Today we remembered to dig up some horseradish before the ground freezes. Managed to get half a dozen gnarly roots. After chopping at this stuff for EVER, it made a blender full. I had to do the actual blending out on the veranda because yeehaw, it was a killer. The fumes nailed me a couple of times even outside. We let it go for quite a while before adding the vinegar and it is HOT. It made this 8 cup mixing bowl full of prepared horseradish. I put most of it in the freezer in little jars. So good with all kinds of things including roast beef. I especially like it on a fried egg and bagel breakfast sandwich mixed with a bit of mayo to cut the heat.
I didn't really use a recipe, just put enough cold water in the blender to be able to blend it up (takes a while) with a bit of sugar and salt, like a tiny bit. I ended up dividing it up into 2 batches because the blender just couldn't handle it. Each batch got about a third cup of vinegar at the end, maybe after 10 minutes. 5 minutes would have been long enough.
#harvest #homesteading #GardenMagic #NearlyFreeFood
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I JUST finished getting 4 more hive setups done for 4 splits, finished building 30 more foundation/frames. Go outside to check them and see this!! Artemis! Texted the bee guy... he said they probably won't swarm tonight but got to split asap! *shriek! (and it is NOT hot tonight whatsoever)
#BeeKeeping #Homesteading #NoRestForTheWicked
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I slept through a storm last night that was powerful enough to take out the power here for 10 hours. I had the genny going all day for the fridge and freezers. Going into winter, the fridge is not so much a problem but the freezers are unless it is VERY cold outside. And even then, it would be a huge job to transfer all that food outside into a safe space to keep it frozen. It's not likely to get that cold here for at least a couple of months. I try not to keep too much gas on hand because it is hard to get gas that has no ethanol in it which isn't great for the generator. (it settles out in a few months and can mess up the engine) I can buy fuel stabilizer but it's fairly expensive. But if we got a big outage, say a week, it would be hard to have that much fuel stored either way. We would be cooking and canning food like crazy but still some would be lost to spoilage.
This is my weak spot in prepping. I don't have solar yet, because of finances. We are good for water, heat, and light. Until I can install solar for food preservation, the best thing to do is can as much as possible instead of relying on frozen food.
Just a thought for the coming times.
#Prepping #GetPrepared #Homesteading #FoodPreservation #FoodSustainability
We started our big fire mitigation project today. The first thing was the huge danger tree poplar in the front that shades the house (bad for solar panels should we decide to get some). It lost huge missiles during wind storms and was starting to die from the inside.
It sucks to take down trees that still have green on them, but the hard decisions have to be made. A few other live trees are going to come down as well, all with exposed roots on the hillside leaning toward the house. Some limbing and brushing around the power lines will finish it for this year. It's a lot of work but we are keeping all the wood chips for the hen house and gardens. All the logs will be either cut up to dry for firewood or used in hügelkultur beds or raised beds for the gardens.
We might not be able to stop a wildfire if one comes this way next summer but at least we can try to do as much as we are able to reduce the risk.
#Prepping #GetPrepared #Homestead #WildfireManagement #ClimateCrisis #RiskManagement
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I was just watching a homesteading channel as they were building a root cellar. They did many things wrong including un-braced earth bag wall construction, excavation too close to the water table, no venting, and awkward roof access.
If you are building a large underground space with potential to collapse from lateral earth pressure, be sure that you are using an engineered plan made for your area and type of soil. Over-build rather than under-build in any case. As it turns out, a later video showed that their root cellar failed, luckily no one was hurt.
Any vegetables that are fermenting or rotting produce carbon dioxide that displaces any oxygen. That can be a swift way to die. All root cellars and storage rooms for food must have 2 vents, one high and one low so that the air will flow between them. In my root cellar, the door is ground level with the floor of the cellar. I always open the door wide before stepping in even though I have properly placed vents. Less importantly, but also a consideration is that ripening fruit or vegetables give off ethylene gas that can cause other foods to ripen rapidly and spoil.
Make sure your stair access is wide and stable as you will be carrying potentially heavy loads in and out of your root cellar. Always think through how you will use a structure, and put into place anything that will increase safety under various conditions such as inclement weather.
The other thing they did wrong was double stacking canned jars. Home canned food should never be double stacked because if a seal fails, a jar on top might hold the failed seal in place or even make a false seal. If you must double stack because of lack of space, put a put of cardboard over the bottom jars and only put lighter smaller jars on top of the cardboard. Always remove the rings after the lid is sealed and the jars have cooled. Leaving the rings on can also hide a failed seal.
#Homesteading #GetPrepared #FoodSecurity #FoodPreservation #Harvest
The crisis isn't "migrants pouring into the country", the crisis is what is going on in the countries that cause so many to flee. The crisis isn't department stores having to close because of theft, the crisis is the number of people so poverty stricken that they are resorting to theft.
