tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post3121194221084251645..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: August Harvest & PreservationLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10259190656365776422011-09-08T10:11:03.880-04:002011-09-08T10:11:03.880-04:00Cool, I am interested in seeing how organic wheat ...Cool, I am interested in seeing how organic wheat goes. The local extension agent is... err... a "dairy" person. I'm sure he is great at judging a dairy cow competition. He's a nice guy too. At the same time I've gotten so many non-answers I've pretty much given up trying. But you're right he probably would know about winter wheat.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12323957337215626238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14163792065911962292011-09-07T21:50:00.902-04:002011-09-07T21:50:00.902-04:00Richard I thought it was interesting as well. From...Richard I thought it was interesting as well. From experience, I know though that over the years color fades and sometimes texture softens, which makes the food less appealing. Still, it's nice to know that if it's done properly, those canned goods could still be used if needed.<br /><br />Hey Andrew. We definitely plan to plant winter wheat after we finish harvesting our field corn. I started on that today (delayed by rain). I thought about getting my seed wheat from one of our feed stores, but hadn't thought about the GMO stuff. Good point. I can get 50 pounds of organic whole wheat from an area health food store for about three times the price as feed wheat. Maybe it would be worth it though! Have you checked with your Cooperative Extension office for information on planting? Thanks for the link to your videos. A great way to share!<br /><br />Donna, thanks! I usually prefer file gumbo, but with all that okra.....Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-91280176093619060972011-09-07T16:49:04.801-04:002011-09-07T16:49:04.801-04:00I LOVE the chicken gumbo idea! Awesome.I LOVE the chicken gumbo idea! Awesome.luckybunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663313808544386765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-67521657961481917612011-09-06T14:15:27.802-04:002011-09-06T14:15:27.802-04:00Hey, now that things are finishing up, are you goi...Hey, now that things are finishing up, are you going to do a winter cover crop? The wheat I got from southern states in early august and put in when it was so dry finally started coming up with the 3+ inches I've gotten so far from this tropical storm. I wish SS would label whether it is genetically modified or not. Oh well. I got distracted building some wood rails for my truckbed this weekend instead of working on my grain thresher. Maybe next weekend. It's going to be an expensive trip to tractor supply anyway to get what I need for that. I wish I knew a reliable timing scheme for planting winter wheat and oats. If my field corn starts to harden up soon I can yank it out real quick and get some wheat or oats into the upper part of my garden. My buckwheat I put between my grapes is really jumping up with this rain. Pretty soon I'll be back to where I was earlier with my drying shed, I'll have to add more videos :) <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSsLRzYmkbsAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12323957337215626238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-7394404533651821062011-09-02T18:08:32.539-04:002011-09-02T18:08:32.539-04:00Very interesting article Leigh, and 40 years for a...Very interesting article Leigh, and 40 years for a jar of canned corn, and it still tasted fresh, wow. That blew me away. Thanks Leigh. Richardtrumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379869475899318079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-67463483473532158172011-09-02T13:07:13.260-04:002011-09-02T13:07:13.260-04:00Hmm, I love figs....Haven't had them in years ...Hmm, I love figs....Haven't had them in years (local grocers don't carry them) but they are one of my favorite foods! After your pictures, I've decided to plant a fig tree next year! :)<br /><br />We love, love pickled okra..... my grandma always pickles a few garlic cloves in each jar & we always compete to see who gets them first. lol<br /><br />Loved all the pictures & updates, but now I'm hungry!! Oh, that chicken & okra gumbo sounds YUMMY!!* Crystal *https://www.blogger.com/profile/05747729287507332288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16386485593758187742011-09-02T09:27:24.517-04:002011-09-02T09:27:24.517-04:00Richard, excellent question. Opinions vary from fo...Richard, excellent question. Opinions vary from folks who throw it out after a year, to articles <a href="http://www.grandpappy.info/hshelff.htm" rel="nofollow">like these</a>, which have analyzed canned goods decades old and claim they're still edible. I think a lot of it has to do with comfort level, but I'm perfectly happy to eat things I canned years ago. In fact, I'd like to have at least a two year supply of everything, in case of crop failure one year.<br /><br />Grace, I had some strawberries in the freezer when I made the fig jam, but knew that if I combined them, I'd be fussed at for "contaminating" the strawberries! LOL I suspect that the different varieties of figs have different flavors. I don't know what ours are, except that the trees are very old. They are exceptionally bland fresh, which is why there's no interest in eating them that way.<br /><br />BRF, I agree about proper identification! Once you get it ID'd for sure, just think of all the luscious things you can do with the berries. