Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: June 12~18, 2022

[nomifyle]

SB, walmart seems to be doing the same thing. I would like to reorder some things, but they have been on pickup only for almost two weeks. They are losing money on me.

DH has had to go to town for the last two days and also today. So he's checking another wm for his mango drink. I've got a decent supply of gatoraide power but the mango drink spoiled him and now he doesn't want any gatoraide. At least when he can't get anything else he will have the gatoraide powder to fall back on.

He's in town getting feed and a new hot water heater.

 

[WanderLore]

Good storm this morning to cool things off and the wind is blowing. Was horrid yesterday.
Few little things to get done but have to take it easy in this weather.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

SB, walmart seems to be doing the same thing. I would like to reorder some things, but they have been on pickup only for almost two weeks. They are losing money on me.

DH has had to go to town for the last two days and also today. So he's checking another wm for his mango drink. I've got a decent supply of gatoraide power but the mango drink spoiled him and now he doesn't want any gatoraide. At least when he can't get anything else he will have the gatoraide powder to fall back on.

He's in town getting feed and a new hot water heater.

If I stop ordering from Sam's completely, they'll be losing about $400/month from me. I know that may sound like a lot to some, but I'm still buying in bulk most all items for our food storage, and have been doing that for a while.

 

[nomifyle]

Judy, when hurricane Hugo hit, September of 89, in Charleston..it was in 90s and almost 100% humidity.
I had 4 children, one only 8 weeks old.
We had no power for 6 weeks. We had water but it was tainted by pine. We had gas for the stove.
It was horrendously hot. Everyone was up with the sun and went to bed at dark.
I had a kiddie pool and filled that. We all played in that. At night I washed laundry in it.
Only a few trees so not much shade.
I don't know how we got through it.
National Guard and other entities came through every day and gave us stuff. Maybe a gallon of milk one day, gallon of water next. Once it was dry ice.
Really awful I remember. I feel for you.

It's not that bad all the time, but after mid day its really hot. The bedroom is cool from the small a/c in my walk in closet and the a/c in the mud room helps. It does drain me of any energy that I might have. But I'm not going to give in. Thanks for your considerations.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I know and understand everything you said, Barry. When we were doing traditional gardening, we did it the same way you just described. We used old aged goat manure, instead of chicken. Composted directly into the garden, and raked all leaves to add to it. That's back when our whole back yard was one huge garden. Cary used a huge Troybilt tiller on it, and it grew an abundance of food. Then, we went to raised bed gardening, thinking it wouldn't be as much trouble. Boy, the first few years of doing that worked great. We worked them the way they needed working. My health went downhill, Cary retired, and his health got bad for awhile. He lost all interest in gardening. I couldn't do it by myself. Now, that things on the world scene are going downhill, we need to get out butts in gear, and come up with a gardening solution.

Barry, since our climates are the same, can I replant squash and cucumber seed, or is it too late?

We've been toting buckets of rain water to the gardens this morning. Everything, except the squash and cucumbers seem to be holding their own, but not great. Pretty sure the squash and cucumbers are dying, even though, we now have bees.

The climate is not the big question. It is the squash bug.

If you have squash bugs or cucumber beetles hanging around, then you will only be able to replant if you don’t mind spraying or dusting with Sevin.

If you don’t have those bugs around, then you are good to go.

Only thing, in this excessive heat, water TWICE daily, and see if you can give them some shade - a shade cloth maybe - for a few hours in the peak of the afternoon.

 

[Mprepared]

Can somebody help me figure this out? I am thinking of buying potatoes and dehydrating. If I had a bunch in the garden then I would know the answer, but I am trying to figure out if dehydrating store bought potatoes is worth the effort when there are products like this. My friend who is stocking up says she just buys dehydrated potatoes and my brother loves these dehydrated potatoes in milk cartons. The link is more expensive than at Costco. I think they were around $7 a month ago. This link says these were made from 100 potatoes. Have you any idea how much dehydrated potatoes you would get from a 50 pound sack? I dehydrated a lot of half gallon jars a few years ago, but I do not remember how many potatoes in pounds I did. This looks like a small amount and I would think you would get a lot more than these 8 milk cartons with 50 pounds. I would rather have chunks and not all shreds, so that is an answer too, but any ideas on the amount you would get for 50 pounds?

https://www.amazon.com/Idaho-Spuds-Potato-Gluten-Hashbrowns/dp/B079H5B8DQ/ref=asc_df_B079H5B8DQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312065523358&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5360531472443751868&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029652&hvtargid=pla-491914159190&psc=1

 

[SouthernBreeze]

The climate is not the big question. It is the squash bug.

