Because we’re starting a new homestead and planting lots of fruit trees, I was tickled to meet a self-taught fruit tree expert while shopping last year. Since then, I’ve been to his homestead up north of us twice. My second visit was yesterday for a photo shoot for an article I just finished on grafting fruit trees. (I had taken a bunch of pictures when he was here this spring, teaching me an easy method of grafting. But when I went to attach the photos to my article, I discovered that they’d been accidentally deleted!)

What started out as a cussing and gnashing of teeth and a sleepless night turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon visiting Beryl and his huge orchard. I’ve never seen so many grafts on a tree in my life. And they are from around the world, too. How exciting!

We spent a couple of hours talking fruit tree varieties, hardiness, grafting, economics and just plain visiting. Because of caring for Mom, I seldom “get away”, so this was a real huge treat for me. And I learned a lot, too. Just goes to show you that out of the awfullest accident can come something wonderful.

Oh. I got new photos, too.

Readers’ questions:

Written any books?

Was wondering if you have written any books? Not, that you have extra time Just thought I could find all the answers in the books.
Julie Jaco
Senatobia, Mississippi

I have written a couple of books, including the rewrite of A VETERINARY GUIDE FOR ANIMAL OWNERS. But I haven’t done one on canning or
self reliant living. Yet. I’m trying to figure out something now. I’ll keep you posted. — Jackie

Canning goats milk

I hope it’s OK that I subscribe though our village library. We showed BHM to our local library so they could get a subscription that all the country folk in our little bit of wilderness could enjoy it. I hope you will still consider answering my question, because I think it is a really important one.

I would really like to can my excess goat milk, however since it is a low acid, high protein food I have put it in the “high risk” category for botulism. However, I noticed in your column you have given a recipe to can it at a time/temp that is far less than what is normally done for high risk foods.

Am I missing something? Is there a reason why you have not treated milk as a potential source of botulism? Clearly it can be done safely, as demonstrated by all the cans of “evaporated milk” at the grocery store.
Diane Thompson c/o Nazko Library
Quesnel, BC Canada

Milk is high in lactic acid. This is why your milk sours, not rots and your cheese molds instead of rotting. Remember all those cheeses that are aged in caves in Europe for months and months? Meat would rot. Cheese only ages. Remember, you make yogurt from milk at room or slightly warmer temperatures and you eat it. If you left a chicken or hamburger out like that, it’d probably kill you. Meat is not acid, therefore is a higher risk food. Does this make sense to you? Hope so. I know some “experts” frown on canning milk and other dairy products, but they conveniently forget the lactic acid factor. — Jackie

Canning Kimchi and sauerkraut

We sell big generators to farmers and this year I had a greatful farmer give me cases of cabbage. I am making sauerkraut out of most of it and kimchee out of the rest. Question #1: I can’t find directions for canning kimchee. Most recipes say refrigerate until it starts to stink. Question #2: I was also wondering since this is my first try at sauerkraut if you had any canning or krauting advice. I’m about two weeks into my krauting and have a 25 lb crock going.
Laura Battin
Milwaukie, Oregon

I have no information on canning kimchi. Three of my adopted children were Korean and they loved kimchi because they had eaten it for years in their birth country. So I learned to make it. Because it keeps for months in the fridge or any other cool place, I never had any reason to can it. I tried to find a recipe for you, but couldn’t. I’ll keep looking. As for the sauerkraut, you can certainly can that. When it has fermented, dip it out and pack it into sterilized jars to within 1/2″ of the top. Fill with juice or a brine made of 2 Tbsp salt to one quart of water to cover the kraut. Process quarts for 30 minutes in a boiling water bath. — Jackie

Moldy pickles

I accidentally deleted a question from a man who had tried my sour pickle recipe and it developed mold on it after 6 days. He asked what he should do. Here’s my answer:

If there was just a little mold, dip it out and re-submerge the pickles. If there was lots, you’ll have to toss the batch. Mold usually happens when the pickles were not completely submerged in the brine. Only a little bit sticking out will cause this. Better luck in the future! — Jackie

While he was here, my sweetie made us five nice raised beds in our new house garden. Into each one, he dumped at least a wheelbarrow and half of rotted manure from the donkey pen. This was well mixed in with the black dirt we filled the beds with, then topped with six inches of more black dirt.

This spring, I planted a dozen broccoli plants; the aphids got the rest. Six, I planted in the raised beds. The other six, I planted in a new section of our main garden. The six in the raised beds kind of kept up with the ones down in the garden for a few weeks, then WOW! they shot up. And up. And up. Now they look like something from prehistoric times.

The ones down in the garden didn’t get any manure, so I’m sure that had something to do with it, too, but just look how the plants like the loose soil and manure in the raised beds. I guess I’ve become a believer! Nifty! Just wait till next year.

Readers’ questions:

Gardening in tires

My wife and I have been a subscriber to Backwoods home since the early 90’s. We have been a fan of yours since we first read one of your articles in Backwoods Home Magazine. You have helped us and taught us a lot over the years. We garden and raise animals on our little spot overlooking the Mississippi River. You have taught us to raise, can, store, prepare and survive. For this I just wanted to say Thanks. Four years ago our tiller threw a rod. Spring came and we wanted a garden so I tried something a little different, and I thought you might get a kick out of our garden. If you get a chance you can see it at www.redneckgarden.sampasite.com. Again, thanks for all you do.

