tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post5877066276044352250..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Food Storage in the SouthLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-4991661045669799132014-01-26T08:24:00.999-05:002014-01-26T08:24:00.999-05:00Hi Leigh,
I know this is an older post but I just...Hi Leigh,<br /><br />I know this is an older post but I just read it. Do you still have a problem with pantry moths? We did when we moved to southeastern Oklahoma. I found an insect trap specifically for the kind of moth that produces the weevil that eats grains at: <br /><br />http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/flying-insect-control-products/pantry-control-moth-control-products/pantry-pest-moth-control-traps<br /><br />They work great! I trapped a few moths the first year and haven't had any since. I have put out a few more traps about every other year and still haven't caught any more. It's worth a try.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-5530269614401046392012-08-05T16:55:45.822-04:002012-08-05T16:55:45.822-04:00oops... http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitche...oops... http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/root-cellars-14908.aspx100 Thoughts of Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200599373915306830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23383489910601906862012-08-05T16:33:07.059-04:002012-08-05T16:33:07.059-04:00here is an article about sinking a garbage can in ...here is an article about sinking a garbage can in the ground ... preferably inside a shed) for food storage in hot climates; would this work for the meantime?100 Thoughts of Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200599373915306830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83413372935001544992012-07-31T00:17:10.766-04:002012-07-31T00:17:10.766-04:00Here in Saskatchewan, the problem is more with gro...Here in Saskatchewan, the problem is more with growing the food (in the 90 day zone 2 growing season) than storing it. Root cellaring has worked well for us, and we have few issues with humidity or bugs in the house, fortunately. Even in the summer, we store our eggs in the root cellar with no issues, and we still have spaghetti squash from last year's garden stored in the spare room...jjhttp://www.ruraldream.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29176246998291518462012-07-30T18:28:29.830-04:002012-07-30T18:28:29.830-04:00Ya'll, I probably should have clarified that t...Ya'll, I probably should have clarified that the grains I'm having problems with are homegrown, not small store bought. Consequently, trying to freeze, refrigerate, oven dry, etc is a bit out of the question because of the amount of grain we're dealing with!<br /><br />2 Tramps, it's the cooling down at night that I really miss. :(<br /><br />Jaime, I'd love to know more about those Vietnamese preservation methods. I've done a lot of lacto-fermenting, but find those foods still need refrigeration after awhile or they get too sour for our taste. I have to agree with regional eating, though in some parts of the world that would mean a very limited diet!<br /><br />Elizabeth, we're considering making a root cellar in the old swimming pool (filled with dirt) which will become the foundation for a greenhouse. I really don't think I'll need it much except for potatoes though. Interesting idea about a solar dehumidifier.<br /><br />Denise I used to have an entire set of Foxfire books! Lost them along the way but good idea for the resource. <br /><br />Sue, yes I have thought of that. I actually have 2 fridges, and the cheeses are stored in the warmest part of the 2nd one. The rest is stuffed with about a bushel of field corn because moths love corn the best!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-19908196884571175062012-07-30T12:10:45.832-04:002012-07-30T12:10:45.832-04:00I know it won't help when you go off grid, but...I know it won't help when you go off grid, but have you thought about getting a spare fridge to turn into a cheese cave for hard cheeses? You can get a special thermostat that lets you keep the temperature in the right range for the rinds to develop properly. It's what I'm going to do once the girls start giving milk.<br /><br />I lived in Florida for 8 years, and hated the humidity. The high desert works much better for me!Suehttp://www.majorasue.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-4858565902053886532012-07-29T15:35:29.620-04:002012-07-29T15:35:29.620-04:00A good post Leigh and I can see what your saying a...A good post Leigh and I can see what your saying about keeping certain foods fresh without electricity, and I'm really big on solar power myself and can only see this method growing as time goes on. Richardtrumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379869475899318079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59219017164629075152012-07-29T03:41:58.478-04:002012-07-29T03:41:58.478-04:00Sorry to hear of your computer problems as well as...Sorry to hear of your computer problems as well as the humidity situation! I just got a weavil mess cleaned up. They came in with some beans I had purchased I believe and by the time I realized it...well what a mess.