harvest » Homestead Acres

Garden Update Aug 26

Aug 272010

Well I’m finally feeling pretty much better. I’ve talked to a few people hit by this virus. Its a nasty one. Anyway now I’m playing catch up with the garden.
Harvested the onions today, yesterday (forgot to post last night lol). Then laid them out to dry. They will need a few days to harden the skins well. After that they can be safely stored in the cellar.
Then I started working on the tomatoes. I lost some that got over ripe and split. But they’ll make good chicken feed. Still ended up with lots of tomatoes. There are still green ones out there to.
I guess I’ll be starting more sauce tomorrow! Also going to dehydrate some.

Kim Mills on Google+

Economic Collapse? Hows the Weather? (crop loss,energy increase)

News/Economy, Preparing 1 Response »

Jan 132010

While January has been fairly mild weather for us, many places around the world have been hard hit. The southern USA has been hit with weather far below normal. Europe and China have also been hit with freezing weather and snow. I’ve been reading about damage to orange crops, also corn and other grains in some areas. Homeless shelters are having trouble keeping up with the need. Some areas have had power outages due to the high demand of electricity for heating.

It’s a real reminder why we need to take time to prepare for hard times. You never know when unusual weather, job loss or illness will strike.

I would love to hear from you! Are you having unusual weather in your area? How are you coping with it?

More Cold Heading for Florida as Northern Hemisphere Shivers

Deaths, damaged crops, strapped shelters: Effects of cold lingers as South Florida thaws from record

Cold weather ends, but has damage to Florida oranges been done?

Weather is stunning for Florida turtles sent into coma by the chill

Winter of 2009–2010 in Europe

Kim Mills on Google+

Harvesting Potatoes

Gardening, Homesteading, Preparing No Responses »

Sep 202009

Well fall is here and its time to harvest our potatoes!
We have found that storing them in mesh feed bags works the best for us.

Kim Mills on Google+

Homestead Series Root Cellar

Homesteading No Responses »

Sep 182009

Well fall is here and with it harvest time. We have started digging up our potatoes and getting the root cellar ready. So far we’ve harvested about 500 pounds of red and purple potatoes. We will be finishing the purples this week and then starting on the white potatoes.

Kim Mills on Google+

How To Can Beans

Canning, Recipes 1 Response »

Aug 122009

We are starting to can our bean crop. This is so easy to do!

Simply wash your beans, trim the ends off. Then cut or break into pieces about an inch long.
Fill the jars leaving 1 inch head space.
Add 1/2 tsp salt per pint, 1 tsp salt per quart. The salt is optional but does help to keep the color and taste.
Fill the jars with boiling water, leaving an inch of head space.
Wipe rims, add lids.
Pressure can pints for 20 min, quarts for 25 min.

Kim Mills on Google+

Homestead Series How To Can Peas

Canning, Recipes No Responses »

Jul 242009

I’m canning the peas we picked from the garden. This is so easy to do!

How To Can Peas

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Ingredients

Peas
water
1/2 tsp salt per pint jar, 1 tsp salt per quart jar

Instructions

Shell your peas.
Fill your jars with peas leaving 1 inch of head space.
Add 1/2 tsp of salt per pint jar/ 1 tsp of salt per quart jar (optional)
Cover peas with hot/boiling water.
Wipe rims and put lids on.
Place in the canner and put canner lid on.
Turn heat up high and let steam vent out of the canner for 10 min.
Place weight on canner. Once weight starts jiggling adjust heat to get a slow, steady rocking. Set timer for 40 minutes for pints or quarts.
After timer goes off turn of the heat, let canner vent. Once all pressure has been released wait an additional 20 min.
Then remove weight and lid. Place jars on a towel to cool, let sit for 24 hours.

http://homestead-acres.com/blog/recipes/homestead-series-how-to-can-peas/

Kim Mills on Google+

Homestead Series Making Strawberry Jam

Canning, Recipes 1 Response »

Jul 222009

We are starting our summer canning with strawberry jam.
Normally I use low/no sugar pectin and only add a cup or two of sugar in my recipe. However I’m out of that so I’m using up some regular pectin. This uses more sugar then I like, but considering how small of a serving you use it’s not to bad.