Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

One time it was so cold, the geese stuck their heads under their wings and did not move for two whole days. each one melted a round spot in the snow.
I have some square mortar mixing tubs.
about 2 ft x 3 ft. every day I would fill one with water and the geese would take turns taking a bath.
when it was way below zero, the water would freeze and run off their backs
like BB's.
the least sociable ones I ever had were
Sebastipols. I bought them as adults .
Sebastapols , take your pick. both are probably wrong.
I might make some kraut in a jar today.
never tried making kraut before.
My dad used to make it in a large stone crock. He also made horseradish. He "let" us kids grind the pieces with a hand cranked food grinder.. I don't remember grinding for very long..
one time our goats got out when we were to town. when we got home they were all standing around a young apple tree. there was not a small edible branch left on it and all of the bark was stripped clean down to the ground. It was just stark white..

 

[Callender Girl]

Good luck with the kraut!

I made my first jar of fermented (not brined) sauerkraut at an Extension workshop almost two weeks ago. It is supposed to be ready to eat this Tuesday. For $20, I got a head of cabbage (and everyone's extra shredded cabbage for my critters as per one of the ISU staff), a Ball jar, a fermenting lid, a regular lid and ring, a jar spring to hold down the cabbage and a set of recipes.

If it turns out, I plan to add caraway seed the next time. Now, I'm looking forward to the canning workshop next month. I get to bring home either canned green beans or carrots. We didn't can at home. Mom just froze all our produce.

There used to be a whole bunch of mature mulberry trees along the south side of the goats' pasture. Only one survived their attacks. That tree is surrounded by a cage made from bent cattle panels. They constantly test the panels.

I always worry about putting water out for the poultry because the geese, more so than the ducks, think they should bathe in sub-freezing temps. They may be right, but I tend to restrict their water to drinking dishes when it's frigid. And, sometimes, they stand in those.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I feel the same way about my geese; while I'm babying my chickens throughout the cold months, my geese --and ducks -- seem to enjoy the frigid weather. I am much more like the chickens.

I am surprised that your goats leave anything in the pasture. Mine are mindless eating machines.

Oh, except when they are evil eating machines. Tessa spent too much of yesterday STANDING on her back legs so she could steal leaves off the linden tree on the other side of the fence. Both the tree and the fence suffered for her efforts.

We lined their woven wire fence with electric strands. They get plugged in when I see them trying to eat outside the fence. They have worked over the one crab tree they can reach over the wooden section of fence.

My goats are spoiled. They get some hay year round, plus tree trimmings. We made the pasture smaller a few years back. It's somewhere around an acre by my guesstimate.

 

[jvls1942]

I used to be entertained by how the geese spotted everything up in the air. even the jets that were just a dot way up there.
it is 22F here this morning. that'll take care of any leaves that held on..
have to go to the VA and get my hearing aids checked out.
then if I have time, I want to shred two small heads of cabbage,
Barb, you never have to add vinegar to kraut.
maybe a little sugar . I am not adding anything this time.
getting hungry for ribs and kraut w/potatoes.

 

[jvls1942]

the visit at the VA went well. she got my aids working and then set up a hearing test for next week
going to fit me with a new hearing aid. no more batteries to change, rechargable. and will have a form fitting ear piece that won't have to be changed periodically.
I didn't get at the cabbage today. I hope to do it tomorrow.
DD Brenda gave me some speakers for my computer. Annie is hooking one up . I get too frustrated with that sort of thing. too many wires going to too many places.

 

[jvls1942]

at 4 AM the ground is white. I don't mind light snowfalls. the kind you don't have to shovel or plow.
I washed a gallon jar for the kraut . after reading several recipes, I think my jar is too big for the amount of cabbage I have. I assume it is ok to not fill the jar completely. or maybe I will get a 2 quart jar ready. will make that decision as I go along.
My speaker from Brenda is a success. I had to turn it down to half mast so that I could control the volume with the mouse.
I and done with my coffee. off to shredding cabbage.. wish me luck..

 

[jvls1942]

I have the cabbage shredded, salted and bruised.
letting it rest for awhile to see how much brine forms
will bruise it a little more and then pack it into a jar.
i cut myself only once. it is not a good idea to remove the core/root. it holds the leaves together and still shreds ok.
i can throw the core away when I am finished shredding.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Never made kraut Jim. My mother does. That stinking pot of cabbage always creeped me out. Hope yours turns out well. I like Kraut, just not the smell of fermentation.

We got about an inch of snow here this morning. Most has melted off. It was a nice gentle introduction. Good to get used to it again slowly.

 

[jvls1942]

that snow was a nice trial run.
we did not drive anywhere. I did not plow the driveway. the mailman made it in and out OK.
I am surprised. the two small heads of cabbage weighed a little over five pounds.
after shredding and bruising it, it filled the one gallon jar just a little over half full. I would guess about 5/8th's.
next time I will use 8 pounds .
some of Annie's recipes call for two bushels..and a 12 gallon crock..

 

[Callender Girl]

Although we were told at the workshop that we could open our kraut after it had been fermenting for two weeks, I held off a few extra days since it was pretty cool in the house for the first week or so.

Today, I opened the jar and tasted my first-ever homemade sauerkraut. I LOVED it! It's much more crisp than commercial kraut. I feel successful and am looking forward to the upcoming canning seminar.

Best wishes for your sauerkraut, Jim!

And, I am happy that there has not been any snow here yet. Temps are supposed to be in the 40s and 50s for the next week. I am thrilled.