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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Winter Preparations  |
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desperadosdream
True Blue Farmgirl
197 Posts
Malena
Versailles
Indiana
USA
197 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 05 2012 : 08:19:57 AM
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Our Christmas will be homemade as well which is fine by me but I'm not at all sure how the kids will feel about it. There isn't any other choice this year so they will adjust and adapt I suppose. We will be very lucky to have a roof over our heads without staying with someone, so I think they understand and appreciate much more now than they did a few short months ago. I've never taught my children to be into material things and I have never thought them to me materialistic, no name brand everything etc but since this year has been really tough they have learned to do without much stuff they were accustomed to and they longer grouch about most of it. Perhaps you could share some of your ideas or photos of your handmade Christmas as we go forward Phyllis. I am always looking for fresh ideas.
The last few days I have been clearing out the freezer and canning all of the contents therein that I can,so that I might be able to defrost and clean it good in case I do have to put it in a storage unit. I do not want to lose what food stores I have. I have also began to make a long "stock up list" that normally this time of year I would take 2 or 3 days in a row and go pack in every thing I thought would be necessary for winter so that I didn't have to get out in the winter if I didn't have to.
I love winter and so do the children but we like to hole up and read, craft,snuggle at the fire or have tea parties. They are home schooled so we don't have to get up when it's cold and icy and head out before dark to school either. Don't know what good stocking will do at this point but I am still attempting to prepare as best I can: polished the wood stove and put new gaskets on the doors, making my food lists, and the essentials lists for paper products etc in anticipation...hoping. It's very much like what I do come January or February when the seed catalogs start rolling in (chuckle) I simply cannot imagine a life where everything is piped in, store bought and electronic....I like life with a heart..homegrown, hand made and touched by the Heavens. Some may think it is a life of hard work and sweat, and it is, but can any farm girl picture things any other way? The blessings far outweigh the struggles.
Have a fabulous day all...I shall go forth house-hunting once again. Keep your fingers crossed.
Malena
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2012 : 1:56:14 PM
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We have been gathering in. I have canned everything I grew, bought or gleaned. I have been picking up extra stuff at the store when I go, coffee, flour and sugar, along with baking powder and stuff like that. Dh went to a potato farm and got a pickup load of potatoes, which we shared with others, and put 4 big sacks in our basement. We will have to eat pototes every meal all winter. We still need onions and apples. I have always believed in having food in storage, but this year it seems more urgent for some reason.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Yart
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
MI
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2012 : 11:12:51 AM
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I have been getting all the late harvest put up.... I'll be picking up 40 pounds of chicken from https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf29994 - Zaycon on Saturday... That will get canned up for the winter. I love having canned meat on the shelves.
FarmGirl Sister #1081
www.mythirtyone.com/224740
Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis
http://urban-eco.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Yart on Oct 18 2012 1:40:50 PM |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2012 : 4:38:59 PM
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Yart - My brother and I just learned about Zaycon, and although both of us live in opposite corners of PA, we're thinking about ordering... Have you ever done this before? What do you think of their meats? It seems SO worth it! Is it all it seems to be?
I've been stocking up on all of the same things you all have, as well as dehydrating, canning and freezing and stocking up on a little extra water, candles (buying those church-votive type a few at a time because they're supposed to last longer), and oil lamps and oil. I plan to stock up on rock salt, long johns, socks and a couple of extra blankets, and we'd like to invest in a generator, too, if possible. And because the roads can be fairly treacherous when it snows, I've stocked an extra first aid kit in the van, as well as a roadside emergency kit (flares, flashlight, jumper cables, emergency blanket, etc.). We also always keep a case of water in the back - just in case. All I need to do is toss in one of our shovels and a small bag of rock salt, some extra warm, dry socks, hand and foot warmers, and a few snacks in case we're stuck in the snow. I also like to keep my son's old DVD player and a couple of DVDS in there because if we ever break down, it sure makes things easier on any kids who might be with us. Oh! And I keep the cigarette lighter jack for the DVD player and cell phone in there at the ready as well. And like Amy, I try to keep our gas tank full (My dh, on the other hand, likes to ride it out til it's running on fumes, so I have to pay attention and keep on my toes with that! Make me nuts!). Although the national news reported tonight that they're expecting a warmer, drier winter, something inside has been telling me better safe than sorry. I don't have to go out and buy a whole bunch of things to do this, so I think despite the reports, I'll stay prepared - just in case. I'm a New Englander at heart - what can I say?
Like Malena, I would really appreciate any recipes you all would like to share for canning meats. I just read in this issue of Backwoods Home a wonderful "system" for canning meat and chicken - you might want to check that out, Malena!
Great posts, girls - thank you!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Edited by - Ninibini on Oct 18 2012 4:40:05 PM |
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Yart
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
MI
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2012 : 4:49:57 PM
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Nini, I will be picking up my first order of chicken on Saturday.... I am so excited. I have been wanting to do this for awhile now.... Everyone that has ordered has been very satisfied... I will let you know how it is.
FarmGirl Sister #1081
www.mythirtyone.com/224740
Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis
http://urban-eco.blogspot.com/ |
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Zippy
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Zee
Idaho
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2012 : 09:46:31 AM
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Hello all,
I think that nagging feeling to prepare is the Lord prompting us to get ready. My husband is a long-haul truck driver and he talks with people all over the country. Many, many people all over feel there's something wrong and they need to prepare, but they aren't sure for what. In my experience, when you ignore that feeling, you end up regretting it.
I truly believe the Lord will protect us, but He also inspires us to take steps to be ready. Don't ignore that feeling, pray about it and follow your heart.
"Only A Life Lived for Others is A Life Worthwhile."
~Albert Einstein
http://pinterest.com/zipporahd/ |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2012 : 12:32:43 PM
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I just put up 120 pounds of chicken from Zaycon last week. Half in the freezer and half in jars. Someone asked for the how-to for meat... it's easy.
You can stuff the raw meat in jars and bottle it that way. Or partially cook it. Or fully cook it. Seasoning or not. It's all up to you and how you plan to use it.
I usually par-bake my chicken with seasonings, cut in good sized cubes and can with the juices from the meat and a little extra water. I do it that way because I think the texture is better once bottled.
I also can things like teriyaki or sweet and sour chicken. Cook the chicken part way, add the sauce and then it's a meal in a jar. Chicken soup, chicken in vegetable stock, BBQ sauce. It's pretty limitless really.
Quarts are bottled at 10 pounds pressure (where I live) for 90 minutes.
I always recommend Jackie Clay's book Growing and Canning your own food or a good kerr/Ball canning book.
Other than canning and dehydrating anything that will sit still long enough... we are working on "get-home" packs for the cars. The opposite of bug-out bags that others are working on. They are backpacks with enough to get you home if you are stuck and end up having to walk.
Other "winter" preps around here.... planting a winter garden. Putting the rain barrels together. Topping off the propane tanks and gas cans. Buying extra candles at the thrift store. Watching for sales on paper products. Stocking up the herb cupboard and essential oils for potential "winter" ills.
I keep a list next to the computer so when I see something I hadn't thought of, I write it down.
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Winter Preparations |
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Winter Preparations
