Ok, so spring hasn’t really arrived and we’re thinking of preparing for winter? Are we nuts? Nope. We just know it’s coming, and we know how busy summer and fall are around here. Yesterday, after finishing transplanting eight flats of peppers, I went out and helped Will split a whole lot of firewood he’d been busy sawing into blocks while I was working inside. I work the tractor-mounted splitter, and he puts the blocks up onto it. We have a whole lot more dry logs lying around so we’ll have our work cut out for us any time we aren’t busy with other projects.
Yesterday, a bunch of our migratory birds showed up on our bird feeders. We got Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, and more Juncos. It was so nice to see the bird feeders full of birds again after a pretty lean winter. Will heard another big flock of geese flying over yesterday too. There’s still ice on the creek and ponds but there are also a few open spots as we’ve been having some warmer weather. Tonight’s getting into the single digits then we are set to really warm up. That’s “get the greenhouse going” weather! I need it as I still have a lot of peppers to transplant and no room in the house.
On Friday, we watched the PBS show which we were on. I was relieved to see it was well done and we didn’t look like weirdos or something. I loved seeing the gardens in production, not covered in snow and ice! I think it’s still on YouTube if you’d like to see it. The link is on the last blog.
Our little calf, Jitterbug, is growing like a weed. She’s even starting to eat some grain with Mom. What a cutie!
I’d like to really encourage everyone who can garden or expand their garden, to do so. I’m really not liking the way things are looking, with prices rising every single day. Growing at least some of your own food will do a lot to help the family budget, as well as doing as much canning as you can. If you’re still leery of using a pressure canner, please pick up my book, Growing and Canning Your Own Food. It will make learning very safe and easy! I’m getting ready to can up last year’s beef as we’re getting ready to have two steers butchered next week. I sure do like having plenty of canned meats in the pantry as well as plenty of veggies, fruits, and dry foods. Please folks, stock up while you can! (I hope I’m very wrong here.)
— Jackie
You can get a lot of firewood split in 30 minutes (using a splitter which is sooo much easier than an axe, no matter the weather).
The second oak that fell is not dead – we cut it up enough to clear the trail. Each “round” of wood weighed about 50 lbs, a good work out muscling it in the skid steer bucket. As the tree was arched over the trail, large branches on one side. Which will need to be cut off before we can pull the trunk out to further cut. The branches will yield a decent amount of firewood also.
Burned off the asparagus patch and fertilized it. Only a few weeds to remove – glad I spent the time in the fall to weed like a mad lady. Will need to hit the strawberry patch – where all the dandelions come from is beyond me.
Morel sighting about 3 hours south of me. New neighbor wants to hunt them but will likely be out of town when “peak” season. Told us we could hunt his property. About time we got a sane neighbor on that side of us.
I showed my peppers the picture of yours, hoping to shame them into growing a little faster and bigger. Maybe it will work but I have to admit, nobody has a green thumb like you do. You are an inspiration!
Maggie
hahah like this idea! i l have to try i too. Jackies peppers are gorgeous.
Jackie, I agree. We need to stock up to be ready for whatever is ahead. And there are so many things that could go wrong. And those who think their pantry is plenty full then think about just planting little bits to save for seeds for next year. You never know what supplies may disappear. Here’s to a bumper year for everyone.
I totally agree!! We sure learned a lot when we lived very remote on a high mountain in Montana, snowed in for five months of the year. We truly lived out of our pantry and it’s amazing how much food melts away when you can’t substitute restaurant meals, prepared foods or some such for your pantry food. We found I used 300 pounds of flour a year! (Bread, rolls, noodles, pie crusts, biscuits, gravies and so forth) Just for the three of us! Think that bag of rice and bag of dry beans is prepared enough? Think again.
For anyone fearful of pressure canner try one of the electric canner’s if you are on the grid. I have the Nesco Electric canners and it is amazing. Negative side is it only holds 4 quart wide mouth or 5 pints. Unfortunately I agree, it will be more important than ever to preserve food.
Oops! I spoke too soon! I see you on the video! Yaay
I’m so glad you found us!
Unfortunately, the link from last blog for almanac north didn’t work for me. I could find them on YouTube but you and Will were nowhere to be found (sad face)
Your peppers look amazing!
How is Sarge doing?
Sarge is fine. I took him to get his stitches out today, which required a short-acting anesthetic as he did NOT want to lie on his side on that very slick polished concrete office floor. When he woke up in the car, he was a little wobbly but came in and ate his belated breakfast like he was starved.
I watched the PBS episode and what a treat to see you and Will hard at work on your beautiful homestead. It was great!
I’m so glad you got a chance to see the PBS episode. Doesn’t summer look great??
Yes! I’m busy doing all the spring prep and the episode reminded me of the rewards to come!
My husband and I always liked to garden and I always like to can. Life gives you lemons at time. My husband is now terminal ill and I had an accident and broke my sternum.
Not able to do much for the next few weeks. I was re-doing my pantry and stocking more things that I am short on. Now I am having to put that off.