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07150100743522744058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-39381078409562239522012-07-28T22:24:38.925-04:002012-07-28T22:24:38.925-04:00Leigh- you need to check out the foxfire books. T...Leigh- you need to check out the foxfire books. They are excellent source of info. Also I have read that they dried beans in their shells by stringing them. They also dried apples this way. If you want some visuals on the way things were, check out the Victorian Farm videos on YouTube or you can rent them I'm sure. They were shown on PBS and are from Britain but the info is very interesting. The follow up Edwardian Farm wasn't as good but had some great info too.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176248257777935268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44534610851494646332012-07-28T18:44:09.438-04:002012-07-28T18:44:09.438-04:00Ditto on freezing before storing for the pantry mo...Ditto on freezing before storing for the pantry moths. Also to prevent infestation once opened you need to be sure there are none where you store things. I have had great luck using Bay Leaves of all things! Got that tip from an elderly neighbor years ago and so far so good. Put whole dry leaves (several depending on size of area) just on the shelf and replace every 4 or 5 months or so. Since I can get large jars at the grocery near me for a reasonable price I can't complain about cost. Plus lots safer and some of the alternatives.<br />I also hate humidity! Towels only get a single use in summer because they sour so quickly before they have a chance to dry even out on the line. Yuck! LOL<br /><br />Sue OSue Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03125874501927793360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75254756939442772012-07-28T10:20:41.137-04:002012-07-28T10:20:41.137-04:00Leigh, is there a way to make a root cellar? Depen...Leigh, is there a way to make a root cellar? Depending on how high your water table is - root cellars are usually lower in humidity. There is also the possibility of a solar dehumidifier. This would make the root cellar even better. My husband said you could probably make the dehumidifier for about $600. He hooked our dehumidifier up to a hose and put it out through the wall - no emptying that little bucket every few hours. ElizabethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-84476028742048993582012-07-28T09:40:50.283-04:002012-07-28T09:40:50.283-04:00Thanks for sharing your experiences Leigh. Being ...Thanks for sharing your experiences Leigh. Being new to the south, I will have to go back later and read the comments left by others, as I am learning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-22017147346308652662012-07-27T20:44:22.329-04:002012-07-27T20:44:22.329-04:00So interesting! My husband's family used to li...So interesting! My husband's family used to live in Vietnam (very hot and humid all-year and no electricity for most people) and I've learned some about food preservation just talking to them. Lots of pickled vegetables, meat butchered as needed, dried and salted meats, and soups that can be left out and re-boiled. I also noticed they didn't eat foods outside of their regional cuisine, and I think this is much like eating only in-season foods here. I read something recently that said if we can't grow things in our region of the country (blueberries, for example), that we shouldn't be eating those things! Kind of extreme, but in a way, it rings true.<br /><br />I'm always amazed that my mother-in-law leaves so much food out on the counter, too - eggs, fruit, cooked foods...I grew up keeping everything in the refrigerator! I'd love to learn more about reducing our own dependency on electricity as well.<br /><br />-jaimeNgo Family Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15484243776589015749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83256500203211390562012-07-27T18:45:45.747-04:002012-07-27T18:45:45.747-04:00Leigh, Others have said it but the moths hatched f...Leigh, Others have said it but the moths hatched from eggs that were in whatever you were trying to store. Some people have used the freezer to kill any eggs that may have been in your grains or dry goods. Put the items in the freezer for approximately 3 days. Then take it out of the freezer and dry can it. No more bugs.Lady Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02912568623501436294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-55283106701325039542012-07-27T18:03:18.463-04:002012-07-27T18:03:18.463-04:00Even here in Vermont we get bugs in the dry goods ...Even here in Vermont we get bugs in the dry goods so I oven can everything dry. I place my grains in a canning jar, lid off, and bake at 150 degrees for an hour. I fill the oven to capacity when I do this because we have a lot of dry goods but from spring until mid autumn, the insects are as interested in my food as I