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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Favorite old time foods to grow & use  |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 11 2012 : 11:02:34 AM
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Ok, I know you all are getting ready to start the gardens for the season & I was wondering what veggie or fruit that you enjoy growing the most & what you do with it...ie canning, drying ect. Also do any of you pick & eat so called weeds?
Of all the things I like to grow I think my favorite is tomatoes.....I get beef steak so I have a wonderful fresh tomato to eat all summer...nothing beats them cold & sliced...i also grow other tomatoes I can into sauces, juice or can whole...I also freeze them whole for stews, chili ect & for the denser ones I slice & dry Which are great crushed up in salads or as toppings for things like potato salad ect.
Now on to so called weeds...i pick dandelions for the leaves to eat, the roots i dry to use in teas & the blooms I dry for my marigold salve..plus if the leaves get too big for eating the chickens love them as a fresh snack....I also adore lambsquarters which are higher in vits than spinach....I steam them & salt & butter them for a good veggie side dish...those also go to the chickens once they get too tough/bitter for us.
Can't wait to hear what you all do.... ...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622
http://theoldbatzfarm.blogger.com |
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2012 : 2:18:41 PM
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Hello Michele, I use pine needles from our young pine trees. I slip them off when they are young and add water and slow boil for ten minutes then let steep for 10 minutes and then pour into ice cube trays and freeze and when I want a cup of good healthy tea that keeps me from getting sick and also very relaxing I just pull out an ice cube and throw it into a cup of boiled water and drink. Sometimes I add lavender or chamomile for a little different flavor but I love the smell of the pine needles.
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2012 : 4:38:04 PM
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I love picking and eating weeds. I've been picking plantain, sheep sorrel, henbit, and clover lately. When I can find a dandelion I like that too--oh and I did get some coltsfoot.
I am not sure what my favorite veg is to grow, I like them alot and this year we are experimenting with a few we've never grown before: onions, garlic, eggplant. I do love tomatoes--fried green ones are my favorite. I would like to try drying some this year and canning some.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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bananachicken
True Blue Farmgirl
67 Posts
Ginny
Ohio
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2012 : 8:14:18 PM
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Michele, that marigold salve sounds really interesting! How do you make it? I am really excited to try to make dandelion jelly this year. I would also love to know what lambsquarters look like...i love greens!
We love to grow tomatoes and banana peppers...we stuff and grill the peppers and they are so yummy! I am growing beets for the first time this year and am excited about their greens too! I love beets and roasting them is one of my favorite ways to prepare them.
Also, a first this year are watermelon radishes...I saw a cute recipe involving cutting them into triangles to look like watermelon slices and pickling them...can't wait to try it!
"I should be having tea right now."
-Lady Annalía Elisabet Catherina Tristán Llorente |
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2012 : 08:06:31 AM
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I am also a little confused about lambs-quarters look like. I find pictures but they are not real clear. Does anyone have a good book they could recommend for eating weeds?
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2012 : 3:42:04 PM
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http://www.eattheweeds.com/ --that is Green Deane's site, loads of info on edible weeds, great pics
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2012 : 4:40:43 PM
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Thank you I shall look it up.
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 07:45:04 AM
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Linda,
Have you ever tried making Spruce Tip Syrup? I remember Mother Earth News had a recipe but I haven't ventured in trying it yet :)
Michele, sorry I didn't mean to get off topic!
This year I am going to try and grow Calendula for soap making and salves. I did recently see a recipe for salve using Violets but I usually use those for jelly.
Staples in our garden are:
~Tomatoes (to eat fresh and for canning. And also for oven roasted pasta sauce. This smells amazing! Sometimes I will freeze tomatoes just so I can smell this in the winter :))
~Banana Peppers (mostly for Banana Pepper Mustard)
~Cinderella Pumpkins (We use these for pies and desserts. The Cinderella pumpkins give you more meat so I figured why not utilize the garden space and get more)
I want to try Banana Squash this year. A friend gave us one last year. It was huge. I spent some time cutting it up and then roasted it (like butternut squash). It was so good! My husband (who dislikes squash) really liked it so I definitely want to plant some this year.
By His Grace, For His Glory
~Sharon
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 4:12:27 PM
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Hello Sharon, thanks for the tip and I shall look up the recipe. Mother Earth News is one of my favorite magazines. I shall let you know if I find it and make it.
