What to Grow ??

[Brent S]

I did some research for cold weather plants and came up with a list, went to wallyworld, lowes and tractor supply, nobody had any veggie seeds left! Looked online and went with seeds now.com , they had all kinds of non HMO seeds for .99cents per pack. Got a winter garden for 11 1/2 dollars! The larger packs of seeds were much cheaper but I've learned not to plant too much at once as it becomes a full time job. Anyways, wanted to plant tomorrow but will do it sometime next week now.

That looks amazing! I'm so far behind you!

thanks, I do as much as I can with the resources I have. Funny, I watched the last episode of doomsday preppers and a guy in Colorado built an 80 acre ranch, completely off grid, with a huge greenhouse and a giant 5th weel luxury bug out vehicle. I guess everything is up to your perspective, I just thought to myself "I'm so far behind!". I guess the best you can do in life is keep plugging along a little at a time, and over the long haul you'll be closer and closer to your goals. I'll have the greenhouse done this winter in time for spring, but am allready thinking of my next projects. I don't have a spare 25k lying around for a solar system to run the entire place, but I think I can manage a split solar/hydro system that can run my fridge and freezer, and probably lights. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, as long as you're heading in the right direction you'll get there eventually.

 

[ChancesR]

I have a question about Honey can you Can with it... I have only heard of using sugar which is why I wanted to grow it so the Canning people around me could depend on some sort of cheap back up sugar, but maybe you can use it I dont can so I wouldnt know... I was looking to find ideas of things to grow that are not food food like vegs and fruit... I apparently suck at them they die as soon as I get them or they never produce anything and just become bushes... I think vegs and fruit plants just wont grow for me I have spent lots of time and money three times now and nothing to show for it. I would like ideas like Tea, Pepper corn plants, medicine plants or basket weaving plants and broom plants are a good idea... yeah I think I will look into weaving and broom plants... I could learn how to use them to make things for people... hmmm

 

[jimLE]

i hear that honey will last for years as long as its properly canned and stored..that includes keeping it properly canned in a canning jar.to keeping it away from direct sun light to keeping it in a cool room.

 

[Brent S]

i hear that honey will last for years as long as its properly canned and stored..that includes keeping it properly canned in a canning jar.to keeping it away from direct sun light to keeping it in a cool room.

Yeah I've heard it will last too. I have had it crystallize before, looks like it's trying to become sugar, but I think that was an opened container that wasn't well stored.

 

[Dani]

Yes you can use honey when canning. Honey is one of those food items, and I believe the only one, that will last forever. There have been Egyptian tombs that held jars of honey that was still good. If you find a jar/bottle that have crystalized, just heat it up and it turns back into honey.

 

[Brent S]

Yes you can use honey when canning. Honey is one of those food items, and I believe the only one, that will last forever. There have been Egyptian tombs that held jars of honey that was still good. If you find a jar/bottle that have crystalized, just heat it up and it turns back into honey.

cool, i didnt know it could be salvaged. hope you had a good christmas.

 

[ChancesR]

Yes you can use honey when canning.

Cool maybe that will work... but I would still love to be able to grow sugar cane and make raw sugar by boiling the juice and sap of the canes... I think a cider press would be good at pressing out the juice from ground up chunks of cane... I just pinned a site that tells you how to make it at home from cane to crystals... it is just one more thing on how to I need to add to my prepping binders.

 

[Dani]

cool, i didnt know it could be salvaged. hope you had a good christmas.

Had an awesome Christmas. . . son #2 and his wife designed and made us a branding iron. We won't use it on the animals, but son said this will make you an official "rockin' ranch" now. Hope you had a good one too0 Brent!

