Gardengabber

I was hoping to use the stuff I froze for casseroles or add it in last minute for a quick sautee. Not sure if it will hold up or not. We have been doing foil packets on the grill almost everyday of our garden veggies and potatoes. I miss having it in the winter but that is why I froze it so I can have a little taste of summer in my winter menus.

I am totally gonna show my newbie roots, but I am so excited by how much yellow squash and zucchini I have harvested so far. In the past I ended giving most of the stuff away to my family, friends, neighbors and co-workers (I know, I know). Well this year I am canning and freezing--and I LOVE it! Yesterday's harvest netted me 6 lbs of squash to freeze. By Monday I will have enough to do a second batch of squash pickles. As far as the zucchini goes, I have had enough to make 4 loaves of Zucchini bread and freeze. Of course I have cooked and grilled these as well. I can only hope the rest of my garden turns out to be as prolific!

Oh that sounds yummy! I'm kind of late to this party, but I have a suggestion for the over-gelled jam! I made plum jam last year and had one batch that was way too thick and over-gelled. I spread it out on the fruit roll-up sheets in my excalibur dehydrator. I don't remember how long I dried them, but it was to a pliable stage. I peeled the "candy" off the roll-up sheets and rolled them up tightly, kind of like a jelly roll. I cut the rolls in one-inch pieces (about the size of a tootsie roll) and wrapped them in parchment paper. I did a second batch even drier and they were more like hard candies instead of chewy. Hope someone can use these ideas. They were both delicious! Jill in Texas

Soooo...how did the jars turn out? I am suprised you didn't need to suit up in Tyvek and half face respirator. yuck! I give you kudo's for braving all that!

I was given the RIVAL GRIND-O-MAT MEAT GRINDER/FOOD CHOPPER MODEL 303 (for free, yay!) except I don't have the owners manual. I went to the Rival website but they no longer have this on their website. I also tried to locate it on Manualsonline.com Per chance does anyone know where I can find a copy or have a copy they can scan and email to me? Much appreciated! Gardengabber

I (personally) am not a fan of using pesticides. As former chemist of 20 yrs I am familiar with what goes into those pesticides and the potential side affects. Having said that I try to garden naturally as possible using beneficial insects and recently implementing companion planting. It is a lot of information! Anyone here use companion planting? Have a good method/ chart for keeping track? Or recommend websites/ books? I would even like to hear about old wives tales, haha. Feeling a little overwhelmed. Thanks GG

Electrolux is the only brand of front loader that offers a reversible door option. This was really important for me since I was planning on stacking mine. As far as top loaders go the LG WT seems to be the front runner from all I have read. Good luck!!

We have already made a few small changes to incorporate solar (path lights, solar powered motion detector, solar roof vent...etc) and I really would like to do more but the initial cost to install solar roofing materials is EXPENSIVE! My house and garage are quite well situated. I have large surface area with adequate slope and get full east to west exposure. There are several options on the market--traditional solar panels, solar shingles (who knew?!) and integrated solar tiles. There are some energy tax credits/ incentives (Federal) as well as some states incentives. Initial capital outlay could be $20,000. CRIKEY that's a lot of money!!! However after various credits the estimated cost could be as low as $12,000. The cost to replace out our entire roof (house, garage and carport) has been estimated at $5500-$7200. It is estimated that having the solar roofing option could reduce the monthly utility bill from 40-60%. That could equate to $1400-$2100 per year. So in THEORY this could repay itself in several years. Besides the obvious environmental appeal, I like that unused energy would feed back into the grid (more saving off my utility bills) AND the big boon would be in the event of a power outage I would also have a solar generator. Does anyone here use solar power? What are the pro's and con's? Thanks! GG

All compelling points ladies! I think I am going to go with the chest freezer. 1) cheaper 2) stays cold longer in the event of power failure. 3)The model I am looking at has a defrost drain so that is a plus. I am concerned about the depth and lack of organized storage. However, I read an article where the person uses those plastic/ canvas totes (used for groceries) to sort items into "compartments" and since she color coded her bags she knew what items were in each bag. She would just pull the bag out sort through it and return to the freezer. Another article a freezer owner used a milk crate to "file" the frozen flat bags of sauces. Both really good ideals. I am getting a small one for now sooooo we will see how it goes. If I hate it I can always buy an upright.

Hmmm...that is something I wouldn't have thought of! Excellent information.

Hello all I am planning on purchasing a freezer. Those of you that have them--do you prefer the chest type or upright type? Any ideal if one is more energy efficient than the other? I worry since it only the hubbs and I, that I might purchase one to big and that uses lots of energy --which would defeat the purpose of me trying to live more frugally. Although I did read an article on the savings experiment you can do freezer blocking to fill up the empty space with boxes to ensure your freezer works more efficiently. Not sure how well that works. http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/24/savings-experiment-freezers/ I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks! GG

Thank you!!

Hello all, I am a newbie to your site. And it is fabulous! I am a little overwhelmed and am not sure where to begin as there is so much information. (Knowledge is a good thing) Can someone give me the 411 on where to begin on how to use this site-- what are some of the newbie references, etc.. (And I hope I posted in the correct forum!) As my profile indicates I am 45 live in SW Ohio. I have been married to the hubbs for 20 yrs on Valentines Day. I have one daughter who is grown and married. I LOVE to garden! It began with flowers and expanded to include vegetables and some fruits. I am recently unemployed (I worked as chemist for 20 years) as my job was outsourced due to manufacturing plant closure. (Nothing like sending jobs overseas--hooray) Sorry for the sarcasm--I am a little testy on the subject I grew up with lessons in frugality and practiced it most of my adult life. However, now with no job (and little prospects) we are really tightening our belts. We are ok but looking around I realize the rest of the world isn't so much. Since I have so much free time now (haha) I am putting it to good use. I learned a little about preserving food from grandma as a child (IF ONLY I had been more attentive). I recently took some canning classes so I could really know what I was doing (and not make anyone sick with my efforts in preservation). I also have been taking sewing classes--something else I failed to pay attention to in the arrogance of my youth. So that's where I am. Trying to be frugal, prepare a buffer for my family if (when?) the poo hits the fan and honestly enjoying doing the same things my grandma's used to do. Somehow it makes me feel a little closer to them. Thanks! GG