Saturday, February 28, 2009

Independence Days- week 12



Plant Something: The naughty kittens destroyed the lettuce & basil I planted a few weeks ago. The only thing I have started is 4 sweet potatoes. We were successful growing them last year so I figured we'd try it again this year.

Harvest Something: The dill and cilantro are almost ready. We harvest sprouts weekly. I bought a bio-set sprouter from Johnny's last year after seeing it on Angie's blog, Children in the Corn.




Store Something: 50lbs of bread flour, 5 lbs dry kidney beans, 5 lbs Maine shrimp, 2 lbs elk meat.


Manage Reserves: Reserves are getting depleted. I will be consolidating 2 freezers into 1.

Poultry: I cooked up the last turkey but I was able to cut up and store several bags for upcoming meals. We have several chickens left but no worry more chicks will be arriving soon.

Beef: We are almost out deer meat. This is the first time ever that our supply is this low so early into the year. I admit I took for granted having deer meat so readily available in past years. Maybe next season I will put in a bit more time in the woods....I say that every year.

Pork: We are almost out. We have two sows that we plan to breed in the next month or so.

Canned goods: Mustard pickles and pickled beets are all we have left. This year I plan to put up more goods. I am shopping for a pressure canner. What do you all use? Any and all suggestions welcome.


Root vegetables: Remaining are 2 spaghetti squash, 3 lbs carrots, 3-4lbs potatoes, plenty of onions and garlic.


Frozen vegetables/fruit: Blueberries, tomatoes (which I will not freeze again next year), edamame beans, corn on the cob.



Cook something new: The last two experiments I attempted ended up in the pig trough. I made a crock pot lemon cake that came out soupy. I then attempted to make a sourdough starter and my first loaf was like a brick and I chucked my "mother sponge" because I neglected to feed her.


Prep Something: Slowly working at getting a pantry stocked up...I have cleaned and organized the area FINALLY (today). Now I just need to decide what I want to stock it with. Ideas welcome here too for those of you have well stocked pantries.


Reduce Wastes: I have been picking recyclables out of the trash that MM throws away...ARGGGG! Saving glass jars and reusing them in the pantry to-be. Using my reusable shopping bags whenever I remember them.

Learn a new skill: No new skills aquired.


Work on communiy food security: After much research on co-ops I have opted not to start one up. Much of the food that is provided is what we grow or raise. It is not worth the added resposibility I would have. This place alone is more than enough work for me.

I have also been buying much more from local business owners.


Regeneate what is lost: We put our wood ashes into the garden.

14 comments:

Leasmom said...

That sweet potatoes look freaky. You're doing great!

Erica said...

Looking good! How do you like your sprouter? I use a jar and some cloth right now haha, but would love to have something that might be a little easier to work with.

Judy T said...

Those sweet potatoes look almost obscene- LOL.
My hubby got me an All American canner for Christmas. I've only used it once but liked how it worked. My Mom has an ancient Mirro- it is probably at least 30 years old. The thing I like about mine is that it doesn't have a rubber gasket that needs replacing and it has both a pressure gauge and a 'jiggler' The downside is that they are really pricey.
I'm planning to put up more food this year as well. V used the last jar of tomato sauce last night. I have 7 jars of whole tomatoes left and a bit of salsa but not much else.
Judy

Anonymous said...

Good week! I'm particularly impressed at the "harvest" this time of year. What do you sprout?
Pressure canner - I have the Presto 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner. I've only done applesauce and cranberry sauce, but I hope to do much more this coming season. It was easy to use, I did it for waterbath and the pressure. Most of the issues were just my panic as a newbie, I really am excited to use it more.

Anonymous said...

How fun and yummy!

Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...

You make me see how much I need to make more goals! I dont think I can keep up! LOL

Country Girl said...

TOO FUNNY PATRICE!

THANKS ERICA. I LOVE THE SPROUTER AND I'VE GOTTEN MY MONEY'S WORTH. THEY ARE $20, I JUST BOUGHT 2 OF MY FRIENDS SPROUTERS FOR B-DAYS ETC.. BUT I PAID $14 LAST SUMMER..DISCOUNT BECAUSE IT WAS THE DISPLAY. I TRIED THE JAR METHOD BUT THEY TURNED OUT NASTY.

FF, I HADN'T LOOKED AT THEM THAT WAS UNTIL YOU AND PATRICE MENTIONED IT. THANKS FOR THE CANNER ADVICE. I SO WANT TO PUT UP LOTS OF SALSA THIS YEAR.

LLZ, I DO MOSTLY ALFALFA & BROCOLLI SROUTS AND OCC MUNG BEANS.

THANKS AMY.
KY, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A LOT WHEN YOU WRITE DOWN TOGETHER.

warren said...

You got a lot going on! I am so envious of the skating...not of the cold, but definitely your skating!

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Is that just plain water in the sweet potato jars?
Sounds like you are doing great!

Country Girl said...

Warren, we are getting dumped on with snow too.

YD, yes just tap water.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Wow, you've been busy! Love the sprouter, now I want one!

Paula said...

Wonderful, Kim- I love hearing about your food supply and what you're doing with it!
We're almost out of deer meat too- my fault. I made jerky out of a lot of it at Christmas time. Won't do that again unless we have a whole buch of it!

Walter Jeffries said...

I couldn't get my sweet potatoes to root. I think they were coated with something. This was a new experiment, just with store bought tubers. Yours look great.

Unknown said...

When do you start your sweet potatos in the winter? I tried starting some this year in a pail of dirt but they still seem to take forever to get leaves in the spring. I don't know if there is anything to pick this year yet, still an experiment.