If you have squash bugs or cucumber beetles hanging around, then you will only be able to replant if you don’t mind spraying or dusting with Sevin.

If you don’t have those bugs around, then you are good to go.

Only thing, in this excessive heat, water TWICE daily, and see if you can give them some shade - a shade cloth maybe - for a few hours in the peak of the afternoon.

Thanks. I may replant some seeds to see how they do. I don't like doing it in this heat and dry spell, though. Can I wait, until later in the year?

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I

Question: what is a good homemade pest killer to use on a peach tree?

i don’t know if there is one.

An all around good, organic spray that I make when I need it is the following, mixed into one gallon of clean water:

A tablespoon or two of garlic juice
A tablespoon or two of Louisiana hot sauce
one UNCOATED, common, ordinary, cheap aspirin,
A tablespoon or two of epson salts,
one half of a cup of fish emulsion,
one fourth of a cup of liquid seaweed extract (other known as liquid kelp meal)
And several squirts of lemon scented dishwashing liquid


The garlic juice, hot sauce and lemon scent in the dishwashing liquid help repel insects away.

The aspirin helps with some plant diseases.

The baking soda helps specifically with some blights

The epson salts,fish emulsion, and liquid seaweed extraxct are high quality otganic nutrients.

And the dishwashing liquid is what they call a “wetting agent”, that is, something that helps the mix to stick to the leaves

 

[Digger]

I went into the attic this morning to get a couple of old popcorn tins to store beans in. I have 3 from different years. The oldest said 36 oz , the next one was 24 oz, and last years was 18 oz. Now I wish I would have kept more of them. I always battle my tendencies to keep too much. Just goes to show, "You may wish you had that later."

I moved the last of the chicks from the brooder to the grow out pen. I kept them in the brooder longer than usual because of the gnats. Gnats are mostly gone now. In another week they can start foraging with the other chickens.

I froze a few green peas last night. I may do a few more today. I think the green peas are about done. They do not like the heat. But the field peas are doing good. Hopefully they will make a lot.

 

[summerthyme]

Can somebody help me figure this out? I am thinking of buying potatoes and dehydrating. If I had a bunch in the garden then I would know the answer, but I am trying to figure out if dehydrating store bought potatoes is worth the effort when there are products like this. My friend who is stocking up says she just buys dehydrated potatoes and my brother loves these dehydrated potatoes in milk cartons. The link is more expensive than at Costco. I think they were around $7 a month ago. This link says these were made from 100 potatoes. Have you any idea how much dehydrated potatoes you would get from a 50 pound sack? I dehydrated a lot of half gallon jars a few years ago, but I do not remember how many potatoes in pounds I did. This looks like a small amount and I would think you would get a lot more than these 8 milk cartons with 50 pounds. I would rather have chunks and not all shreds, so that is an answer too, but any ideas on the amount you would get for 50 pounds?

https://www.amazon.com/Idaho-Spuds-Potato-Gluten-Hashbrowns/dp/B079H5B8DQ/ref=asc_df_B079H5B8DQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312065523358&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5360531472443751868&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029652&hvtargid=pla-491914159190&psc=1

Fresh potatoes are @80% water. So, for every 10# of potatoes, you get about 2 pounds of "bone dry" potatoes. However, dehydrating generally only gets to 10% dry matter, so figure about 2.1# dried. If you peel them, subtract maybe 5% more?

So 100# of potatoes, figure approximately 20# of dried.

