Colorado

[Pozees]

Did I mention that we brought Beth home on Saturday afternoon?

Woo hoo!!! How is she feeling? She must be SO happy to be home, and you and the kids must be SO happy to have her home! I am happy for you, Wendell!

 

[Pozees]

Hi all,

I've only read about the last three months worth of posts. Nice to see how our state's chicken interest has grown.

I'm living vicariously through you all, as I no longer have any cickens. Had a change of career, to Over The Road truck driver that precludes having a house let alone a yard with chickens in it. All to the good though as I anxiously wait for the day when I can retire to a new house, yard full of home grown produce and runs full of animals.

Coloradogal - all those self sufficient things you do are superb and I would give anything to be able to spend a weekend, week, month, whatever, with you to learn all your secrets!

Everyone take care. I'll try to check in on you from time to time when I have internet out on the road.




I've had one of these for years and absolutely love it, Radish sprouts (my personal favorite), pea sprouts, bean sprouts... mmmm good for me and the chickies!

Welcome! How long have you been driving over the road? Are you enjoying it?

 

[Pozees]

I had to chime in on reasons why I decided to try canning, finally, after thinking about it for years. Coloradogal and Mickey328 gave the best reasons, but to elaborate on a point I think they both made, our home is 11 miles south of Pueblo, and twice since we moved here the highway has been closed due to snow. I have already been in the habit of keeping dried foods such as beans and pastas available just in case (and besides, we like them) and always have at least an envelope of dried milk (gotta' be able to lighten the coffee!) and flours and salts, but if the power goes out, we have no water (on a well), and it's hard to soak and cook beans and pastas with no water. I can't can lightened coffee, but I can can lots of things that will sustain us - more when I finally get a pressure canner. Add to that the inconvenient fact that DH is employed by the construction industry and has been laid off twice in the last four years, and we have all the reasons we need for preserving food we have either grown or have obtained at peak freshness and bottom expense. Now that my degree is done, I plan to grow a lot more of our food next year, and so hope for a better summer - maybe a little more rain, and fewer 100 degree + windy days? Please, Mother Nature???

 

[Minchi]

When you get a weekend and can come down, let me know and I'll get some people together to go through whatever it is they want to learn. I enjoy having people over and spending that time in the kitchen creating new things.

I really wish today had been in your kitchen, over 3 dozen jars of Jam, 5 flavors. Now I have to clean...

 

[Minchi]

I had to chime in on reasons why I decided to try canning, finally, after thinking about it for years. Coloradogal and Mickey328 gave the best reasons, but to elaborate on a point I think they both made, our home is 11 miles south of Pueblo, and twice since we moved here the highway has been closed due to snow. I have already been in the habit of keeping dried foods such as beans and pastas available just in case (and besides, we like them) and always have at least an envelope of dried milk (gotta' be able to lighten the coffee!) and flours and salts, but if the power goes out, we have no water (on a well), and it's hard to soak and cook beans and pastas with no water. I can't can lightened coffee, but I can can lots of things that will sustain us - more when I finally get a pressure canner. Add to that the inconvenient fact that DH is employed by the construction industry and has been laid off twice in the last four years, and we have all the reasons we need for preserving food we have either grown or have obtained at peak freshness and bottom expense. Now that my degree is done, I plan to grow a lot more of our food next year, and so hope for a better summer - maybe a little more rain, and fewer 100 degree + windy days? Please, Mother Nature???

The only advice I can give you is to do your research before you get it. Everything I read said that the only good brand out there is All American so I go one. It is nice and solid but not cheep. You might check your nearest hardware store and see if they sell filtered water for water coolers. We keep a few on hand and also have a 60 gallon drum just in case. Our water is really bad so we have the filtered water anyways but it does not hurt to be prepared and instant coffee has come a long way, you would not want to go without.

 

[Pozees]

The only advice I can give you is to do your research before you get it. Everything I read said that the only good brand out there is All American so I go one. It is nice and solid but not cheep. You might check your nearest hardware store and see if they sell filtered water for water coolers. We keep a few on hand and also have a 60 gallon drum just in case. Our water is really bad so we have the filtered water anyways but it does not hurt to be prepared and instant coffee has come a long way, you would not want to go without.

We have difficult water too, lots of iron in it, had to install a $5k water treatment system for household water when we built the house. We usually do keep a few gallons of water on hand through winter just in case, in fact it's about time to stock up again - I don't like to keep them indefinitely, so use them come late spring/summer.

You weren't kidding when you said the All American is not cheap. Reminds me of when I got my bread maker and ultimately wound up with the most expensive one Thanks for the tip, I will definitely do more research!

 

[wsmith]

Woo hoo!!! How is she feeling? She must be SO happy to be home, and you and the kids must be SO happy to have her home! I am happy for you, Wendell!

She feels much better, but is still very weak and tired. We got a "best case / worst case" time line from the oncologists, so we are planning aroound that.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Wendell, I am glad Beth is home with you all. She will be happier there and can just rest.

I also have an All American pressure canner. The big boy! So when are we gonna canner party?

I want some Cuckoo Marans and crosses. I didn't get any spring babies because I was waiting to see what my broody would do and she was not successful. I would love about 3 or 4 or more if you still have extra. My meaties go to freezer camp mid Oct and I will have lots more space for the little ones.

Come on RAIN!

 

[pichuris]

What do you all think about moving my pullets out to the coop? They were hatched 8/22/12. I will keep the ones with bare backs inside still and only those that have their feathers I was considering putting them out. Whatcha think?

 

[coloradochick]

Hi all,

I've only read about the last three months worth of posts. Nice to see how our state's chicken interest has grown.

I'm living vicariously through you all, as I no longer have any cickens. Had a change of career, to Over The Road truck driver that precludes having a house let alone a yard with chickens in it. All to the good though as I anxiously wait for the day when I can retire to a new house, yard full of home grown produce and runs full of animals.

Coloradogal - all those self sufficient things you do are superb and I would give anything to be able to spend a weekend, week, month, whatever, with you to learn all your secrets!

Everyone take care. I'll try to check in on you from time to time when I have internet out on the road.




I've had one of these for years and absolutely love it, Radish sprouts (my personal favorite), pea sprouts, bean sprouts... mmmm good for me and the chickies!

Karen!!!! OTR truckdriver eh.... I always tell DH if the kids were older that's what we'd be doing. How've you been. I still have the EE/Marans girl(I think it was Marans to make an olive egger) running around currently going through an ugly molt right now. She'll be 3 this October 21st.

Cara