Joyfilled

2 hours ago, Mother said:

I’ve waxed my own home made hard cheese before and didn’t find it any more effective than storing the dry cheese in the rind it develops from the curing process.  We had a very cold basement pantry at the time and I stored it on wire racks.  
 

I agree with Euphrasyne that if you have access to raw milk or powdered milk it is easy to make fresh cheese but if you are wanting aged , hard cheese without the wait for a survival situation be sure to do a lot of reading first (as I’m sure you do).  It won’t save you anything if the cheese is unusable when you need it. You might also think about storing cheese in oil or in brine.  Try small batches in different ways to see what works best. 
 

As for the predicted Midwest blackouts,  that often means periodic electrical loss due to high demand.  That might be temporary, random, short term outages while they transfer electricity from one area to another.  Unfortunately with the predicted electrical shortages that could mean days.  Short term (1-2 days) outages, even if they are often, will not effect your freezer temps greatly if the freezers are insulated with heavy quilts or packing blankets and only opened when absolutely necessary.  Longer term for us here usually means using a generator a couple times a day to keep items frozen or a massive canning or dehydrating effort to save what’s in them.  
 

Thankfully, hard cheese when frozen can still be stored and used after thawing so not as much of an issue as soft cheese would be. 

We really need a milking cow. 😂 

We have a few solar panels that I'm hoping are enough to run the freezers in the garage....they need to be set up though.  We're concerned about an EMP knocking them out, though....🙁

Thank you for all of this information!! I've made mozzarella before (buying rae milk from friends at the time), but haven't in a long time. We still want a cow....I'm trying to figure out how to pay for it, with everything else looming including a wedding!! 

I got some wax ordered and some bags to put into my crockpot to minimize the mess. Can't wait to get it going! 

I'll post pictures if anyone is interested! 😊

38 minutes ago, Littlesister said:

I have never waxed cheese before but is something that would be good to know how to do. Even cheese is getting expensive now. I do freeze some cheese but not a lot.

I heard that we should be expecting blackouts this summer (what that means exactly, I don't know for sure), so I'm trying to find ways to store food without refrigeration. Canning, dehydrating, and now, waxing cheese!! (not that I can or dehydrate cheese now, I only freeze it)

Speaking of which....can cheese be dehydrated?

1 hour ago, euphrasyne said:

You should only wax semi hard and hard cheese.  You cannot just dip it in wax, there is a process.  It can last a quarter century or more if done correctly.

 

How to Wax Cheese for Home Storage | Homesteading Hippy (thehomesteadinghippy.com)

 

The Ultimate Guide to Cheese Waxing (tastylicious.com)

 

These 2 resources seem to explain it fairly well.   Do NOT just dip it and call it good.  Pick a process.   I prefer medium or high heat waxing as they are safest.   

Thank you!! I've been watching videos all afternoon with a sleeping toddler on my lap. Never occurred to me to do this!! 

More questions, if you don't mind:

Do you have a preferred wax, or something off of Amazon okay?

I'm particularly interested in mozzarella. If I get a low moisture one, would that be okay or is it still too soft? 

Is this how you store your cheese? I'm trying to use our freezers less, and so far this is what I've come up with for cheese. 

Thanks again!! 

Anyone done it? I'm thinking about buying blocks of cheese and wax and storing some that way instead of the freezer. I have a few questions:

What kind of cheese can I store that way? I know cheddar....but can I do mozzarella? I'm assuming it's mostly hard cheeses?

How long can I store them like that (in a cool, dark place)?

How do I keep them safe from rodents? I'm guessing I can put them into plastic boxes (like shoe bins)?

Thank you! I'm hoping to get into this soon!!

So....this isn't food, but it's still something I made that saves us money, so I'm telling you about it here: kids and I harvest (foraged?) roses and dandelions. I made over 2 quarts or rose water (it would have been $60 or so on Amazon!!!), and tomorrow I will dandelion oil to make salves. I'm hoping to get more roses to make some of rose petal oil, too. It's not food, but making it from our garden saved us a bunch of money!! 😊👍🏻👍🏻

2 hours ago, Littlesister said:

Joyfield those pics. look really great. You are going to have a huge turnout of veggies. 

And yes, that big plant is rosemary. It has gotten huge. Going to be taken some cuttings from it to dry and put in jar. This fall I will be cutting it back; I think. Need to check on the right time on how to do that. Going to give some of it away when I take cuttings from it. 

 

Just redid my carrots and bunching onions. None of them came up. So, starting them this time between wet paper towels. That usually works for me. Then I will transplant to pots. Been walking around the yard past couple of days trying to figure out plans for next year's crop. Going to plow up the one garden that has the black plastic on it again and see about getting someone to help get the raised bed boxes together with brackets and better screws than what came with them. Will more than likely do that in fall as when green beans are done, I need to empty that box and redo that one for reinforcement as well. Really hoping to add 2 more boxes for next year. 

