The Old Folks Home

[gryeyes]

I planted an ollallie berry, a blackberry, and a raspberry "vine" in my garden some months ago. It's been difficult protecting them (anything growing) from Penelope and her nine chicks, the turkey poult, plus Sparkle and her four chicks. But there are eight berries developing on the blackberry vine - very well protected. When John the contractor was here recently, ihe wanted to see how my garden was growing. I made a point of showing him the unripe berries. "Look! I have blackberries growing, too! " "Wow, that's great. You know that stuff grows everywhere up here and you just have to pull over on about any road to pick 'em, right?" Just like the response to my wanting to show him the two-day old chicks I knew were underneath Monica. "Oh, good, you don't want to run out of chickens." Dry humor. Gotta love it.

 

[LFchixranch]

A friend of mine in FL gave me a link to a youtube video of a guy that takes rainspouting, incases it in 2x material and takes 5 gal buckets puts a hole in em and then fills the gutter with soil and thats his garden.

Now you could probely raise these by just adding legs or I was thinking of sinking 4x4s on the corners and just put 3 or 4 levels for herbs. It would be the space saver garden. I havent figured out the easy way to self water/plumbing yet. Maybe I will do it next year. Here's that guy's facebook page for those of you that do that kind of thing.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/144745362329424/?hc_location=stream

 

[LFchixranch]

Hopefully this doesnt offend anybody

 

[drumstick diva]

I think I must know John. What a buzz killer!!

 

[drumstick diva]

When I used to do charity walks my dad was always asking how much they were gonna pay me. I wondered what part of "charity" he didn't understand.

My mom used to ask why I kept having litters - I had a kennel and I was a dog Breeder/ Duh! They both thought I would "grow up" some day and be "normal." The jokes was on them.

 

[chickadoodles]

I really do enjoy making jam and canning things. I only learned last year. Someone on the Maine BYC thread was kind enough to invite this stranger into her house to show her how to can. I'm just passing along the knowledge to a friend's wife today. Dilly Beans were my gateway drug to canning. Funny how something so innocuous could result in me having an entire pantry lined with cans going into winter.

It is very exciting learning! I just learned a couple of years ago our DIL helped me so much! I love it! My brother bought me a pressure canner this year to try some new stuff! I love to share the knowledge with anyone that is interested in learning!

 

[chickadoodles]

I just made pickles with this: http://store.mrswagesstore.com/pickles.html
It was Sooooo easy, quick, and they came out great. I did the Zesty Bread & Butter. Next I am trying the Dill. They have so many varieties.

Thank you so much cknnewbie I will try that! I was so desperate that last year I saved my juice from my relish and stuck some cucs in the juice and canned them and let them set for 3 weeks! They were so good! I may make some more! lol

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Oh yum! I love the sound of the black and blueberry jam! I might have to try some of that this year. The Strawberry vanilla bean sounds delicious! I make Peach Cobbler jam and preserves. If you add vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of salt to your peach preserves, you will have your family fighting over the jars. I had to hide some of it! I also add Peach Schnapps to a few jars of peach preserves without the spices. It is wonderful as a topping on some Edy's Grand Vanilla ice cream!

That sounds delicious. Can you send me or post the recipe for how much peaches?

 

[chickadoodles]

Oh yum! I love the sound of the black and blueberry jam! I might have to try some of that this year. The Strawberry vanilla bean sounds delicious! I make Peach Cobbler jam and preserves. If you add vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of salt to your peach preserves, you will have your family fighting over the jars. I had to hide some of it! I also add Peach Schnapps to a few jars of peach preserves without the spices. It is wonderful as a topping on some Edy's Grand Vanilla ice cream!

Sound Delish! I would love to try the peach with the schnapps!

 

[Cynthia12]

May have been years since I've lived in VA., but I sure do miss those great big Blackberries that we would find just walking along a dirt road. Back in the 60's. We were kids, and would come back from a walk with blue all around our faces. Parents would chuckle and say, how about bringing some of those home next time. They were huge! Do folks out that way still find Berry bushes growing wild like that? What other kind of wild berry bushes are you seeing?
Here in Utah, we have Orchards everywhere out here in Central Utah, but, nothing like it was back in the 70's. So many cherry orchards have been cleared in one city to make for homes, apts., mall.. Pretty sad. Further south here in the central part, we still have cherry orchards. Apple Orchards, Peach Orchards, and Pear Orchards. The Cherry trees did not produce in our yard this year, for the first time since we moved into this house 6 years ago! Disappointing. Our apple trees have way less apples on them, but my pear tree is doing great. At least we'll get some of that. Pear sauce is yummy.