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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Winter Preparations  |
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MrsTracy
True Blue Farmgirl
145 Posts
Tracy
Beaufort
South Carolina
USA
145 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 08 2012 : 6:32:19 PM
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I know we just got into summer but there has always been something in me that calls me to start preparing for the upcoming winter. Am I alone in this? I'm feeling it more this year than any other time. I'm really a novice though when it comes to true preparation such as stocking up, laying by and getting ready.
What are some of the things you do throughout the summer and autumn months to get you ready for the long cold winter?
Aspiring Titus II and Proverbs 31 Lady. |
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jollyquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
WV
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2012 : 7:30:29 PM
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I can anything I can get my hands on. Wild berries and things from the garden as well as chicken and venison later on. I also make sure all the battery stores are current. This list can go on and on. This is a great thread and I will be watching as others add their needs.
www.StuffByKim.etsy.com
http://fiberandflea.blogspot.com |
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AnnieinIdaho
True Blue Farmgirl
437 Posts
Annie
ID
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2012 : 7:35:37 PM
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Well, I too get that feeling and I think some of us are more sensitive to the environment...very subtle signals are picked up and make us tuned in so to speak and thoughts creep in to consider preparations for fall and winter. And weather has been so unpredictable that winter could come early even. So recently, since we reached the longest day we now are headed back in the other direction with each day getting shorter by a few minutes and I think we may sense it to some degree. I notice in summer that I organize my closets, cupboards, and think I must in some way be taking an inventory. I can see what items are low or what items would be required more in winter. I also for some crazy reason always find myself buying thread..that is just so funny to me. I must think I may be sewing all winter long or just in case could sew all winter long! And I am not even in real snow country. This year however, I think a combination of uncertainty and so many factors impacting people's well being may be causing me to sense "a tremor in the force" and an urgency to be prepared has set in. I am guessing that one day the truck will not drive over the hill filled with goodies. Paranoid no...prepared yes. So, I'm making a list and checking it twice. Best to you!
Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
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MrsTracy
True Blue Farmgirl
145 Posts
Tracy
Beaufort
South Carolina
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2012 : 7:52:52 PM
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I've been saving all my plastic milk bottles and sterilizing them. I'm going to boil water and then fill them and set them aside. It will be used for non food uses.
Aspiring Titus II and Proverbs 31 Lady. |
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rphelps4
True Blue Farmgirl
620 Posts
roxanna
westport
indiana
USA
620 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2012 : 9:05:24 PM
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| I know I think if you can get a hold of anything to can or freeze, you better do it , they are already talking about how much everything is going up in the stores. |
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princesspatches
True Blue Farmgirl
431 Posts
arttie
iron mountain
michigan
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 03:46:10 AM
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We usually stockpile food, laundry soap and toiletries for winter. We are cutting and stacking wood. Making sure the house is in good order. Here we can get crop permists for deer and will be processing venision for the freezer. Slaughtering the beef and pork.
Winter time we hunker down for the most part. But weather is a factor and also the coming election is making people nervous. My plan is to can more thatn I did last year. Declutter the house and sell off any un-used items and stash money.
Yes, we are busy bee's right now getting ready for the future. We are not hard-core preppers, but we like to know we can survive if we need to.
Great thread.
My tip for stockpiling-----LAUNDRY Soap. I hate lugging the big jugs through the snow all winter. And Coffee...lots and lots of coffee
Arttie |
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rphelps4
True Blue Farmgirl
620 Posts
roxanna
westport
indiana
USA
620 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 07:58:39 AM
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| Arttie, you should try the home made laundry soap. |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 07:01:17 AM
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My granddaughters have been here for a month so I havent done a lot of getting the house in order. they go home on Sunday and we will really miss them. But back to reality and getting things stocked back up. DH will be gone for a week the middle of August to see his Dad and I can get much more done when he is not here. And I dont eat as much when he isnt here...dont have to cook. I will claean out and stock up starting next week...Glad to see we all have the same mind set.
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 07:07:14 AM
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Oh and one thing I forgot...we need to buy a gun and ammo...we dont have one yet and have been on our 10 acres for 4 yrs...
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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jollyquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
WV
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2012 : 08:40:27 AM
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Keeping an eye on the drought and the prices of corn and soybeans. This will all effect our food supply in stores as well as gas prices since the Goverment now makes them add ethenol to the gasoline.
Don't forget to store food for your furry friends. Dogfood has gone up $1.00 on 50 pounds.
www.StuffByKim.etsy.com
http://fiberandflea.blogspot.com |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2012 : 10:17:54 AM
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I can, freeze, and stack more wood than I care to think about, ready stoves, store hay, ... they is so much to be done ... and it starts in about another 3 weeks for me. Good luck!
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
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Alanna Neupert
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Alanna
cabot
PA
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2012 : 8:18:06 PM
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| Hi I know I started stocking up on stuff especially last August when I became a widow. I started buying large quantities of t. paper, paper towels, laundry detergent and is only me here now. I was going crazy here for awhile. I think people thought I had a B& B. I guess that was my way of coping-me against the world. I plan on canning some this summer with the price of food going to go up! Alanna from Pa. |
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Marylyn
True Blue Farmgirl
316 Posts
Marylyn
Ellsinore
MO
USA
316 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2012 : 9:36:11 PM
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I am canning more this year or should I say more variety, and I am going to buy lots of flour, cornmeal, and dried beans to oven can. I also make my own laundry soap and have for over 3 years now. But that just seems like that is what summer is for...getting ready for winter, but with the prices of everything skyrocketing it seems extra important this summer.