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
sarah
groton
CT
39 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2012 : 10:27:21 AM
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I think that squash are probably my favorite kind of vegetable to grow. All kinds of squash. I have a nasty vine borer problem in my garden though. I guess zuchetta tromboncino rampicante are supposed to be borer resistant so I am going to try that this year. Wish me luck!!
http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/ |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
686 Posts
Emily
Thomasville
PA
USA
686 Posts |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2012 : 06:34:37 AM
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Sarah, I grew Zuchetta Tromboncino last year and they were incredible! I entered a few into the fair and got blue ribbons on all them! PLUS, they were the easiest squash I have ever grown in my life! I made a lot of mock-apple pies with the necks of them. If you let them get really big the bottom bulb part with the seeds in it gets a little stringy but they were extremely prolific and of all the things I grew last year they did the absolute best! Also, nothing and I mean NOTHING attacked them. I tried planting a different summer squash and some bug did them in but not the zuchetta. It's really fun to learn how to grow new things.
My favorite old time foods to grow are heirloom beans, tomatoes, beets, and some day I will learn to grow big cantaloupes like I remember my great-grandpa growing!!! I also like to grow heirloom squash and heirloom OP corn. This year I'm going to learn more about growing my own heirloom herbs and greens and a few heirloom flowers too. I'm mostly concentrating on learning to grow the herbs and greens this year and keeping my garden at "status quo" for a year before branching off with more heirloom varieties again, happy planting! :)
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
sarah
groton
CT
39 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2012 : 7:40:13 PM
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Krystle- Great to hear. That makes me even more excited about getting them out into the garden. They are only 2 inches tall right now though.
http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2012 : 12:45:52 PM
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I just picked up an organic heirloom plant for black cherry tomatoes. Normally I only buy seeds but I just had to try this one out. I'm calling it "my baby" and putting it in a big pot and not in the garden. Cant' wait to see how my black cherry tomatoes turn out!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2012 : 1:03:00 PM
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I love most anything that grows! my faves are potatoes, beans, tomatoes, strawberries and squash. I've been picking the little dandelions and some young pepper grass (at least that's what my mama called it) to add to salads. I have a nice patch of purple flowered cat mint that makes good tea. We have wild roses and they have lovely red hips in the autumn that make a yummy tea, little mirabelle plums and wild apple trees nearby. The surrounding farmers spray so much junk on the fields and everything around it, that I'm not comfortable with harvesting many weeds and wild things from the roadsides any more.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2012 : 5:15:22 PM
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My favorite is okra. We try to grow a lot of okra, so we can freeze lots of it for winter gumbos. Last year, we had lots of tomatoes, so I stewed them down for soups or to use in spaghetti dishes. We are patiently waiting for our okra, tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers to start producing. Our crops are getting tall. The cucumbers have flowers on them already. I can't wait to start harvesting.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 06:46:52 AM
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The asparagus I planted earlier this year is coming up! I'm so excited to have a perennial in my garden now! Plus my heirloom kale came back. I think it's due to the extra mild winter we had! How exciting!!!!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 10:23:01 AM
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Krystle I have never tried to grow kale but have decided to try it this year so am happy to see yours is doing well...:)...Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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Mollymaude
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Vickie
San Angelo
TX
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2013 : 08:28:57 AM
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Hi Michele,
I hate that I missed your post about the marigold salve for more than a year but would truly love to know more about it.
When you have a moment would you share with me how it is made and what all you use it for?
Thanks a heap.
Have a great and blessed day.
Vickie
quote:
Originally posted by batznthebelfry
Ok, I know you all are getting ready to start the gardens for the season & I was wondering what veggie or fruit that you enjoy growing the most & what you do with it...ie canning, drying ect. Also do any of you pick & eat so called weeds?
Of all the things I like to grow I think my favorite is tomatoes.....I get beef steak so I have a wonderful fresh tomato to eat all summer...nothing beats them cold & sliced...i also grow other tomatoes I can into sauces, juice or can whole...I also freeze them whole for stews, chili ect & for the denser ones I slice & dry Which are great crushed up in salads or as toppings for things like potato salad ect.
Now on to so called weeds...i pick dandelions for the leaves to eat, the roots i dry to use in teas & the blooms I dry for my marigold salve..plus if the leaves get too big for eating the chickens love them as a fresh snack....I also adore lambsquarters which are higher in vits than spinach....I steam them & salt & butter them for a good veggie side dish...those also go to the chickens once they get too tough/bitter for us.
Can't wait to hear what you all do.......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622
http://theoldbatzfarm.blogger.com
Life is full of special surprises |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Favorite old time foods to grow & use |
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Favorite old time foods to grow & use