I wish I could grow rosemary like that!!! 😊👍🏻

2 hours ago, Mother said:

Joyfilled, that’s amazing.  Good job! 👍

I'll pass the compliment to Mr. Joyfilled! 

Here (finally) is our kitchen garden! This isn't the inside yet, or the main garden, this is what I'm kind of in charge of keeping alive. Hubby planted everything, and as you can see, we STILL have plants we haven't planted!!   The area is still a bit messy, so I'm not taking overall pictures yet.

On 6/4/2022 at 8:39 PM, Annarchy said:

Red aloe, gets a spring stem, with red or pink flowers, yellow aloe has pinkish or orangish flowers.

Aloe, likes cooler weather, with no deep freezing. Red aloe will survive, if it is slightly sheltered from harsh freezing temps and winds, etc.  However, it absolutely loves the heat, as long as it has water or moisture… and not too much.  Aloe is naturally a desert plant.  Rains come in seasons.  It has adapted, by providing the aloe gel to keep the plant alive during the drought seasons.  Red aloe has a broader leaf, I guess to capture more moisture.  Yellow aloe, has a much thinner, longer leaf, which stands up straighter.  It, however, died, when I transplanted some to MIL’s yard in TX, after the freezing winter.  It doesn’t tolerate freezing temps, at all.  Yet, even though some of the outer leaves on the red aloe froze, & died, the center, continued to grow in the spring.  I planted some in MIL’s flower beds, because they require no maintenance, from her.  I, however, keep them trimmed, or whacked back, or they’d over grow the flower bed.  Lol. 
 

I’ve had red aloe in my yard, since my Grandmother planted it in the 1950’s.  I’ve moved the planted area a few times, given a plethora of plants away and now use a few, as decorations, to fill areas that die in the summer.  A landscaper gave me 2 yellow aloe plants about 5 years ago.  The have spread to a 4’x 3’ triangular area and need to be thinned.  The area it’s in, is covered with wood sorrel, in the late winter & early spring.  So when temps exceed 100, it dies and the aloe makes a nice ground cover.  
 

This is the yellow aloe….

 

 

This is the red aloe….

 

 

Here it is growing in an area, under a mesquite tree, where nothing has ever grown.
 

 

 I’ve tossed many plants out there, & they have taken root.  It doesn’t look like it’s surviving, however, in the wild desert, that’s what it actually looks like.  Home & gardens, give the plants, much more than nature does.  
 

 

Thanks a bunch, Annarchy!! I'll check on it tomorrow. I just got home and I'm exhausted!

On 6/4/2022 at 6:57 PM, Littlesister said:

Miki those pictures look great. 

Pioneer Woman, Love those flowers. I keep going back to look at the pictures when I get on here.  

 

I took pictures of my poor garden for this year. It is not like I want to get it set up yet because of construction, then grandson moving here, etc. Though grandson was a big help getting things set up as much as we could. Next year comes the big garden. Where you will see the black plastic is the original garden but a bit smaller because of the shed being placed there. Will be opening up a new section hopefully early fall or early in March.

Well rats, I transferred pictures from phone to computer and now I can't find them. So will post pictures when I get it figure

Is that rosemary, Little Sister? It's wonderful!!

2 hours ago, Dee said:

 

I used to put seeds in the ground, and they just grew.  Now, I have to work at most anything I grow.  My carrots won't grow unless I cover them with something and water them daily for about 3 weeks.  This year I'm using an old sheet.  I planted them last week and just don't seem to be as good at keeping them watered this year as other years.  I hope they grow.  Especially this year when everything is such a question.

 

I know you know Mother but do you others know you can keep carrots all winter long?  I dig them in the fall, wash the mud/dirt from them and let them dry good on a towel.  I then put them in gallon bags in the bottom drawer of the fridge.  When ready I take them out and voila' no buying carrots all the time.

 

Below is a picture of the last bag I had from last fall.  They get kind of hairy and rooty but they taste great.  I have peeled some and have them ready for the roast I was cooking at the time

 

The peelings will go into a bag in the freezer to use when I boil a chicken, roast, etc.

 

Pioneer Woman, your pictures are beautiful.

 

 

 

Dee, I've never been able to grow carrots 🥕 at all!! Any advice, I'd really appreciate it!! (Maybe on a different thread)

Hi Pioneer Woman!!

Tonight we ate pizza boats with pizza sauce from our garden last year and fresh herbs (oregano, basil and thyme) from our garden now. Oh, my.....so very good. It's the first time this season eating the fresh herbs. I had missed it!! We have a long weekend, so I hope we can get more done in the garden and I'll get some pictures. My particular challenge is to keep the herbs and veggies in the bay window alive and thriving. I hope and pray it does well! Here is what I'm hoping to grow in small quantities, enough to just harvest for a meal at a time (the kitchen garden and bigger garden will have more for putting away for the winter):

Cilantro (any tips? I always seem to kill it, or it bolts)

Lettuces

Oregano

Thyme

Basil

Aloe Vera (I put it outside after being inside over the winter and it almost died, isn't that weird?)