Love,
Auntie M
Farmgirl # 4062
That which does not kill me, only serves to make me stronger!...unknown to me. |
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mountain mama
True Blue Farmgirl
168 Posts
Marilyn
Divide
Co
168 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2012 : 06:20:57 AM
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I am canning like crazy. So glad to get onto this thread and find that others think the way I do. Everyone I know acts as if I am nuts. Because of where I live it can snow any time I am getting things cleaned up outside and beginning to make sure junk is picked up. Everyone on this thread seems to really have it together. I believe that food is really going to go up so canning and drying food not freezing it(electricity goes off) is the way to go. Stocking up on items that are not edible is definitely a good idea. And pet food. Thank you all for this thread. I think we are in for a hard ride.
Marilyn
Farmgirl #408
Stress relief: go fishing, play in the dirt. go on a road trip, talk to a farmgirl. |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2012 : 2:44:36 PM
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We do as much canning, dehydrating, etc. as we can. We split and stack wood, get the chimney swept, prepay weekly to the propane company (so when it's low it's already paid for basically), repairs on home, barns and coops....lots of stuff.
Oh, we fill large containers with water for when the pipes freeze, and stock up on batteries, camping lanterns, flashlights etc.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
From my hands: http://pioneerpatchworkhomespun.blogspot.com/
From my Camera: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pioneerwomanatheart/
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KatTylee
True Blue Farmgirl
230 Posts
Katrina
Mitchell
Nebraska
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2012 : 09:37:31 AM
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I'm waaaay behind on my stocking up this year since we just moved. I always forget how expensive that gets. Normally I can like crazy (gonna have to use the farmer's market and not my garden this year), dry fruit, stock up on the t.p., peanut butter, canned goods, and the like. I'm excited to have a basement to use for just this sort of thing. So glad to see I'm not the only one that feels fall coming. I think I must have been a squirrel or something in a past life since I've got to get my stash ready for winter. :)
~"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."
— Oscar Wilde~
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AnnieinIdaho
True Blue Farmgirl
437 Posts
Annie
ID
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2012 : 4:45:13 PM
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Whew... my legs and feet are tired. Today I started marinating the dry fruit for mincemeat pie filling. It sits out for 24 hours. Tomorrow I will finish it by adding the fresh fruit and cooking it and then also can it. I put up some whole corn today, some English Peas, and Blueberries in a very light syrup. I really got busy and made Burgundy Beef and canned those, and also made French Onion Soup. Those jars are pressure cooking now. Whew!! Nearly done though for this round of canning. I guess my Split Pea Soup will have to wait a few more days. I need a break from standing on my feet. I know..in the pioneer days people walked 50 miles at a time. No big deal. I am delighted at my progress however since this is the first year I have ever canned, thanks to you Farmgirls I have learned so much!
Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 06:44:56 AM
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I have been harvesting and canning for a couple of weeks now, I also planted some fall crops. We have been slowly stocking up over the last couple of years. Mostly food, water, paper products and medicines. DH has been stocking up on ammunition too. We will be also stocking wood eventhough we live in town at the moment. We have a very large fireplace to heat the house if the need arises.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I am trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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desperadosdream
True Blue Farmgirl
197 Posts
Malena
Versailles
Indiana
USA
197 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 09:32:16 AM
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Ok ladies if anyone can give me some good recipes or measurements for canning meat I would appreciate it. I would like to do beef and chicken maybe some pork. Also does anyone dry jerky in their oven and how do you do that i.e temperature ,length of time, thickness etc.
Thanks gals.
Happy fall!
Malena |
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cozie lady
True Blue Farmgirl
58 Posts
Amy
Mt Pleasant
MI
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 09:34:01 AM
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Strange how your instincts take over. I have found myself keeping my car's gas tank full and buying extra paper products, made extra laundry soap and restocked my first aid kit.
I didn't have a large garden but have a friend who did. We have worked a trade for fresh canned goods for my paddle boat that I never use.
I am also going to can venison this year, I haven't did that in a couple of years.
I am going to try to bake my bread from scratch this winter. I have never had much luck with it but will keep trying until I get it down.
amy r
sister #4186 |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Annette Kath
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Annette
Carlock
IL
USA
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2012 : 7:05:21 PM
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I have been canning from my garden all winter. I also saved over 100 gallons of water from my dehumidifier through the summer to use in the humidifiers this winter or for whatever the need may be. I also stock up on whatever's on sale.
Annette |
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Annette Kath
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Annette
Carlock
IL
USA
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2012 : 7:06:07 PM
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Sorry, I've been canning all summer, not winter!
Annette |
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pinokeeo
True Blue Farmgirl
559 Posts
Phyllis
Oregon
USA
559 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2012 : 06:14:51 AM
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It seems like this thread just stopped. I have been canning, dehydrating and freezing everything in my garden, as well as gathering from others leftovers in the orchards. We always stock up on paper products, borax, washing powder, batteries and matches. We have already split and stacked our firewood, and the wall is full at the moment. We also store extra gas in cans in case we get snowed in.
We have also stocked up on fabric and thread this year, for some reason. I guess we will be making new clothes for ourselves.
And this year's Christmas will be all homemade.
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I cannot master those things that I have not tried.
check out my artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/PiNOKEEOs |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Winter Preparations |
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Winter Preparations