 

[Shenandoah]

I have a question about Honey can you Can with it... I have only heard of using sugar which is why I wanted to grow it so the Canning people around me could depend on some sort of cheap back up sugar, but maybe you can use it I dont can so I wouldnt know... I was looking to find ideas of things to grow that are not food food like vegs and fruit... I apparently suck at them they die as soon as I get them or they never produce anything and just become bushes... I think vegs and fruit plants just wont grow for me I have spent lots of time and money three times now and nothing to show for it. I would like ideas like Tea, Pepper corn plants, medicine plants or basket weaving plants and broom plants are a good idea... yeah I think I will look into weaving and broom plants... I could learn how to use them to make things for people... hmmm

Sure you can "can" with Honey! We do it all the time. The exchange of Honey for White Sugar is cup for cup...nothing hard to remember. Whatever you are canning will be a little darker in color than had you used white sugar but the actual end result will be the same fabulous taste! All the Apple Jelly I made this year was canned with Honey. We also used it in our Green Beans--I always put a little ham, onion, salt, pepper, and honey in each quart before they go into the pressure canner. Those beans are to die for!! Give it a go!!

Blessings,
Shenandoah

 

[Dani]

Honey is a stronger sweetener than sugar. In general, substituting honey for sugar seems to be a matter of taste. Some people use it cup for cup, others prefer 1/2 cup - 2/3 cup of honey per cup of white sugar. Reduce the amount of other liquids by 1/4 cup for every cup of honey used. Lower the oven temp about 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning and add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey to your batter. (Honey is naturally acidic and the baking soda tempers it.)

If you are diabetic, keep in mind that honey does not reduce the calorie or carbohydrate content of the sugar syrup, and thus is not acceptable sugar replacements for people on diabetic diets.

 

[Shenandoah]

Honey is a stronger sweetener than sugar. In general, substituting honey for sugar seems to be a matter of taste. Some people use it cup for cup, others prefer 1/2 cup - 2/3 cup of honey per cup of white sugar. Reduce the amount of other liquids by 1/4 cup for every cup of honey used. Lower the oven temp about 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning and add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey to your batter. (Honey is naturally acidic and the baking soda tempers it.)

If you are diabetic, keep in mind that honey does not reduce the calorie or carbohydrate content of the sugar syrup, and thus is not acceptable sugar replacements for people on diabetic diets.

Dani-
Your quote is correct for baking but incorrect for canning. You never reduce the amount of liquids for canning. Your above quote is almost verbatim from the GrowYourOwn website....if you look halfway down the page, even they say for canning you generally use 7/8 of a cup of honey to 1 cup of sugar and NOT to reduce the liquids.

Blessings,
Shenandoah

 

[Brent S]

Had an awesome Christmas. . . son #2 and his wife designed and made us a branding iron. We won't use it on the animals, but son said this will make you an official "rockin' ranch" now. Hope you had a good one too0 Brent!

Sounds great, I love handmade gifts!

 

[jimLE]

i got a email from My Patriot Supply today saying that thier seeds are now 25% off the original price of all seeds ..so it's matter of me being patent enough to wait on my tax return before buying more seeds

 

[Gettingreadymama]

i got a email from My Patriot Supply today saying that thier seeds are now 25% off the original price of all seeds ..so it's matter of me being patent enough to wait on my tax return before buying more seeds

I am right there with you on the waiting thing! Good to know that the seed are on sale! I hope it lasts for a bit! I have my list ready to go!!! Getting excited to get my garden going!

 

[jimLE]

here's one thing it says in the email i got

Now & Forever Seed Sale

In an effort to bring you the best prices that we possibly can, My Patriot Supply has made a permanent price reduction on all of our seed products. Just in time as you get ready for gardening season.

 

[Gettingreadymama]

here's one thing it says in the email i got

Now & Forever Seed Sale

In an effort to bring you the best prices that we possibly can, My Patriot Supply has made a permanent price reduction on all of our seed products. Just in time as you get ready for gardening season.

Awesome! I need to look at my e-mails. Thank you for the heads up. Now all I need is to find a sale on canning items!!

 

[jimLE]

me to..i have alot to do in order to get up to par on my canning needs

 

[Brent S]

I'll look at that site too, I got seeds from seedsnow.com and was pretty impressed with price and selection. I'm pretty eager to plant the greenhouse and garden before too long, but it's so cold right now that I feel spring is a long way off.

