This weeks preps check-in

[Brent S]

Yesterday wasn't a good day, Brent, and today isn't promising to be better. So, I haven't made the mozzarella yet. I'm going to try giving myself a pep talk to get motivated and make it today. I'll use goat's milk - I have a gallon of it now and that's what it takes. By the way, it's amazing how long fresh raw milk stays good. I have some in there I know is over 3 weeks old and it still tastes the same as the day I milked her. I'll also use citric acid powder and vegetarian rennet. I'll post pictures and such when I get it done.

I'm excited to hear how it turns out.

 

[Brent S]

You know what else would be nice to grow in an enclosed, heated porch? Miniature Mandarin orange trees. You could keep them in pots and set them out through the summer, then bring them in before it frosts. I love those sweet tiny oranges.

At my house in fla I had planted a bunch of assorted citrus trees. They were about 8 ft tall when I sold the place and were just starting to produce pretty well. The new owned didn't like them and cut down every one of them! What a waste. I have seen stores around here selling some citrus, but didn't really notice what they were as you have to bring them in every winter. Sounded like more work that I wanted. Now keeping stuff like that on a porch in containers may be dooable.

 

[realisticdude]

How bou't some plum trees there .
Brent

At my house in fla I had planted a bunch of assorted citrus trees. They were about 8 ft tall when I sold the place and were just starting to produce pretty well. The new owned didn't like them and cut down every one of them! What a waste. I have seen stores around here selling some citrus, but didn't really notice what they were as you have to bring them in every winter. Sounded like more work that I wanted. Now keeping stuff like that on a porch in containers may be dooable.

 

[Brent S]

How bou't some plum trees there .
Brent

I have about ten. Every season I go to lowes at the end on spring and fall, when the plants are 1/2 to 75% off. I think the plums have been in the ground for about two years now. They have produced but so far I haven't gotten any, all the squirrels and crows are looking fat and happy though. I have a pretty good mix of things with apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries and figs. (Haven't eaten a fig yet either, dammed squirrels!). I also have two pecans. I have mostly apples and peaches but wish I had never planted the darn peaches now as there too much work to get them to produce. I also didn't realize how many I was going to plant over five years, and didn't write down which varieties I bought. I have at least five different apples, but I guess it doesn't matter as I'll eat any of them! The first twenty trees I planted were a little too close together and are pretty crowded now, so a little forethought will go a long way with laying out your area first. All the blueberries I got were discounted to a buck a piece, I've got 70 now, and there starting to produce after 2 to 3 yrs. some are 3' now. What's cool is now they are sending out runners that I can cut off and replant elsewhere. I have done clippings from the grapes successfully now, but learned thru experience that you need to use mature plants as the newer ones don't do well. I'm learning most of this the old fashioned way, which is the hard way! I wish I could impress on others that learning to grow things will help us survive one day, and it isn't an overnight thing to start or learn, so start now!

 

[QuietH3art]

I'm right there with you Brent. I've learned so many things this year that will drastically change how I do things next year. I don't have any fruit trees or other long-term plantings other than my 2 Concord grape vines so I do get the chance to "start over". If I do get fruit trees, they will be miniatures in pots that I will keep in the house. I am very quickly learning my limitations.

 

[realisticdude]

Plenty figs , blueberry ( 15 , 6 footers ) and plums ( Japs and reds )....working on apple trees x 2 at present , 3 years old , no apple yet just blooms , neighbor has plenty satsumas , no luck with those..................but he does not have chickens ....so I drop off a dozen eggs now and then.

 

[Dani]

Plenty figs , blueberry ( 15 , 6 footers ) and plums ( Japs and reds )....working on apple trees x 2 at present , 3 years old , no apple yet just blooms , neighbor has plenty satsumas , no luck with those..................but he does not have chickens ....so I drop off a dozen eggs now and then.

yep, sweet talk and work out a deal

 

[realisticdude]

yep, sweet talk and work out a deal

Yea ...................nothing like fresh eggs , only thing is ............satsumas season is too short lived......... and he eats eggs year round....he sent some nice cucumbers last month to his benefit

 

[Dani]

Yea ...................nothing like fresh eggs , only thing is ............satsumas season is too short lived......... and he eats eggs year round....he sent some nice cucumbers last month to his benefit

Does he do anything with them? And if you got them, do you make something out of them and willing to share? I made a deal with a neighbor who wanted me to can his tomatoes into spaghetti sauce. Told him that he would need to supply the tomatoes and jars and I would take care of everything else, but I got to keep part of the harvest in payment. Just a thought

 

[realisticdude]

Well..................... we are still warming up to each other........ but the wives are friendly enough....they are about 1 mile away......he hates Pelosi

 

[Dani]

Well..................... we are still warming up to each other........ but the wives are friendly enough....they are about 1 mile away......he hates Pelosi

That alone says a lot about a person right there. . . .