As far as "it seems they should make more than xx number of cartons"... dehydrating REALLY shrinks the mass of most foods. I fit 1/2 bushel of dried bell peppers into a quart jar! And many bushels of dehydrated tomatoes in a 5 gallon pail..

There are sources for bulk hash browns that are MUCH cheaper than Amazon...

Basic American Foods Potato Redishred Hashbrown, 30 Pound -- 1 Case

The Basic American Foods Potato Redishred Hashbrowns are fully cooked with a soft texture. They are easy to prepare and help save time. This pack of BAF Hashbrowns is ideal for supermarkets, convenience stores, and retail outlets.

www.foodservicedirect.com

Air Dried Potatoes

3/8-inch dices of peeled, air dried potatoes.

www.northbaytrading.com

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Fresh potatoes are @80% water. So, for every 10# of potatoes, you get about 2 pounds of "bone dry" potatoes. However, dehydrating generally only gets to 10% dry matter, so figure about 2.1# dried. If you peel them, subtract maybe 5% more?

So 100# of potatoes, figure approximately 20# of dried.

As far as "it seems they should make more than xx number of cartons"... dehydrating REALLY shrinks the mass of most foods. I fit 1/2 bushel of dried bell peppers into a quart jar! And many bushels of dehydrated tomatoes in a 5 gallon pail..

Summerthyme

That's good info there, Summerthyme, for those of us new to dehydrating!

 

[John Deere Girl]

Question: what is a good homemade pest killer to use on a peach tree?

We use neem oil mixed with water.

 

[Mprepared]

Fresh potatoes are @80% water. So, for every 10# of potatoes, you get about 2 pounds of "bone dry" potatoes. However, dehydrating generally only gets to 10% dry matter, so figure about 2.1# dried. If you peel them, subtract maybe 5% more?

So 100# of potatoes, figure approximately 2# of dried.

As far as "it seems they should make more than xx number of cartons"... dehydrating REALLY shrinks the mass of most foods. I fit 1/2 bushel of dried bell peppers into a quart jar! And many bushels of dehydrated tomatoes in a 5 gallon pail..

Summerthyme

Thank you much! I can get 50 pounds of russet potatoes for $16.65 and I am going to Costco today and see how much the milk carton shreds cost. I am trying to decide what to use the time and energy dehydrating. I did parsley the other day and I have a lot of rhubarb, but I should just freeze that for now and this winter I could dehydrate if I wanted. I will have raspberries soon. I just have this feeling I want all the potatoes I can get.

 

[Mprepared]

Another potato question. I am buying russet potatoes 10# and my son and I cannot eat these fast enough before they are going bad or sprouting. I can take potatoes out of a new sack and next time go get potatoes a few days later and some are sprouted. Do red potatoes last longer than the russet? I have not bought any in years.

 

[summerthyme]

Thank you much! I can get 50 pounds of russet potatoes for $16.65 and I am going to Costco today and see how much the milk carton shreds cost. I am trying to decide what to use the time and energy dehydrating. I did parsley the other day and I have a lot of rhubarb, but I should just freeze that for now and this winter I could dehydrate if I wanted. I will have raspberries soon. I just have this feeling I want all the potatoes I can get.

I will say that it's harder to get "pretty" potatoes when home drying. They really like to turn gray. I didn't do more than a cursory search for other sources... the second link has free shipping for over $99. Figure your time and electricity cost, too...

Summerthyme

 

[summerthyme]

Another potato question. I am buying russet potatoes 10# and my son and I cannot eat these fast enough before they are going bad or sprouting. I can take potatoes out of a new sack and next time go get potatoes a few days later and some are sprouted. Do red potatoes last longer than the russet? I have not bought any in years.

They are almost certainly last years stock. They use sprout retardant, but it wears off after a few months. Try a different brand, but until the new crop shows up, it's unlikely any will be better.

Summerthyme

 

[Mprepared]

I will say that it's harder to get "pretty" potatoes when home drying. They really like to turn gray. I didn't do more than a cursory search for other sources... the second link has free shipping for over $99. Figure your time and electricity cost, too...