And....I would like to try my hand at broccoli and bean sprouts. I'll be picking y'alls brains about that!!

I'm excited....I pray it's an abundant year for all of us!

15 hours ago, Annarchy said:

Joyfilled, how does your garden grow?  Have you planted?

Thanks for asking! Wellll.....most of the garden is in. I told DH about the challenge and he said "I suppose you want me to clean up the garden so you can take pictures for your friends?"    

Yesterday we bought some flower boxes for the porch that will replace the ones that fall easily. Those we will put inside in our bay window for lettuces and a few herbs. That's going to be the area that I want to see thrive (and our kitchen garden, too). Of course I want all of it to thrive....but the main garden has done well, but we have yet to master lettuces (go figure) and that would save us money....also, cilantro and onions. So I'm going to try!

That garden looks great, @Mother!! I'm so happy for you. I hope and pray it's abundant for you, and that God will bless your work!

That looks awesome, MM!! I look forward to seeing pictures as the garden grows. It's exciting and rewarding!

2 hours ago, Mother said:

I’m sure you can buy it online.  I know that Cultures for Health (.com) has it.  Amazon most likely.   Natural Grocers, Fresh Thyme stores, or other places where they sell health market items would have it as well.  I believe I saw it recently at our HyVee grocery store recently in their health market section.  I haven’t bought it in years as I always make my own. 

I honestly had no idea!! I thought I could only get it from a friend or make it myself. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Thanks a bunch for the info!!

So....forgive my ignorance. I thought Monkeypox was less....everything than Chickenpox. Why the panic?? I don't understand. Grant it, it doesn't look like fun, but I'm not sure I'd throw words like lock-down and quarantine around again. Been there, done that. What am I missing???

13 minutes ago, Mother said:

You can make your own sour dough starter with or without yeast.  The only thing the boughten starter does is give you a specific culture for a specific taste.  There are lots of recipes and instructions online.  I use simply water from boiling potatoes, flour to make a thin batter and a very small amount of sugar to feed the yeast as they start to grow.  Set in a warmish place (I set mine right on the counter) and cover with a cheese cloth or porous material and let it work.  Each day stir in more flour and water until you have a bubbly slightly sour smelling ‘starter’.  
 

Be sure to check online for specific recipes as there are a lot of really good ways to make it. 

If I was to buy the starter, where would I buy it?

So....we would like to start making sourdough bread, but don't have access to the starter. Any ideas? I know I can make it, or at least think I can. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

1 minute ago, Mother said:

 Joyfilled Redhead This sounds like the routine followed by many people in the past.  There were many reasons why it worked so well.  Men often had more strength and we’re more able to watch for dangers while doing outside work.  Women often were nursing or caring for young children, easier to do inside.  
 

Today, with the necessity of both men and women to work outside the home, has both doing any of the work.  Today it makes sense to divide the work according to abilities.  You and your family have done that and have created a true survival team.  👍

Thanks for that encouragement, Mother. So many women enjoy gardening....I just don't. I don't like the feel of dirt on my feet or hands, I don't like the sweaty hours spent out there, not to mention creepy crawlies.

But I LOVE going out there in the early mornings or later evenings to harvest. I KNOW hubby has put in a lot of work for me to get to that point. And I absolutely love grabbing baskets upon baskets to bring in the produce that has grown, laying it all out and taking pictures. I love chopping, freezing, canning, dehydrating....and of course, cooking with it later on, too. Hubby? Well, he'll help if I need it, but not so much.

I've always felt a little guilty that I'm not out there as much at the beginning of it....but I am usually inside getting meals ready, etc. for when they come back in. And....he's pretty good at asking me for help if he needs it.

Also....the kids do help (speaking of our younger kids), every little bit helps!!

46 minutes ago, Jeepers said:

Welcome again Joyfilled Redhead! 

So glad you are able to post now! Just jump right on in anytime. We already love your mom and you are as welcome too. 

Awww, shucks, Jeepers....thank you!!

We're struggling, too. Well....hubby does most of the planting, and now my future son in love. I'm more on the end of harvesting and preserving.....but I can see that it's taking a while to get all the plants in. It's just....taking a while. Hopefully it will get done soon....rain is supposed to come tomorrow, and we are so very thankful for every drop we get!!

I keep thinking....we do this now to live healthier, know where our food comes and practice. What happens when we are doing it because our lives will depend on it? I'm guessing we will have the motivation to do all of this? I certainly hope so....

2 hours ago, Annarchy said:

  I hadn’t checked..my bad.  Forgive me..please. 

 

 

Awww....thanks Annarchy! Nothing to forgive, really.

Thanks for adding her! I think.