 

[jimLE]

yeah..with the way things look with the cold right now..i'll be surprised if i got seeds planted by end of march right now

 

[Brent S]

yeah..with the way things look with the cold right now..i'll be surprised if i got seeds planted by end of march right now

You can always start inside and then move them out in spring. Gives you a little jump on the season.

 

[jimLE]

thats true..but i haven't gotten my greenhouse done up right.plus.i simply don't have the spare room in the house to do that..

 

[Brent S]

thats true..but i haven't gotten my greenhouse done up right.plus.i simply don't have the spare room in the house to do that..

I haven't heated my greenhouse, so it's only for winter veggies for now. Even unheated though, you can still plant a little earlier as it will keep the frost off the new plants.

 

[jimLE]

i had used a roll of plastic on mine.and the plastic is dry rotting and coming apart..so i either need to buy a new roll and reclose it that way.or go ahead and make it larger as well as close it in.

 

[Brent S]

i had used a roll of plastic on mine.and the plastic is dry rotting and coming apart..so i either need to buy a new roll and reclose it that way.or go ahead and make it larger as well as close it in.

I found a place that makes stuff for chicken houses. They sold me a woven plastic fabric that's translucent, even sewed it together for 120.00. It was big enough for 18'x21'. I don't know how long it will last with the sun exposure, but if I get three years I'll be happy, anything over will be gravy! This morning I went out and shook off about three inches of snow off the roof, and it didn't even look like it was stressing the fabric at all. Got any chicken farms near you? The guy told me he made divider curtains for them with this material. If you're interested I can get you contact info, but I'm sure shipping would add a little expense.

 

[jimLE]

i have to concern my self with cost.so buying local is a must for me..especily when it comes to some thing like that

 

[Brent S]

I put some potatoes that had grown eyes into the greenhouse today. Was about the only productive thing I did all day. This was the second day I missed work from the snow and ice, and it was just too cold to be out in it. Looks like it thawed enough today though to make it out of the driveway so I'm back tomorrow.

 

[Brent S]

sprouts for me. beans, alfalpha, etc, most nutrition, fastest, easiest, smallest space, out of sight, etc. Major advantages.

Haven't tried growing any sprouts yet, what types do you grow?

 

[saalian]

Honey is a natural antiseptic too. The bees would also assist with crops and gardens (especially fruit trees).

Could fructose (fruit sugars) be used instead of sugar in preserves and for canning purposes?

 

[Brent S]

Honey is a natural antiseptic too. The bees would also assist with crops and gardens (especially fruit trees).

Could fructose (fruit sugars) be used instead of sugar in preserves and for canning purposes?

I havent made any preserves yet, so am not sure on the fructose, but i am considering trying my hand at bees as i have about 65 fruit trees now, and lots of blueberries and grapes too. the pollination would be the main objective with the honey just a nice perk. this year i have too many things going on but will prob try bees next yr.

 

[Krime]

I'm new, have not read this thread,
With that being said... I got a 1000 watt lamp for a mj grow but haven't used it yet
i always thought it would be worthless if **** went down... I'm not wasting generator juice on that when the sun is out... but if it goes black like I think it will, well all it does is make me worry... I'm going to go run drills with the family.
MM

just an fyi for ya, 1000 watts is = to 1kw/per hour, a typical solar panel (the bigger ones like you find on a house) run at 240 or so watts per hour, so you'd need at least 5 of those + one 1200watt (1.2kw) inverter. seeing as how a typical house (depending on electricity bill) runs off of a 6kw solar system (6000watts), id say your grower is a bit extreme in a shtf situation, however, not entirely useless. though the main point of a grow light, is to keep "sun" (irradiation) on the plant throughout the night, for that you need battery packs to collect the energy throughout the day, to distribute the power to the grow light during the night. this process would mean needing 1+ more panels, and possibly a larger inverter, so you can supply the grow light power during the day and supply the batteries for the night at the same time (unless you use the real sun during the day that is). then to top it all off, you'd need the knowledge of how to hookup/run/operate/and maintenance the whole thing. solar is awesome, just not to sure its convenient for a 1000watt grow light.