Summerthyme

I was wondering that too if home drying would last as long. My hasbrowns did last at least 2 years. We ate all of them, so I am not sure how long they would have lasted. Thanks again!

 

[Walrus]

That's good info there, Summerthyme, for those of us new to dehydrating!

All y'all are tempting me to freeze-dry some taters now, to see how that turns out.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

All y'all are tempting me to freeze-dry some taters now, to see how that turns out.

I haven't tried my new dehydrator, yet. I'm still gathering all the info I can, before I get started. Summerthyme is always a big help when it comes to good info.

 

[WanderLore]

Take the taters out of the bag and put in fridge. That might help.

 

[moldy]

Hanging in there. Today was #18 of 30 treatements. Still getting out to weed in the garden in the evenings for a bit, but I tire really easily.

 

[Siskiyoumom]

Another question. Can we use pine straw as mulch on our raised beds? We have lots of pine trees on our property, and I'd like to save money by not having to buy mulch.

After it has decomposed as far as I know. I will look it up this week end. It may be too acidic for food garden.

 

[hd5574]

He's in town getting feed and a new hot water heater.

We just went through the water heater thing...DH told me when I woke on Saturday morning ..he gets up before the birds...that the water heater was history...We went off to Lowe's..to buy a new one..they told us not "too much" to have it installed...so we said how much....we were told. the install people would call and give us a quote for the install.....they used to install and haul off for free...but no more....also the install people would pick it up and haul off the old one....they would do everything.

So we got in line to pay for it.., Lowe's credit card in hand...we were to get a 5 % discount if we used their credit card..because we don't use the card often enough ..they had closed it without notifying us...the new norm I guess ...but we could open a new one on the spot..

Since we were going to get a discount we said sure...did a few questions and we were approved...when the cashier rang it up..low and behold...since it was the first charge on the new card we got a 20% discount for the first charge...good on us...bad on them...

We went home and early Sunday morning the install people called..
Not too much...right....$1500.00 to install a $400.00 water heater....to hook up two water lines and the electrical connection.... DH could do it easy enough....but he works hard all week in the heat and I really wanted him to get a break.. he told the guy no way....so back to the store to pick up the water heater....DH installed it...we have a very small space for it...3 walls...and the washing machine is on the fourth side...we had purchased the extended 5yr warranty ...but the minute we open the book it said the warranty was void if it was not installed exactly as pictured in the booklet....they required one of those round water catch plates...no space for it...house was built in the late 1800's...so no warranty...they seem to all have a 6 year planned wear out now anyway.....so back to the store for a credit for the warranty.. .gave them receipt..they gave us a total credit for the warranty.. not just 80%...
Lovely way to spend a weekend...but I figured we were lucky they had one in stock.

The salesman did tell us that when the housing market exploded that contractors were coming and buying everything they had for the new construction... maybe the reason all appliances were so hard to come by they were bought up everything.. wholesale by the construction people...nothing for us when something broke.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Thanks. I may replant some seeds to see how they do. I don't like doing it in this heat and dry spell, though. Can I wait, until later in the year?

Maybe.

I grew my first garden ever in 1997.

I was late getting the garden in.

I don’t remember when I put the squash seed in the ground, but I got my first homegrown fruit ever om October 27, 1997, the same day John Denver died.

i actually have a Polaroid of that first homegrown vegetable somewhere around here.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

After it has decomposed as far as I know. I will look it up this week end. It may be too acidic for food garden.

Thanks. I've been looking on the net, and from what I've found you can use it, but it will raise the acidity level in the gardens and around plants that might not need it. We won't be using it or the sawdust.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Got a nice purprise from Sam's this morning. They sent a notice saying that everything I ordered, except 2 cases of pinto beans, were out of stock or can't be delivered!!!! This is after I placed my order, yesterday. I already knew some items I had on my list were instore pickup, only, so I didn't order those. Now, this.

When at Walmart the other day, Cary needed to pick up one of his prescriptions. Went to the window, and the woman told him that it had been sent to the Walmart in Big Town!!!!! He had them call, and transfer it to the Walmart in Small Town. Now, he has to go back to Small Town, today, to pick up his meds!!!! I've got him a list of items to pick up that Sam's won't deliver or are out of stock while he's there.

