second field of hay was baled yesterday just in time before the storms arrived. Something or someone is looking out for me because I got all my hay off without a rain on it. 65 round bales of decent ( slightly past ripe ) grass hay from both fields. Horse hay for sure. The old guys in the area were glad to come help and I'm sure grateful to them.
Now I can't wait for my horses to come home! ( they're out playing with other horses doing cool things ) I'm sure glad I didn't back out on the deal now.
So now the list of SCF must-have-dones is:
Chickens, coop and runs......check
Workhorses........................check
Hay baled...........................check
20 cords (face) of wood cut.....pending
Work horse barn.....................pending
Giant garden of Valhalla?........don't ask! It's a freaking mess. I'm going to have to literally mow in between my tomatoes before I put more mulch down. They are stunted but starting to flower. I had a spell where I was overwhelmed so I didn't get anything done in the garden. Now I'm going to have to pay for that in a lot of extra work and a reduced yield. Oh well. If I would only build the small play area ( paddock ) for my 22 month old son, my wife would be able to help me more in the garden so that is another thing on my short list. More wire mesh fencing ugh
My hominy corn is now about 18" high. Its doing well but needs thinning. I'm not sure I have the time to do it all but I'll be able to make a comparison to see if thinning makes a difference. It is planted close because of the small garden planter I used to sow it had a sweet corn plate that allowed more than just a few seeds to drop at a time making for thickly sowed crop. Farmers would sow like this to get silage but to get good full cobs the corn should be planted 6" or so apart.
Speaking of corn, I bought a bag of cracked corn that has more than doubled in price in the last year. Ouch. My chickens will be eating some of this hominy corn and my horses will be eating the stocks this winter as well. Next year I'm going to plant a dent corn for feeding, if I can find a source of open pollinated stuff still around.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Hagakure_Leofman wrote:
SpringCreekFarm wrote:
Looks good Hag. I bookmarked your blog to keep up with what you're up to. That work looks so easy when you've got monster machine working like that. I'm considering doing the same at my place but that is part of the "ten year" plan that I may not get to.
Dams are so much cheaper than water tanks SpringCreek. And they could probably last centuries. Though my grandfather built that one the hard way, these days its a lot easier. I'd say prioritize your fossil fuel projects now!
I'd say you're right! Thing is, water is not a priority here. I have 2 wells and a cistern and it isn't a dry climate. I'd only be doing it for fish or recreation ( what's that? )
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 12582 Location: zombie horde wonderland
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Hagakure_Leofman wrote:
We started upgrading a dam on our farm today....
I'm hoping our next big money project will be a "tank" (pond) dug on our place. The northeast corner of our land has 1/2 acre or more area for a small pond that might help slow drainage from the neighbor's pond upstream. His pond is just a few yards over the fenceline, and I'm full of envy.
This is still very much a pie-in-the-sky dream, though. Still need to finish all the work around the house and outbuildings.
To that end, I'm working on the screen porch today and mulching the Kitchen Garden. Trying to keep up with watering so everything doesn't die. _________________ No original ideas are contained in this post.
Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 316 Location: Tennessee
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Ha,ha,ha-SCF-looks are deceiving...I'm a native WV, used to go coonhunting (actually it wasn't so much coonhunting as it was wandering around looking for the dogs that ran off and decided to chase bear) belonged to trout unlimited,etc. I used to have a compound bow, but I sold it when I went to medical school. I was a mining engineer prior to being a doc and worked underground in mines in KY and WV (no I don't chew tobacco, rub snuff, and I have all my teeth-lol). We have a pretty good gun collection, but I told my husband I wanted a 12 ga pump shotgun. I used to have a 20 ga single shotgun, now I want a 12ga (forget the diamond necklace). I actually want to submit some pictures of my kids on the new scooter, but I have to get the computerand camera set up first. Not to hijack this thread-but don't give up on your horses. We have horses and once we find a farm I plan on making them work a little bit (they will probably strike). Oh, back to the thread-I am going to order several bushels of tomatoes and probably can them this weekend. The beans I'll do tonight.
Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 403 Location: out dispatching ronan...
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Ludi wrote:
I'm hoping our next big money project will be a "tank" (pond) dug on our place. The northeast corner of our land has 1/2 acre or more area for a small pond that might help slow drainage from the neighbor's pond upstream. His pond is just a few yards over the fenceline, and I'm full of envy.
Though it may defy conventional wisdom Ludi, if you do go ahead with that pond, consider lining the pond floor with topsoil and seeding grass in it. I have it from very good sources that this method is an excellent means of accelerating pond aqua life and general pond health.
Of course, you must allow the grass to germinate and grow a little before filling, but you should end up with a far superior quality of water.
Joined: May 06, 2008 Posts: 57 Location: The hills of Northeast Iowa
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Yesterday we hit the local Aldi grocery store and got about $100 worth of stuff. My wife still thinks I'm a nut, but the idea of having a pantry full of canned goods is appealing to her. Just wait until I go again without her around! However, when combining that food with the food all ready in our lazy susan, we've got a good start. Took another cash withdrawl out of our online bank account for both my wife and I, just to have cash on hand.
Today, the four of us (wife, myself, and two daughters) hit the garden for the first time together and took down the evil empire of weeds. I know it's going to mount a counter attack, but we did a number and got the garden looking like a garden again. It's time to mow the lawn again, and I'm going to catch the grass clippings to mulch with.
My question, last year I used grass clipping as mulch, and over the winter they didn't break down a whole lot. Do you use something different, or if you use grass clippings, what do you do to help with that breaking down process?
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
SCF,
Eating the preserved food during winter is most definitely the most fun part . I don't know that I would say that peeling peaches half the day is necessarily fun, though.
I did get the rest of the peaches done yesterday. Finally. The peaches we got off grandma's one tree gave us 11 quarts of canned peach slices & halves, and 15 jelly jars worth of jam. Not bad. Of course, just as I was elbow deep in those peaches, my neighbor with the orchard called to tell me his peaches were ready, too. So, yesterday, the boys and I went and picked two more 5-gallon buckets worth. We may get some more. I'll have to see how long it takes me to deal with these.
The apples at the orchard are looking gorgeous. I can't wait for them to be ready. I can already taste yummy chunky cinnamon applesauce . He also has a large pear tree that is loaded with beautiful pears. We are so lucky to have him close by.
My brother also has a bumper crop of green beans this year and told me to come pick all I want from his beans. So we'll be doing that today as well (which of course means yet more canning).
I need to figure out what I'm going to do with a little buck goat I have. He's just about weaned, and about 40 pounds now. I'd like to sell him, but buyers for bucks are hard to come by. I have the option of taking him to the local processing plant or having him butchered for our own use, but I don't want to do that unless it's the only alternative. I will also be selling a couple of the doelings. I'm waiting on paperwork for their mama, though, so I can sell them as registered. We need to cut back on goat numbers... feed is getting expensive.
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:15 am Post subject: Re: Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil worl
Just bought a dynamo- rechargable lantern. Can work forever and needs no battery, just need to roll a little lever for 30 seconds and you have light for some minutes. Very helpfull in case of blackout.
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) for my 22 month old son, my wife would be able to help me more in the garden so that is another thing on my short list. More wire mesh fencing ugh 
So, yesterday, the boys and I went and picked two more 5-gallon buckets worth. We may get some more. I'll have to see how long it takes me to deal with these.