Dale McPherson
Drummonds, Tennessee

Wow, Dale. Good idea. My friends, Jim and Jeri Bonnette also garden in tires. It’s a good way to go for a lot of crops. I loved your pictures! What are the bricks for in the tires? I’m nosy. And I can always learn. — Jackie

Steam in pressure gauge

Two questions. I just got a new All American Pressure canner. Is it normal for the pressure gauge to fill with steam & water droplets? Also, when canning meat like meatballs do you need to add liquid? Or would they dry out? I just did a batch of my homemade meat sauce & had no blowouts they look wonderful…can you tell I’m so excited? My MRE collection is growing. Glad the hail missed you! May fair weather bless your season!

Tracey Morris
Prunedale, California

No, the pressure gauge doesn’t usually have steam and water drops in it; I’d call the company customer relations department. The steam will probably warp the insert with the pressure numbers on it and maybe rust the dial. I’d sure check. They may send you a new gauge; they just screw on and off easily with a wrench.

When I can meatballs, I add a sauce. So far, I’ve added spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce with green pepper slices and cream of mushroom soup (without the milk, but with added water so it’s liquid). All of these turned out absolutely great! I’ve been canning for over forty years and I’m STILL excited about it! I’m glad you’ve gotten off to a great start. — Jackie

Home canning book

I know it’s not as if you don’t have millions of other things to do, but how about adding one more and put together a home canning recipe book for all us canning enthusiasts. You cover so many more things than the Ball Blue Book.

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of repeat questions, so maybe there would be a way to compile them together by food category. Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your articles and love the magazine.

Melodee Brymer
Hearne, Texas

I’ve been giving it some thought. But you’re right; I’ve got a whole lot to do and with David either working or in school, I’m the Indian and the chief…just not much time for great projects. Winter’s coming, and maybe I’ll have a little more time. It may happen! — Jackie

Pruning cucumber vines

I have cukes plant going all over the place. Would I hurt the plant if I trim some of the vines from it?

Hollis Jones
WiIlmington, Delaware

Don’t overdo the pruning of the vines. This sometimes is okay, but sometimes the plants resent pruning and quit bearing. Instead, gently pick up the vines and lay them in a direction you want them to head. I always trellis mine because of this natural tendency. That way I can raise many more cukes in an area than I could otherwise…and I don’t have to wade through vines. It’s also much easier to see the cukes so you don’t end up with boats. — Jackie

Blackberry pie filling

My question is about blackberry pie filling I just canned (water bath). The jars seemed to have leaked some of the contents, but they are sealed really well. I removed the bands and cleaned the jars well. Do you think there is any problem with this? I have more blackberries than I know what to do with & I am running out of freezer space. Also, any other suggestions of what to do with all these berries besides jelly or jam? Thanks for your help!

Lori Hinkle
Dongola, Illinois

No, Lori, you don’t have a problem with them losing liquid out of the jars. This is a common thing, but it usually happens during pressure canning. It may just be that the blackberries packed down during canning; they are kind of easy to squash. This makes the contents of the jar seem less. You can also dehydrate blackberries. This way you can keep them on the shelf in a small container. You can use these in muffins, sauces, sweet roll filling, tarts, on ice cream and yogurt. If that doesn’t solve your problem, send ‘em to me! Sounds like you’ve got a bounty this year. Good for you! — Jackie

Cats in the garden

My wife and I have been a fan for years. We are having a problem with cats. They are using the front garden as a toilet and we would like to do something other than picking them off with the twenty two. We are in a transition stage and I cant get to my back issues and I know I saw something about cats and keeping them out of the garden. After some research I found… Keeping cats out of the garden by Tom R. Kovach, but like I said I can’t get at my back issues. Thanks and keep the great articles coming. Yours are the first I read.

Marty Connelly
Auburn , New York

Sorry you are having kitty problems. Mom’s cat, Monty, was trying to use my nice new raised beds that Will built for me as a cat box. Of course they were very inviting, but I didn’t want cat poop in my carrot bed! Yuck! So I just ran scrap 3′ fence around the whole thing, enclosing all five beds and our new pea/strawberry bed. No more cat problems and Monty now uses the sand down the hill. A much better choice! I’ve tried different things, but the fence works best. You can use the cheap plastic fencing for cats; they really don’t challenge it like varmints do. Good luck. — Jackie

Storing raisins

I found many boxes of raisins on sale. Can I can them? If not what is the best way to put them up?

Elizabeth Walker
Adel, Georgia

Luckily raisins are just dehydrated grapes. So they will stay fine, in the bag, for over a year. I’ve had some that I bought in 2000 and they are still great. I put my on sale raisins, still in the bag, in my big popcorn tins. This keeps out possible rodent problems and keeps them handy. — Jackie

Rounded cucumbers

My cucumbers started growing great, but now they are starting to have a rounder shape or some are round on bottom and they have a pointy tip on them. Why?

Carrie Coomer
charlestown, Indiana

This is usually from stress. This time of the year, it’s usually a combination heat and insufficient water. Cukes are a high percentage of water, themselves, so the vines need abundant water in order to make nice long, filled out cucumbers. Try mulching them, giving them a side dressing of rotted manure, then keep them watered. And stand back. — Jackie

Saving squash seeds

I have planted heirloom seeds for squash and melons. How do I get seeds from the current crop to use another year? How long does the fruit need to remain on the plants in order to harvest? The zucchini are BIG and solid, not many seeds when picked to eat.

Donald Allen
Afton, Texas

It’s easy to save seeds from squash and melons. All you do is let the fruits mature well. For melons and winter squash, this only means to pick them when they are very ripe; the seeds are ready then. Pick them out, put them on a pie pan in a dry area away from rodents and swish your hand around in them once a day until they are very dry. Your summer squash need to mature past where you would normally eat them. This means letting them get huge. Then the skins get a little hard, like winter squash. Pick them before they start to rot, though. Once you get into seed saving, you’ll really have fun….and save a bunch of money, too. — Jackie