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59783055809275759172011-09-01T14:45:15.688-04:002011-09-01T14:45:15.688-04:00Wow! You have been busy! I think I found an elde...Wow! You have been busy! I think I found an elderberry bush on our property - I was reading about them in one of the Foxfire books and when I saw the picture, a light bulb went off - however I chickened out on picking them, cuz I just wasn't 100% sure it was the right bush...not worth it to poison us!BrokenRoadFarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009162969006682361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-7850270062676833872011-09-01T13:41:26.370-04:002011-09-01T13:41:26.370-04:00Wow, Leigh. I'm impressed with your harvest! ...Wow, Leigh. I'm impressed with your harvest! Thanks for all the good tips, I always learn something from your posts. I have a fig tree, I found out, so I will be trying those oatmeal fig cookies. I made fig and strawberry jam this summer and it is my favorite jam I have ever made. I'm going to do the F.R.O.G. jam, too. I had never tasted a fig before this year. Love them!Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986534679478221037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-18827884761793463652011-09-01T07:56:14.462-04:002011-09-01T07:56:14.462-04:00Lots of information in this post. We talked about ...Lots of information in this post. We talked about canning a little on my site, my question has been "how long can something last if its canned"?. I know its going to be a good while but how long. Richardtrumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379869475899318079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-2813473033875980542011-09-01T06:47:42.685-04:002011-09-01T06:47:42.685-04:00Laura, thanks for the link. You know, Dan has alwa...Laura, thanks for the link. You know, Dan has always said he doesnt' like fruit cake, yet he does like that fresh fig cake. So I'm thinking that he will probably like the figgy pudding recipe too.<br /><br />My recipe for fig jam suggests optional cinnamon, which I tried and is really tasty. Ginger sounds like it would be an excellent addition as well. Will have to try next year!<br /><br />APG, that is so true about taking the pressure off. Actually I froze my figs too, before making jam. I didn't leave them in there long, just long enough to do my jam when I had some breathing room. <br /><br />Bettina, so true about climates! The trade off is that the middle of our summer is too hot and too dry for much to survive, let alone thrive! I appreciate the info about the rugosa hips! Very helpful. Jam sounds lovely. :)<br /><br />Susan, LOL. And thanks! Great idea to trade. Always the next best thing. <br /><br />Vlb5757, I admit I eyed Jacob's cattle beans in the seed catalog. I will definitely have to give them a try. It's interesting how different the varieties taste. <br /><br />Rosamargarita, I'm just thankful for the ones I got!<br /><br />Stephanie, I agree about learning from one another. In fact, I learned about drying melons from other bloggers!<br /><br />Mr. H, it's been great. Very thankful for those figs!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-15668850608206491532011-08-31T22:55:32.507-04:002011-08-31T22:55:32.507-04:00Wow, you have been busy with quite a wide selectio...Wow, you have been busy with quite a wide selection of harvest activities. <br /><br /><br />Nice figs, those oatmeal fig cookies sound really good...mmm.:)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-19134635750492757962011-08-31T20:01:50.529-04:002011-08-31T20:01:50.529-04:00So glad to see what you grew, and your successes a...So glad to see what you grew, and your successes and disappointments. It helps us all learn from each other. Never heard of the dehydrating melon, will definitely have to try that, my daughter and I love melon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-26151120259325460512011-08-31T19:37:28.272-04:002011-08-31T19:37:28.272-04:00Que abundante y sabrosa cosecha, siento lo de las ...Que abundante y sabrosa cosecha, siento lo de las semillas de girasol!<br />Un abrazoRosamargaritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05443738938207671133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-17207751643539846972011-08-31T19:35:51.596-04:002011-08-31T19:35:51.596-04:00For the first time this year we decided to plant l...For the first time this year we decided to plant lots of beans a second time. I love Jacob's cattle beans for my dried beans. Our second planting now has flowers. I don't have as large a garden as you do but we sure have had fun with the thing. Thanks for sharing your garden. I have learned all kinds of things.vlb5757https://www.blogger.com/profile/05444876262831798051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-12544724260898883862011-08-31T18:48:27.152-04:002011-08-31T18:48:27.152-04:00Excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard!...Excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard! I miss being able to grow so many good things, but our grow season is so short that it takes a concerted effort to get much of anything. Always have to be aware of the weather report (possible freezing temps any time of year). But I am going to trade eggs for tomatoes with my physical therapist, and I got some fresh figs when I went to the valley last week. Congrats on your successes!Susanhttp://www.majorasue.