I just go alone and get ready for the next hurricane or plan ahead for our needs and not use the word "Prepping", then I have all kinds of support.
I hope you enjoy canning as much as I do.
It is very satisfying to see your canned food shelves full up with all those colorful jars. My problem is they are already filled now. . . Need to get creative in where to stash them next.
Just remember that water bath canning is very limited in what it can do compared to a pressure canner. Stick with high acid foods like tomatoes and pickles. To be safe, espechially while your still learning, stick to the exact directions in the canning books. Botulism is a deadly toxin and is odorless, tasteless and has no cure. Just always be safe.
Presentation can make a world of difference. Who cares what kind of terminology is used, as long as you get the desired results it’s all good.If I approach my wife about "Prepping", she would call me crazy. But when I suggest we keep a few cases of water or other survival items, she is all for it. In my case, it is really a matter of terminology. She is into a garden for the produce. Last fall, I planted some blueberries and blackberries which she actually picked up for me. Recently, she came across a "smoking" deal on another generator, which she purchased for me. She purchased me a smoker to prepare smoked for our use. She is aware of outage from Hurricanes, etc but she is not into "Prepping".
Thank you for this reminder. I have thoroughly researched this canning method, as well as pressure canning. But it's always great to have a reminder. I do intend to be very thorough and conscientious of the work. I hope to be well versed in both methods by the end of the summer.
This isn’t rocket science here, and canning is a tried and true method to safely store food. It’s just always good to remember to follow the steps in known recipes. The only issue I don’t like about home canning is the heat softens foods and can change the flavors sometimes. Overall though it’s the easiest home based method.
I would actually argue the fact that it is the easiest. I find freeze drying and dehydrating the two easiest methods of preserving long term. I guess only because once you either chop up and just throw in or you blanch and just throw in. Those two do take longer to process, but the actual work going into it is much shorter. I can never leave a pressure canner going for very long without having to check on it and even though I don't have to babysit water bath canning, I also don't feel comfortable leaving the house to work outside. . . If it's jellies, jams or pickles water bath is still the easiest with only a 5-10 min processing time.
I thought a lot about doing the freeze drying myself but decided against it. So basically I have no real experience on its time and complexity. I don’t feel pressure canning is too complex, but it is labor intensive with cleaning and keeping everything right. With my schedule lately it made more sense for me to stock a pantry with #10 cans of freeze dried stuff. I miss knowing the quality and lack of pesticides in the foods that got preserved, but am ok with it. Regardless, I like knowing the shelf life of freeze dried is far superior to any other option out there. In all reality I’m hoping to never need to even try any of these #10 cans. They should outlast me at this point.
Way to go! Small steps will still get you there eventually.
Sounds like a three day vacation would do you a world of good! I would say a week, but not with your schedule....
Nice idea, but being away from the home for almost 4 days got me into the mess I am in now. . . I am now down to finishing 1/2 of the goat barn. Mangers cleaned and also feed/water troughs done. I weeded some of the garden but concentrated on getting all my tomatoes pruned along with the yellow squash and zucchini plants. My poor Jalapenos are looking very droopy with all this rain we have been having. Should be another 3 days without rain chances so hoping they bounce back. Other than that I finished up laundry and swept. Of course there was making dinner after a 10 minute break from the barns, but it was spaghetti so easy along with leftover squash casserole and a salad. Going back to work tomorrow night so think that I will finish cleaning the house.
No doubt, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
That's what I keep telling TexasFreedom, ROFL
Well, while it did take the tornadoes, none of them actually hit us, but the flooding that occurred with them, made home think about the difficulties that the semis might have bringing food and water in. So at least it wasn't a major disaster for us that caused his change of heart.
Glad it didn't have to get to that point for him to see the light.
Stocking up is a blessing in more than one way.
Including those panicking customers that f----ing pull knives over the last bottled water on the shelf.
