Food Prices

[HEChicken]

Quote:
Haha Wifezilla - you and I think so alike. I don't have a use for nice, green fescue and look at "lawn" area as a place to grow USEFUL things! I've overseeding my whole lawn area with clover and other grains this year so the chooks will have good stuff to munch on when they're free-ranging. I used to have clover and have none now so I know they like that.

 

[Wifezilla]

I've overseeding my whole lawn area with clover

I started doing that last year. The ducks love it

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
I use to have grapes, huge Strawberry patch and now have plans to start it over again for the grapes. I have been trying to get black raspberries, red raspberries, and blue berries started but having issues with my soil I think as far as the blueberries are concerned. I have strawberries and asparagus, so should have a good batch off of each of those this year. I don't have a big freezer, which is a huge grief to me, so going to figure out how to get one. I would take even a small one just to get a few things put back. I love doing it, and am waiting for a lady to call me back about her canning jars. I have over 200 but she is selling hers for $4 a dozen, and I thought 4-5 more dozen sure won't hurt. I prefer canned green beans to frozen ones, but everything else frozen is good. . .I love canning apple pie filling too, and haven't done that for a few years . . . what is the best canning and freezing book our there NOW? I have the farm journal one from back in the 80's and another one that I am not too thrilled with . . .so some advice on that would be more than welcome!!

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
Haha Wifezilla - you and I think so alike. I don't have a use for nice, green fescue and look at "lawn" area as a place to grow USEFUL things! I've overseeding my whole lawn area with clover and other grains this year so the chooks will have good stuff to munch on when they're free-ranging. I used to have clover and have none now so I know they like that.

This is what I have planned over the next few years. . .we have over 5 acres, and mowed almost 3.75 of it before we got the Alpacas, so going to gradually add more garden each year and fence off more of the back for goats and maybe a calf or two. DH is big on ideas, but diabetes keeps him down a lot of days so I can't get more than I can handle if necessary.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
This is what I "preach" every day at the little store I work at. I tell people even if they aren't in a position to freeze or can anything, that little garden will produce until frost and help them out through the summer months. I don't mean to sound mean, but people are lazy. No one wants to do anything anymore. I could go on a LOT more about how Illinois is simply too good to some of the residents who are perfectly capable of working and won't because of the help they get . . .working at the store sure opened my eyes to that. I AM NOT trying to get anything political started; we have been in this mess before and we came thru it, and we will overcome again, but we need a plan and not wait until the last minute. I was talking to a farmer buddy yesterday and he thinks in 2 years the Midwest is going to be really hurting as far as food supplies goes. Scary thought.

 

[EweSheep]

All for the more reason to stock up on canned goods and grow as much as you can from your garden! Now if I can keep those rotted leaves from attacking my plants, nearby neighbors had to fight that off. I think alot of it due from the ADM and Staley plants are doing, so foul an odor that it would sting your nose hairs!