I do have a few vegetables started in greenhouse.
Never know what tomorrow will bring. I will have to buy most of my vegetables this year to can, no matter what the price.
Boy, that’s tough. Will and I both fell off our storage barn’s roof several years ago. I split my sternum and know how painful that area is. Yep, we all have our lemon periods in time, for sure. You do the best you can do with them. And pray the coming seasons will be more like lemonade.
We had such a mild winter we have two or three cords left in our shed that holds twelve cords in four bays if full. One whole bay for night rounds. Have a couple cords of logs in the yard to process and another cut and split that we left to season for next winter. Got tomatoes started and peppers just coming up. Sunny days have had the green house up in the seventies mid day so I can prep it soon. My big worry is that because of my stroke last spring the potato crop was a total failure and we are going to have to buy seed potatoes which aren’t cheap and ordering them from “outside” is a problem because many suppliers can no longer ship to Alaska because of our worry about blight. Keep on preparing as much as you can for problems due to the politics and weather which have both been wired!
Yep, I hear you about the seed potatoes. Maybe a friend or neighbor has enough so they could share with you?
We do things to keep prepared every day. Some days a lot, some days less. But we always feel like we’re moving ahead anyway. I’m just so glad we’ve been doing this for decades, so we’re more prepared than a lot of folks who bury their heads in the sand and say things would never get THAT bad. Oh yes, they can!! Ask the folks in Ukraine.
I am expecting a load of firewood in for next winter within the next day or two. It will be green and a variety of types, but once dry……. Tree trimmers are working in our area and they are working at getting me some “logs”. I am also getting chips (MULCH!). The adage of make hay while the sun shines applies to getting in firewood as well. Here in TX it is to blasted HOT in the middle of the summer to be processing firewood! Do it at all ties. Prep anything you can, when you can!
I totally agree Tami. When an emergency situation comes up, it’s usually too late to do any prepping. Hey, that’s why they’re “emergencies”. Good for you, getting in your firewood and mulch! That’s great.
I just watched your video on PBS North….how enjoyable! To see you and Will in your little piece of heaven on earth makes me appreciate all you are accomplishing and giving to all who would listen and learn. I don’t garden very much, but have a wonderful next door neighbor who does and shares with me. I’m going to order some Bill Bean seeds just for her, and eventually me!
Thank you both.
You’re very welcome, Roxanne. We just want everyone to learn all they can so they can also harvest wonderful crops to put on the family table or sock away for winter.
When your blood sugars go up and your diagnosed with diabetes it really puts a crush on what you can eat that raises your blood sugars. Your limited on vegetables and when your giving medicine it decreases your appetite. Doctors want you in Normal weight zone which means limited amount of food you can eat and some of the medications take your appetite away. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Zuchinnia Cucumbers is about it!
Stop the carbs, eat meat and vegies, and you’ll have it made, is my advice. Insulin resistance is all about sugar, refined, processed, high fructose, syrup, breads, and carbs. Surely all can agree on that.
And none of those can well. We are on Keto diet. It is good but only the meats can well.
Aww, I think you can eat better than that and still keep your blood sugar under control. (My late husband, Bob, was Type II diabetic. Lean meat, in reasonable portions will help your strength and make meals more appetizing, as will fish and poultry. Read labels. It’s simply amazing at what they stick sugars in these days. Even potato chips of some varieties contain it. And don’t be fooled by the “type” of sugar. Educate yourself on the various names of sugars. Some sound natural but are really just sugar, as far as your blood sugar goes. You’ll get there and strike a happy balance between foods and your lifestyle. Lots of exercise!!
Preparing for winter – it has returned here! I spent about 20 hours in the garden over the weekend preparing it for the season – I agree, more garden focus this year. Setup included testing my soaker hoses which involved hooking up 100′ of hose to the garden and repairing some hose ends. And guess who forgot to unhook the hose from the outdoor faucet? Now it’s down in the 20s and snowing. I was able to get the hose off and drain the water from the pipe using my heat gun, and so far it looks like the frost free faucet survived, but I’ll have to wait to see how the hose faired. Sigh. Reminding myself that I have extra hoses and I have extra repair parts.
Regarding pressure canning – many years ago I took advantage of a free or very low cost 1 afternoon program put on by the local cooperative extension that helped me get over my fear of doing it. And your book then helped me see the possibilities and the usefulness.
I’m so glad my book helped you. I can’t imagine NOT canning and pressure canning sure opens up a whole lot of possibilities.
Yep, today it’s snowing again. Bummer!! But Will started the greenhouse heater up and tomorrow I want to get some peppers moved out there. IF my garden hoses and frost-free hydrant are all cooperating, that is.
I just watched the video from PBS North. Jackie, you and Will are awesome! Nice job all around!
Wasn’t it a great episode? I really enjoyed it too and am planning to share it with other folks so they can see what a great operation you have there at Seed Treasures. :^)
Hi Ruth (and Nancy). I’m glad you liked the PBS episode. We enjoyed having Brad here, filming it. He got to sample a lot of different crops too.