birdgirl1

THis is a question for ReadyMom–
Your spice solutions, (nutmeg, etc). Do you have a shelf life for them? How frequently do you need to dispose and replace?
THANKS!
birgirl+1

:help: OK – some might recall that I have a real fear about canning-particularly pressure canning (childhood experience). Today I decided was the day i was going to give it a try. I had frozen tomato juice last summer from extra garden tomatoes. I started cooking the juice down, along with the ingredients my DMIL uses for homemade ketchup. I have…[Read more]

I’ve not seen this addressed, so hope someone can help me. I called the toll free ball #, but since it has been busy for a solid hour and half I assume half of the U.S is canning on Feb 1st???
I brought a new box of jars in from the garage this a.m. to come to room temp before washing, and later sterilizing. As the jars began to warm, the lids…[Read more]

Seems like we are beginning to get a few more folks. Hey, MikeyLikes, any chance of a meet-up on neutral territory?
birdgirl+1

we’re in nw ohio, not a particularly good location. where are the ohio preppers? we seem to have one of the least visited state sites. it would be good to make connections with like-minded folks. Do we have some ohioans not posting??
birdgirl+1

Woo Hoo! I did my first dehydrating today. I did cucumber slices. I will use these as a snack with veggie dip. I am wondering???? Could I have lightly salted them first?? I think I read somewhere about someone salting potato slices b/f dehydrating, so wondered if one could do the same with cucumber slices?
Hoping to do swiss chard, kale and…[Read more]

welcome to the ohio group, Bobdog!
birdgirl+1

Alaska Rose, that is an interesting dehydrated combo. Have you seen the Leon Pattenburg book? So far, everyone appears to think dehydrating mixtures of prepared foods is not a good idea. Have you dehydrated any food mixtures other than your daughter’s recipe? What are your thoughts on this issue?
Birdgirl+1

Today on Leon Pattenburg’s article he referenced a book, “Backpacking Gourmet”. I looked it up on Amazon and read the reviews. Those reviewing appeared to be mostly backpackers, but I read with interest that the recipes in this book are largely prepared foods (stews, or lasagnas, or breakfast casseroles, etc) that are prepared and then dehydrated.…[Read more]

I really appreciate everyone’s views. I guess we would have to “shelter in”. I am so grateful for the post on surviving a nuclear attack. I am going to copy all that info. If we bugged out we would end up having to leave nearly everything behind–most food, water, etc. It jsut doesn’t make sense for us, but I say kudos to those who have managed…[Read more]

Hey fellow buckeyes- I check back once in a while to the Ohio site, but it seemed to have shown little growth until the last six weeks. I’m glad to see a few more Ohioans catching on. Am wondering what your thoughts are as to how our state would fare in a SHTF scenerio? No matter where you are in Ohio, you’re just not all that far from a big city!…[Read more]

Now have my Nesco in hand! I’m working my way through the Preserve It Naturally book that came with my dehydrator. I’m wondering how many of you do pretreating of your fruits and vegetables? This book leaves it up to the individual. I’m wondering what the experienced folks on this site found works best for them?
Thanks!
Birdgirl+1

Questions:
Can these bags from other food sources (chips, cereals, coffee, etc) be resealed with a food saver?
If I purchase dry products such as beans, rice, instant potatoes in smaller amounts, do I need to put them in a vacume bag and then in my food storage bucket?
If the products are vacume sealed do I need to add an oxygen absorber?
Can I…[Read more]

THANK YOU MUZHIK! I just checked my computer and am preparing to head out on my shopping expedition. You saved me!
I love this site and how helpful everyone is!
Birdgirl+1

I have acutally started stocking up!! I have only a little, but plan on going out tomorrow and adding to. Can anyone tell me if you trust the canned foods that have the “pop top”. It seems soups and more and more things are headed this way. Do you think the shelf life is as good as the way things used to be canned. My goal tomorrow:
Look for…[Read more]

Hi everyone.
Am wondering if any of you have stocked food items from Auguson Farms or from any other of the already prepared food sites? Their storage life for things like potato pearls etc, seems much longer than those in the grocery, or from what I can read home prepared things. They look costly, but am wondering if anyone is supplementing with…[Read more]

Thanks Autumnwear. I think my first goal, (non prepper–sorry) will be to get my daughter married next month. Along with that will come a little space in the basement! My second goal is going to be organizing all the stuff that has piled up down there and try for a garage sale. With that money I am going to invest in some prep items, perhaps my…[Read more]

Hey Urban Prepper, you may be in somewhat the same situation as I am in terms of your area environment. Since I am new to this site by about a week, I have been reading a LOT. I hear much, much concern about people living in urban areas and their safety should things get bad. Are you worried about that? Have you done anything to prepare for that…[Read more]

Hi everyone! i used to do some canning, but only open kettle with peaches, pears and jam. I bought a canner 22 (!) years ago, moved and then never worked up the courgage to use it—afraid of a pressure canner. now we have a smooth top range which i can’t afford to replace and can’t can on, and also no way to have a gas range :-(. My lucky sister…[Read more]