am.Whiffletree Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14416279391811227390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-76595946374419699642012-07-27T17:09:20.442-04:002012-07-27T17:09:20.442-04:00Very thought provoking post! My nephew is going t...Very thought provoking post! My nephew is going to college in Nashville - he loves it - I would die there - heat and humidity, oh no! I had never thought about all the things you have to contend with in the south. Living here in the high desert of Oregon, we have a dry climate. After reading your post, I feel very fortunate to live here. It does get hot in the summer but it cools down most nights.2 Trampshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12721390235821161265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-1439924882399052752012-07-27T15:44:30.778-04:002012-07-27T15:44:30.778-04:00Any dry products I bring home goes into the freeze...Any dry products I bring home goes into the freezer for 3-4 days first then into jars, I haven't had a pantry moth in my house for over a decade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-77151487777446724812012-07-27T15:33:53.504-04:002012-07-27T15:33:53.504-04:00What excellent comments! I'm checking in from ...What excellent comments! I'm checking in from the library. Turns out I had to order a new computer; just got a tower. Hopefully I'll be back online from the comfort of my own home next week. <br /><br />Izzy, do come back and share anything you learn. Building a smokehouse is on Dan's "someday list," so I'll post about that when we finally get to it.<br /><br />Bettina, so interesting how different peoples dealt with their regional problems. I figure with the freezer, I can always can everything perishable in it if we lose power for more than a couple days. <br /><br />Barb, amazing what necessity can inspire! We have the bubble foil insulation around our air ducts; hadn't thought of it for other things. Love those Berkeys! I'm not familiar with the lanterns and don't think our Berkey dealer had those. Who did you get them from?<br /><br />Angela, I will definitely have to come read your blog posts once we get back online (time limited here on a library computer). This is an interesting and important topic. <br /><br />Your mentioning the vacuum sealing reminds me that somewhere I have one of those manual pump ones! Got it for Y2K and packed it away. You've inspired me to go find it!<br /><br />Jackie, I imagine you have less eggs than we do during winter! They freeze beautifully if beaten as for scrambled. I did a how to post on that <a href="http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-freeze-eggs.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, how they worked for cooking, <a href="http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/2011/01/cooking-with-my-frozen-eggs.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <br /><br />Anon (Sunnybrook?) yeah, but how do they get in there so fast, LOL. Interesting history, confirms what I've been thinking. <br /><br />Quinn, I hadn't thought about that with salt. We don't have fish, but meat cans very well. Sorry about your boots! I know how hard it is to part with a good pair. <br /><br />Renee, I need to read some of those historical books too! I'm wondering now about that jerky and how they kept it or maybe they didn't ???<br /><br />AHH, thanks! I've heard of many good uses for DE. I'll have to invest in some and experiment. <br /><br />Rugratmommy, we're in the same boat!<br /><br />Bernadine, we researched both wind and solar but there are obstacles as you mention. I'm guessing our ancestors expected at least some loss due to bugs and mold. <br /><br />Nancy, that's so true about freezing. In fact, I keep all my grains and flours either in the freezer or the fridge. <br /><br />Annnightflyer, very interesting. That's the direction I think a number of us are headed. <br /><br />Janice you are so lucky not to have those moths!<br /><br />Sue, that's very interesting about the roof panels. I'll have to look into it. The last time I researched solar for the house I figured out it would take longer to get my money back than I have years!<br /><br />Sunnybrook, I've seen back porch freezers around with locks on them! The no waste part is something I really admire. Modern science tells us so much of an animal is bad for our health so that we no longer utilize all of it. It's something we need to learn to change. <br /><br />Susan, don't tell anyone I said this but I hate humidity. Thanks for the info on DE too. And when I get to curing meats, I'll post about it!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-33970423387053641772012-07-27T14:22:49.407-04:002012-07-27T14:22:49.407-04:00Interesting (using the term loosely) problems you ...Interesting (using the term loosely) problems you have in the south. I do not function well in humidity, so I keep going further north! I am trying to can and dehydrate more, because we have intermitent power outages and I'd like to rely less on my freezer. The DE info is great - I use it for everything, especially with my hens. It takes care of everything from mites to parasites. I'd be interested in learning how to cure/salt - it sounds like you've got quite a challenge there. But, if anyone is up to it, it's you.