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48417560469048171912011-08-31T18:23:19.663-04:002011-08-31T18:23:19.663-04:00puh, you do get a lot from your garden! I think ev...puh, you do get a lot from your garden! I think even if I spent more time in the veggie plot, I could never rival your harvests - your climate is just so much more favourable to growing! our highest temp. this summer was 23 deg. C - on one day only! the rest was closer to maybe 16 C:(( but about the rosehips - I never wait until the frost, because the birds start pecking on the ripe hips and destroy them pretty badly:(( also, when they are fully ripe the frost will reduce them to pulp, at least with the rugosas. the smaller ones have tougher skin and last better, but then you have less "meat" on them and a lot more work with the de-seeding:)) I am picking mine off in batches as soon as they are ripe, scratch out the seeds and hairs and freeze them, until I have all I can get. then we have a rosehip jam making feast:))Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29757292149037967702011-08-31T15:42:01.311-04:002011-08-31T15:42:01.311-04:00I have been freezing alot of tomatoes this year fo...I have been freezing alot of tomatoes this year for sauces later too. It sure did relieve alot of the stress of getting too many things done at once.The Apple Pie Galhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10340020795649093810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-33274723233452180042011-08-31T15:36:45.112-04:002011-08-31T15:36:45.112-04:00Here's another thing to do with dried figs - m...Here's another thing to do with dried figs - make figgy pudding. I heard this several years ago on NPR, and have made it twice. It's wonderful... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17356371<br /><br />Also, fresh ones make very good jam, especially with ginger.<br /><br />I miss figs - it's too cool where I live and will be too cold where I'm going! Oh well...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08421589409738817614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-36913995523701699692011-08-31T13:30:06.023-04:002011-08-31T13:30:06.023-04:00Peaceful, I've never had elderberry jam, but I...Peaceful, I've never had elderberry jam, but I think I'd love it. We did try watermelon rind pickles once, but nobody at them! The black oil sunflower seeds will be fed to the chickens and goats. They are one type that are soft shelled, so they'll eat them shell and all. <br /><br />Risa, excellent idea! Thanks! I often have those ends left and never liked feeding them all to the chickens.<br /><br />Jane, there are some hardy varieties, I think. Or some dwarfs for indoor or greenhouse growing(?)<br /><br />Mama Pea, thanks! Yes, okra is mucilaginous, which is why it's used as thickener in soups and stews (and gumbo of course). The way we love it best, is sliced, dipped in batter, and fried. Unfortunately, I rarely fry anything, but I do slice and saute with onion and garlic. If not overcooked it doesn't get slimey so it's a nice compromise.<br /><br />Regarding dehydrating the figs, I think it took about 10 hours at 135 F. Next time, I think I'll quarter them so they're more raisin sized.<br /><br />Dani, I'm not sure where I found that information; somewhere on the internet! Isn't it great what we can learn from one another?<br /><br />Sharon, it's why I always dreaded making salsa too. Or even simply canning tomatoes. Very easy, very time saving.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79795837433709731152011-08-31T12:19:15.406-04:002011-08-31T12:19:15.406-04:00I've been wanting to make salsa, but dreaded p...I've been wanting to make salsa, but dreaded peeling the tomatoes. I'm going to try your freezer trick!Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05263133282481600019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-37332189210949720052011-08-31T12:04:42.423-04:002011-08-31T12:04:42.423-04:00Leigh - Love your solution for peeling tomatoes - ...Leigh - Love your solution for peeling tomatoes - somehow I missed the posting on 29th July.<br /><br />Thank you :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-22491611342473995132011-08-31T11:58:29.500-04:002011-08-31T11:58:29.500-04:00Holy moley, Leigh, you're doing such a great j...Holy moley, Leigh, you're doing such a great job at growing (I know some years are better than others) a true variety of foods on the homestead.<br /><br />Great idea of divvying up meat/veggies/broth when putting soups by. Duh. Why did I never think of that?<br /><br />I've never tasted okra, just heard it's kinda mucilaginous but I think I might like okra pickles.<br /><br />Did your halved figs take a long time to dry in the dehydrator?<br /><br />Sure envy your ability to grow dry beans. We can grow them but our short season doesn't allow enough time for them to dry property.<br /><br />Great post!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-53783011847480829662011-08-31T11:42:37.545-04:002011-08-31T11:42:37.545-04:00I would love to be able to grow figs. They look so...I would love to be able to grow figs. They look so good.Jane @ Hard Work Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02905658082120445313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-445188243701384102011-08-31T11:41:04.662-04:002011-08-31T11:41:04.662-04:00Another approach to tomatoes, which I use, is to c...Another approach to tomatoes, which I use, is to cut sndwich-sized slices off them, usually six to nine, as one might from an apple, so that there is a pile of thin slices with peeling on them, and a "naked" interior. The interior goes into the stock pot for puree, and the slices into the solar dehydrator, skinside down. Saves on sticky dehyrator shelves without resorting to wax paper or whatever.Doyu Shoninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148504542232844586noreply@blogger.com