 

[Brent S]

Got another row of block laid today, and put sealant on another two feet of the outside. If anyone else is considering this kind of project, trust me, dig the hole large enough to work from the outside of the walls. I'm having to lean over the walls and brush on sealant, which ensures I get covered with the stuff too! Before I backfill I will also apply roofing felt to the walls as well. That gives me a double layer to seal out water, and with the French drain at the bottom should keep it dry inside. At least it's starting to look like a shelter!

 

[realisticdude]

looking good there Brent......................... don't see your ventilation air input

 

[Dani]

looking good there Brent....... got a spot picked out for mine

How far from the coast are you? Just wondering. . I am about an hour and haven't found a way to put in a root cellar in my area yet.

 

[realisticdude]

How far from the coast are you? Just wondering. . I am about an hour and haven't found a way to put in a root cellar in my area yet.

I'm in the rolling red clay hills ...... 50 plus miles north of new orleans

 

[Dani]

I'm in the rolling red clay hills ...... 50 plus miles north of new orleans

Oh how I know about those 'rolling clay hills'

 

[realisticdude]

Oh how I know about those 'rolling clay hills'

If you ain't digging red clay...........................you ain't home

 

[Brent S]

looking good there Brent......................... don't see your ventilation air input

So far I have about 700. in it. I have the block to finish the walls but will need a little more rebar for the roof and of course a concrete truck to do the walls and ceiling pour. I have not worked on the door yet either. I was hoping to pull this off for just over 1000. but will be over that. I am going to have a vent pipe and a secondary escape tube thru the roof as well. If you have an outward opening door any debris from a storm could trap you, so an emergency exit is important. I thought about an inward opening door but it's not nearly as strong.

 

[Brent S]

How far from the coast are you? Just wondering. . I am about an hour and haven't found a way to put in a root cellar in my area yet.

If you build it on the ground you can mound over it with dirt, accomplishing the same idea. I kind of like living like a hobbit!

 

[Brent S]

If you ain't digging red clay...........................you ain't home

Thank god I have an electric jack hammer to break the stuff up. It's almost as tough as concrete!

 

[Marv.Schmitz87]

First quick harvest of our first peas. They taste amazing.

 

[Silent Bob]

Just bought online the Smittybilt Element Ramps for about $150. I have a nice ramp, but thought these were better at being stowed away in the BOV. They come with a nice case. Any one own these and can tell me how well they did in mud and snow? Here is what they had their website.

 

[Maverick]

Updating first aid kit and replacing the trauma kit, wife ordered these medical books; The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way: by Joseph Alton, Amy Alton (and) Where There is No Animal Doctor: by Dr. Peter Quesenberry, Dr. Maureen Birmingham

 

[jayson40]

Im throwing out a challenge to everyone to post what they do for prepping. I know time and money can limit what people can get done. Even one thing a week, no matter how small gets you one step closer to your goals. Over the next year this should be a huge thread and all of us should have 50 projects done.

This week my son and I picked up 700 223 brass and 800 40cal brass to reload. Cost was nothing but an hours time. Now the work starts to prepare it to reload and locate bullets.

What have you accomplished this week?

Just got done updating BOB bags. Been busy with work haven't been able. To do much.

 

[Brent S]

Updating first aid kit and replacing the trauma kit, wife ordered these medical books; The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way: by Joseph Alton, Amy Alton (and) Where There is No Animal Doctor: by Dr. Peter Quesenberry, Dr. Maureen Birmingham

I'd really like to get a copy of the vet guide to have on the shelf.

 

[jimLE]

i just got my first 2 okra..im thinking of saving the seeds from these ones for next year

 

[Brent S]

i just got my first 2 okra..im thinking of saving the seeds from these ones for next year

View attachment 3232

Ive been reusing my okra seeds for about five yrs now. I read that its best to leave some okra on the stalk at the end of the season. Just let it dry out naturally and when hard and dry just store the whole pod till spring and break it open when ready to plant. Its worked for me so far. I made the mistake of planting my okra next to the corn this year, which over shaded it and my plants were small. I finally pushed over the corn and the okra is taking off now. Ive frozen some, canned some and fried some with potatoes so far. Good stuff!

 

[QuietH3art]

Ive been reusing my okra seeds for about five yrs now. I read that its best to leave some okra on the stalk at the end of the season. Just let it dry out naturally and when hard and dry just store the whole pod till spring and break it open when ready to plant. Its worked for me so far. I made the mistake of planting my okra next to the corn this year, which over shaded it and my plants were small. I finally pushed over the corn and the okra is taking off now. Ive frozen some, canned some and fried some with potatoes so far. Good stuff!

The only problem I've seen with leaving things to go to seed on the plant is that that tells the plant to stop producing. If you pick all of your veggies when they are ready, using other methods for saving seed, your plants will continually produce throughout the season. Of course, if you're already getting more than you can use, that won't matter.

 

[jimLE]

i planted my garden where my tomato and okra plants will,and do get direct sun the better part of the day..and my corn is on opposite side of them from the sun..

what i need to know..is the best route to take when it comes saveing the seeds...

 

[jimLE]

i just came across this youtube video.on okra seeds..but there's nothing about drying them out.and/or what ever