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12573143203599624833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-84808464290387433662012-07-27T14:16:48.744-04:002012-07-27T14:16:48.744-04:00I replied above but I came out as Anonymous for so...I replied above but I came out as Anonymous for some reason. I worked in local archaeology for several years and researched the area. I noticed that a smokehouse was usually present and it would have a good lock on it while there might not be one on the house, thieves were around in the old days, I had a great aunt who shot a man's thumb who was trying to steal chickens. Food was taken very seriously. There was very little wasted, what you find in trash areas is usually completely worn out. It was really different from today in some respects.Sunnybrook Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135224259672444423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-15261073990073442942012-07-27T14:11:05.925-04:002012-07-27T14:11:05.925-04:00Leigh, here in MA there's a big push for solar...Leigh, here in MA there's a big push for solar roof panels. Went to a seminar & learned that off grid is horribly expensive but that private non-utility companies are paying homeowners dividend-like monies if they install solar that's connected to the grid as a exchange for the power generated. Some installations are owner financed and some are only partial. Either way, the payback is pretty quick. A relatively new roof is probably better than a mid-old one like ours. We've decided to stick with the solar setup we've got. But you should research the MA setup for yourselves, esp the off grid costs. Sue in MAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-70760655143823587752012-07-27T13:54:40.027-04:002012-07-27T13:54:40.027-04:00Gosh, we just don't have the problems you and ...Gosh, we just don't have the problems you and your "fans" seem to have. I've never heard of "pantry moths." I guess that's one of the many good things about living in the mountains above California's central valley. <br /><br />However we'd be in a pickle if the power went out for more than a few days. The generator would help us though as long as we had plenty of fuel handy.CaliforniaGrammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05137556336315915924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-53982658387035647652012-07-27T13:47:40.463-04:002012-07-27T13:47:40.463-04:00From the South-My ancestors dried beans and most t...From the South-My ancestors dried beans and most things like grains were stored in a cloth bag.Meat was smoked in a smoke house.Animals were killed when needed.My hubbys ancestrial house has a root cellar still there.They were big farmers.Straw was used for cover veggies in these.Some homes didn't have a cellar so they just dried what they could.Most hunted wild game to provide meat to keep from killing their livestock because the livestock is what they survived on.What they didn't eat they shared with family members.It really wasn't any different then as it is now with people who live off grid.Misty Pines Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987279242206006833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66774482338550350582012-07-27T12:39:23.452-04:002012-07-27T12:39:23.452-04:00It's dry here, high desert, but I'd like t...It's dry here, high desert, but I'd like to live in the mtns. nearby. I hate humidity, ick. One way to get rid of moths is to freeze (for about 3 days) any grains you buy, before you store them. I do this whenever I buy flour, oats, etc, cornmeal. Works great! It kills any little things you don't see... I think salting would be a way to go too...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00576053785355324560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-26944708172587897272012-07-27T12:31:59.472-04:002012-07-27T12:31:59.472-04:00I've wondered some of the same things: if we ...I've wondered some of the same things: if we were suddenly without electricity for some time, what would we do? My husband fantasizes about putting up a windmill but our location isn't conducive. Solar panels are too expensive. We are totally dependent on electricity to preserve food using a vacuum sealer. I did have pantry moths once. They came in some ground up corn husks I used for the bottom of my bird cage and quickly took over. I had to empty the entire pantry, wash all the shelves, toss out infested stuff and store cereal, grains, beans, rice, flour... in the fridge or freezer for a while or store things in air tight mason jars. It was gross finding the larvae crawling in interior shelves. I'm still on the lookout though it's been several years since they were eliminated. I still store bird seed in the freezer or in a glass jar, cereal in plastic containers and don't store open stuff in the pantry. <br />I hope you find a solution and then share it with us all. Best wishes.Bernadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587313532492965871noreply@blogger.com