Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

@wrathsfarm, I hope things are better!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Oh, and...

 

[wrathsfarm]

@wrathsfarm, I hope things are better!

Morty's gotten her color back and she's smashing food. I caught the fly strike early I believe. Only found 5 maggots in 1st bath we gave her, none in other 2 baths. Got her separated still, and had to gut, shopvac, and treat 5 coops. Not the high light of my week at all. She was always a little skiddish but now she follows me all over thru chores. Even helped me dig hole for coon. (Dig= get all the bugs/worms then dust bathe in the fresh pile of dirt)

 

[Dreamzchaser]

WOW! It is horrible what we are going through. Nothing much we can do. Here has been pretty bad. After the few rain spots in the past couple of days, the weeds are taking over but not spending much time outside. Everyone is free to go out but they prefer to stay in where the fans move the air and that dense haze. Lupita waits eagerly every day for me to let her out with the babies unto the garden right under the raspberry bush. They really enjoy it. I stay at watch so they do not go anywhere else,lol
But they I bring them inside and they go straight to the water.
The buckeyes are so scared of me and the brown leghorns. They are inside the small coop. But the suxesses are ok with the big girls. Sophia and Jlo went straight to fight them and they ended up in jail for the night. Everyone else stood still and went to sleep without bothering the 2 new girls. They also come outside but not as much as the big girls.
However, today is a huge cloud down on my yard. I need to get masked and get my big girl wads and go weed before I loose the tomatoes,lol

 

[saysfaa]

Oh, what have I done? I'm pretty sure I will regret this.

I just bought two flats of strawberries. Company is coming tomorrow to stay most of the week and I don't have the house ready. I still need to grocery shop and cook. The garden needs water, and weeding. The lawn needs mowing. But it is nearly the end of the season for the Jewels and I completely missed the Early Glows so it is now or not this year to put up strawberries.

What do y'all do with strawberries (as in putting them up) other than jam?

Also, do you distinguish between jam and preserves? Dh sees a big difference between Smuckers preserves and their jam; I don't see much difference and have always thought jam was a type of preserves.

 

[Folly's place]

Commercial jams tend to be very light in actual fruit, totally unlike at least my homemade jams. Also I use the Surejell low sugar pectin, so not as much sugar, way better. Have you done freezer jam? It's the best!!! And it might not set as firmly as cooked jam, but the flavor! Just like fresh fruit!
And freezer jam takes much less time and dishes.
Will your company help doing your berries? Maybe it will be fun for them! Or, freeze the berries for another day.
Good luck!
Mary

 

[aart]

Also, do you distinguish between jam and preserves?

I think preserves have far chunkier fruit parts, jam has fruit ground up in smaller pieces, jelly has all solids and seeds screened out.

 

[CedarLane]

Oh, what have I done? I'm pretty sure I will regret this.

I just bought two flats of strawberries. Company is coming tomorrow to stay most of the week and I don't have the house ready. I still need to grocery shop and cook. The garden needs water, and weeding. The lawn needs mowing. But it is nearly the end of the season for the Jewels and I completely missed the Early Glows so it is now or not this year to put up strawberries.

What do y'all do with strawberries (as in putting them up) other than jam?

Also, do you distinguish between jam and preserves? Dh sees a big difference between Smuckers preserves and their jam; I don't see much difference and have always thought jam was a type of preserves.

In addition to Freezer Jam, I like to freeze some Thickened Strawberries using Strawberry Gelatin and PermaFlo They can be used in a pie shell, or served over cereal or dessert.

Note regarding PermaFlo: PermaFlo and Clear Jel are very similar...ThermFlo is preferred/recommended for the freezer, but I have a hard time finding it unless I get to an Amish or Mennonite Bulk Food Store in Indiana or Ohio....When I do find it, I stock up. Otherwise I just use PermaFlo, which I prefer over Clear Jel. I also buy those at a bulk food store, but I can't get the ThermFlo up here).

 

[Sally PB]

Interesting! I'd never even heard of PermaFlo or ThermFlo.

Where in Meijer would I find PermaFlo? Or would they probably not carry it?

 

[1muttsfan]

I also like strawberry freezer jam, better than strawberry cooked jam. The fruit stays deliciously flavorful and fresh.
You can also freeze berries in a single layer on a sheet pan and once they're frozen put them in a Ziploc bag to be used later.