The crisis isn't having a homeless camp in your neighbourhood. The crisis is the lack of safe affordable housing to so many and more every day.
The crisis isn't the number of people transitioning. The crisis is the number of people driven to suicide because they want or need to transition in a world that doesn't want trans people to exist.
Those that centre themselves, their house, their town in the middle of any and all crises, are failing to understand or educate themselves about the underlying causes of harm and pain and how to mitigate them.
#RageFarming #Crisis
Camping in the autumn is so much nicer than any other time of the year. The roads are less busy with tourists, the campgrounds are mostly empty, usually camp fires are allowed if it's been rainy. The crisp mornings by a campfire making coffee and scrambled eggs while watching the sun come up through the golden trees just can't be beat for getting away and relaxing.
Also, fall camping is a great way to check out your emergency evac equipment. Most campgrounds that are still open have little in the way of services and good rough camping spots are probably empty so, you can check on how self sufficient your set up is. How does your sleeping situation work in chilly night temperatures? Do you have the right equipment and tools to make a 3 day camping trip comfortable and safe? Have you got a way to carry enough water and perishable food?
Other things can be checked out too, such as adequate night time lighting, fire starting tools and tinder, cooking fuel, and clothing/footwear, staying dry in wet weather. In a situation like camping where you can fairly easily get to help if you are not properly equipped or if something goes wrong, it is a perfect way to reassure yourself that your emergency evac supplies are top notch before an emergency happens.
Getting in a few days away from digital devices and the mundane can be the most refreshing and restful thing to do before winter sets in. This coming weekend I'll be out in the woods by a lake with my grand-littles.
#Prepping #GetPrepared #Camping #Bushcraft #Outdoors #SelfReliance
@50c57851 I'm in BC but my son said they think the worst of it is pretty much over. They might not get power until tonight but they have a generator, wood stove, etc. They are fine.
2 PM Nova Scotia time, my family in Lunenburg county says has been "fairly windy" for hours. Power out. Winds seem to be calming down now. No damage to their place.
#HurricaneLee #NSstorm
@0887a11f Thanks. I am in western Canada but have family in the path of the hurricane in Nova Scotia. Watching all these things going on is nerve wracking.
#Shishaldin RED/WARNING
Fri, Sept 15, 2023, 5:41 PM AKDT
An explosive eruption from Shishaldin began ~ 5:10 p.m. AKDT on September 15, 2023 following a several-hour increase in seismicity.
@USGSVolcanoes
@akdggs
@UAFGI
Ash is currently being produced and is drifting to the east below the cloud deck of 27,000 ft above sea level. The Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level is being raised to RED/WARNING. Recent significant ash events during the current eruption resulted in ash clouds with heights up to 40,000 ft (12 km) above sea level. These events can occur with little warning. It is also possible that ash emissions may occur at a lower-level, steady state and be sustained for many hours. AVO is monitoring the volcano closely and will issue additional Volcanic Activity Notices to provide notice of significant changes in activity as they occur. Shishaldin activity page:
https://avo.alaska.edu/activity/Shishaldin.php
#ShishaldinVolcano #Alaska #Aleutian
Looks like this thing is heading straight up the Bay of Fundy which already has the highest tides in the world (50 ft) without anything hincky going on. 🌊
#HurricaneLee #Storm #novascotia #BayOfFundy
Some emergency shelters in Nova Scotia for the storm. (credit to @stoometzphoto)
HRM: Capt. Spry Community Centre. 16 Sussex St, Halifax, 429-3984,Opening Friday 6pm St. Matthews Church - 1479 Barrington St, Halifax, 902-429-3984, Opening Friday 6pm Beacon House - 125 Metropolitan Ave. (902) 864-1584, Opening Friday 6pm
TRURO: Haven House 29 Arthur Str, 902-843-2538, regular hours, additional beds NEW GLASGOW: Viola's Place 189 Marsh Street, New Glasgow 902-752-0550 7pm
PICTOU Pictou County Roots for Youth, 603 East River Road, New Glasgow, 902-695-3241
CBRM: CB Community Shelter - 106 Townsend St, Sydney, NS, 902-564-9487 Ally Centre - 75 Prince St, Sydney NS, (902) 567-1766, Opening Friday 6pm
BERWICK: Evangeline Club, 130 Commercial Street, Berwick, Opening Saturday 7 am *Operated by Open Arms - must call 902-679-1202
YARMOUTH: SHFYT - 6 Trinity Place, Yarmouth, 902-881-3111 Drop-In/Overnight Center for Adults Yarmouth Fire Hall, 221 Pleasant Street, 902-881-3111, Opening Saturday 12pm
BRIDGEWATER: Seventh Day Adventis Church, 17 Greenwood St, Bridgewater, NS, (902) 521-1141, Opening Friday 6pm *Operated by South Shore Open Doors Association
AMHERST: Holy Family Parish, 63 Church Street Amherst, 902-669-2238, Opening Friday 5pm
#NSstorm #halifax #truro #newglasgow #pictou #cbrm #berwick #yarmouth #bridgewater #amherst #sydney #HurricaneLee #novascotia
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I have family in Nova Scotia in the direct line of #HurricaneLee. They said "yeah we've got the barn windows boarded up". Crissake, lol, I was thinking more of the house windows. 🤦♀️ I'm sure they are on top of it, but I'll be watching closely.
