Homesteaders

[Chicken girl 15]

you have to knead the dough and then let it rise for about 90 minutes. The new form it in the balls and let it rest for another 30 to 45 minutes. Then bake them at 375 for about 40 minutes. Melt the butter with the seasonings and brush it on top of the rolls in the last couple minutes of baking.

So I have to say, you have given me a new addition to our Christmas dinner. Yum, those sound fantastic. The kids will be so happy.

 

[rancher hicks]

Time to pick seeds for next year. Anyone got anything special they like to grow?

Anyone got a special Kale, spinach or other green they grow for storage?

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Time to pick seeds for next year. Anyone got anything special they like to grow?

Anyone got a special Kale, spinach or other green they grow for storage?    

I have never tried to store it, but Swiss Chard is a cold weather plant and handles late fall temperatures, until about 20 degrees, very well. So you have an extended season.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have never tried to store it, but Swiss Chard is a cold weather plant and handles late fall temperatures, until about 20 degrees, very well. So you have an extended season.

I expect to freeze the Kale if that will work.

I don't have a cold frame but plan to build some tunnels to grow under.

I wonder how much energy a heat light will use in a greenhouse. I do know I can feel it in the back room. It's not warm but the temp is up. I have chicks in there with one heat light. I'll have to buy a thermometer to hang in there and keep a record.

One thing about homesteading I think is to keep good records. See what works and what doesn't. Am I right?

I tried to keep a record of what is in the freezer but that didn't work out to well. I may try again.

Anyone here in the North have a "cold room"? I thought I might build a small room in the garage for cold storage. With insulation it might keep cold but not freeze? Then perhaps stick a small air conditioner in for the summer months to maintain a low temp but not freezing cold. Maybe 50* degrees would be good? A root cellar won't work here. It's too wet. It would flood.

How damp is too damp? Our basement is cooler of course but how much humidity is too much? We don't use the basement for anything other than the furnace and hot water tank. We have a sump pump.

Anyone can answer these questions or offer ideas or opinions.

TTFN,

Rancher

 

[Raech]

We have a cold room in the shop at Grandpa's. The door is 6 inches thick and I think the walls are about 8 inches thick. We stack the squash in there, then add potatoes and onions in bags. They also store chemicals in there so they dont freeze, but we have a fireplace in the shop that is most times on. I think it stays pretty cool through the summer as well because on the outside wall is a shed that holds the air compressor. Instead of a door handle we use a bar that pivots and latches on the inside, it has a light and that is it. Im not sure how Grandpa built it, it was before my time, but it looks to be an 8'x8' square with really thick walls and concrete floor.

 

[Loc20chick]

Time to pick seeds for next year. Anyone got anything special they like to grow?

Anyone got a special Kale, spinach or other green they grow for storage?    

I like to grow Amaranth for the greens though the grain also has lots of benefits I just don't know how the grain is prepared. I have not tried freezing the greens yet but may try next year. I grew up eating the amaranth greens mixed with a type of cowpeas green leafs and this year I froze some of the cowpeas greens and have eaten the frozen ones and they kept the flavor. I'll take a picture of the cowpeas as I have not seen this type sold in stores here except Indian stores.
I like Swiss chard and kale and collard greens, kale and collard greens freeze well, I have not frozen them myself but I have bought frozen ones before.

 

[Pjthecomic]

Hello folks. We are moving cross country to a piece of land slightly larger than an acre. We purchased and built out the land and house then moved away from it for the past 15 years. Now I am more interested in self sufficiency and growing our own food.

The garden area was planned into our landscape design all those years ago but I am seriously considering a 1/2 acre market garden replacing a boring section of turf. I am planning the permaculture orchard and berry patch. Seeds have been ordered for the first years garden.

We will be getting both meat birds and egg hens.

We can't wait to begin this chapter.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I expect to freeze the Kale if that will work.  

I don't have a cold frame but plan to build some tunnels to grow under.  

I wonder how much energy a heat light will use in a greenhouse. I do know I can feel it in the back room. It's not warm but the temp is up. I have chicks in there with one heat light. I'll have to buy a thermometer to hang in there and keep a record.

One thing about homesteading I think is to keep good records. See what works and what doesn't.  Am I right?  

I tried to keep a record of what is in the freezer but that didn't work out to well. I may try again.  

Anyone here in the North have a "cold room"?  I thought I might build a small room in the garage for cold storage. With insulation it might keep cold but not freeze?  Then perhaps stick a small air conditioner in for the summer months to maintain a low temp but not freezing cold. Maybe 50* degrees would be good?  A root cellar won't work here. It's too wet. It would flood.

How damp is too damp?  Our basement is cooler of course but how much humidity is too much?  We don't use the basement for anything other than the furnace and hot water tank. We have a sump pump.  

Anyone can answer these questions or offer ideas or opinions. 

TTFN, 

Rancher

All kale freezes well. Cooks just fine and can still be used for smoothies.

As for your cold storage give me a year and ask again. We are making an underground one come spring. I will take notes on the ups and downs and maybe we can share at 2017 chickenstock.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am jealous of the wild stuff you guys all have. We haven't found anything edible on our farm yet. Lots of wild cucumber which is a pain in the neck

You could prepare the spots and plant some stuff. Take cuttings from places you find the grapes. Transplant some wild blackberries and stuff like that.

I've been clearing around the wild blackberry plants.

I got cuttings of Josta Berries from a BYC friend and they're doing okay. She wrapped them in plastic and mailed them to me. Currant cuttings should do well too.

My climbing roses were cuttings from our old house.

Prepare you spot and then check your local nursery at the end of the season for cheap plants. That's how I got some of my Raspberries, Gooseberry and Currant plants. Get them into the ground right away and they should be fine. Mulch good for the winter.

 

[rancher hicks]

Would they do good if cut and planted on tilled soil? It's so hard to pick ours due to the thorns on the berry bush.

Amend your soil with lots of compost. Every homestead should have at least three compost piles cooking. Oh and don't underestimate adding some peat moss.