#Storm #NovaScotia
@cc2fdf26
I have run into (very rarely, thank god) a few people who seem to think they are so superior to me that any compliment from me is useless or even an insult. There are other people that are so far up their own ass, they cannot detect appropriate social interaction cues. Some people are just assholes. I never met a compliment to me that I didn't love.
A short primer on Off Grid food storage for short and long term: as always, do further reading on these methods.
Shelf stable pre-packaged-
You can buy 1000s of different shelf stable kinds of food, canned, pre-cooked, dried, etc. but for the long term, this is not ideal or even possible. In a SHTF situation, those kinds of food will become unavailable and not be replaced. They are only good for a short term period such as a weather disaster in an otherwise stable country or area.
Shelf stable raw-
The best shelf stable raw food that can be stored properly for many years includes whole grains in their original form such as wheat berries, oat groats, dried beans, white rice, etc. preferably that you can source in your local area so they are as fresh as possible from the start. These foods need further processing and cooking, but are shelf stable in cool, dry, dark conditions. Acquiring air tight (preferably glass) containers while they are available should be done continually.
Root cellar-
Root cellaring fresh garden vegetables is a very good 6 months to one year storage method for food such as carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips, parsnips, cabbage, onions, winter squash, apples etc. A well ventilated, organized root cellar can hold a lot of food and keep it edible for a very long time.
Dehydrate-
The easiest method of preserving food while you still have electricity, or live in hot dry climates is dehydration. Almost any fruit or vegetable and many plants can be successfully dehydrated to keep well for several years if stored air tight, cool and dark. Dehydration is essential for raisins, figs, prunes, pasta, etc. Meat and fish can also be dehydrated to jerky.
Freeze Dried-
The most expensive piece of equipment you might want to get. Food quality and nutrition is excellent for long term storage. Takes lots of electricity, time and maintenance. Not practical in extreme situations for ongoing food storage. Only good to use this method before the SHTF.
Pressure canning and cooking-
The essential way of preserving meat, fish, and cooked vegetables plus other foods such as soups, stews, cooked beans, is by pressure canning. It is the only safe way to can and store these foods in the cooked state. A pressure canner can be used on electricity, gas, and in extreme circumstances, probably wood fires although I haven't tried this. Pressure cooking is a very fast way to cook food that normally takes a long time and a lot of energy to cook.
Fermenting, smoking, salting and pickling-
The oldest method of preserving food is by fermentation or pickling and salting then smoking of meats. Vegetables, dairy, and some fruits can be fermented or pickled then kept at cool room or root cellar temperatures for extended periods. Meat, fish and cheese can be smoked. These methods use a lot of salt or vinegar which could be tricky to attain depending on where you live. The best way is to stock up on a large quantity of salt while it is easily available. Practice making your own vinegar and save the vinegar mothers to reuse. Cultures such as yogourt, cheese and sour dough can be used continually with proper considerations. Now is the time to learn how to use these food products.
#Prepping #FoodPreservation #FoodSecurity #SHTF #OffGrid #Homesteading #GetPrepared
@9d1d81f4 I put them in buckets right out of the ground, just brush off, snap or cut off the tops leaving a tiny bit so you don't cut into the carrot and let them dry slightly. Don't wash. Then cover but with a tiny bit of air, like the lids not sealed right down. Or a board for a lid. They lasted beautifully last time I did it this way.
@12e2f193 Thank you! They don't always grow this big but it's a good year (except for the ratties) I guess. Parsnips are good, beets are terrible. It's always something.
@cc2fdf26 We have a pack of coyotes on the other side of the fence and a big fluffy yard skunk (😬) so hopefully between them all, the rats won't take over.
There is another annoying climate change thing here... rats. They have moved into the area maybe because it's warmer, I dunno. We never used to have them here. Now they are in everyone's gardens chewing through corn, root veggies.. everything they can. We've always had small rodents like voles and other little critters, pack rats too. But never actual rats. Today, I harvested all my carrots and was happy to find that the rats only had started on the edges of the raised bed. The carrots in the sink all were chewed on so won't last in the root cellar. Those will get scrubbed and cleaned up to be canned. The 3 gallon buckets were all in great shape so are now stowed in the root cellar. Hopefully these will last us the winter and most of next spring.
#Homesteading #gardening #FallHarvest #Autumn #FoodPreservation #FoodSecurity
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