I picked 3 large green bell peppers this morning. Lots more out there, but waiting for them to get a bit bigger. I spotted 3 cucumbers that are about 3 inches long and more little squash. Bees were working very hard, too. Cary hooked the long hose to the water tank this morning, and everything is getting another good drink. Hopefully, the garden will turn around for us. It's going to be another hot one, today. 98 for the high, with 111 heat index.

 

[nomifyle]

We are not installing the hot water heater for a day or so. He wants to paint the hot water heater closet with Kilz first. I've got a hot pot to boil water to wash dishes and washing clothes in cold water. Baths are tepid water.

DH and his friend did the other bee hive this morning, this time the both have bee suits and no stings, they are happy campers.

I ordered some sprouting seeds, along with beet seeds. Still need to get my self together and start my sprouts. They would be so good in this not weather.

We are both still hacking away, but we do feel better. I guess the cough just as to run its course.

 

[Slydersan]

...
I froze a few green peas last night. I may do a few more today. I think the green peas are about done. They do not like the heat. But the field peas are doing good. Hopefully they will make a lot.

Pulled the last of my green peas on Tuesday. They did really well this year. From 2 rows 8' long I got 3 1/2 freezer quart bags and about another 1/3 bag of dried ones that will be seed for next year. (not all sprout, but a good chunk of them do).

Speaking of peas - does anyone know how they make/grow the kind used in split pea soup ? The ones in the store all seem really green, dried, and cut in half. If I let mine dry on the vine the get basically tan/brown. Do they pick them at peak ripeness and then dehydrate them or something ??

 

[hd5574]

Azaleas love acidic soil..pine mulch is great for them

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Azaleas love acidic soil..pine mulch is great for them

Yes. Mine grow well around all our pine trees. Just rake the needles up around them.

 

[nomifyle]

Pulled the last of my green peas on Tuesday. They did really well this year. From 2 rows 8' long I got 3 1/2 freezer quart bags and about another 1/3 bag of dried ones that will be seed for next year. (not all sprout, but a good chunk of them do).

Speaking of peas - does anyone know how they make/grow the kind used in split pea soup ? The ones in the store all seem really green, dried, and cut in half. If I let mine dry on the vine the get basically tan/brown. Do they pick them at peak ripeness and then dehydrate them or something ??

I'm gonna take a guess here but the peas in green pea soup are a type of lentils.

 

[hd5574]

The easiest way to dehydrate is frozen veggies from the grocery store...get when on sale..my dehydratolr will hold a 1 bag per tray ...I dehydrate at 125 degrees for 6, 8 or 10 hours.
It just depends on the veggie....let them dry until they are crisp...them I put in jars to see if any moisture develops. ..if not seal label and store. No need to blanch or defrost. Saves a lot of freezer space.

 

[hd5574]

Split peas are a type of field peas grown to be dried ..they are from the same family as lentils but are not lentils. They come in green and yellow.

 

[hd5574]

I should have added if any moisture develops on the side of the jar ..put back in dehydrator and dry some more. ..after you are sure they are dry..then seal them.

 

[hd5574]

Well off to make Mac salad with chicken and cheese and a bunch of goodies for dinner ..it is super hot today with heat index well over 100. So cold dinner salad will taste wonderful.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Well off to make Mac salad with chicken and cheese and a bunch of goodies for dinner ..it is super hot today with heat index well over 100. So cold dinner salad will taste wonderful.

Yeah. Too hot to heat up the kitchen for us, today, too. It'll be hot dogs and chips for us. Might open a can of chili, and make chili dogs topped with cheese.

 

[ReneeT]

No major errand running this morning after work - we had one heck of an ugly looking storm roll in about 0630 - big, roiling black clouds, thunder that shook the windows, lightning, flash flooding, trees severely damaged in the low areas and anything left loose just might have ended up in another county - those winds were wicked!! It was worse in my work area and south of us than it was at home though- I just had a few things blown off the porch and none were damaged.

The storm had a short lull and was down to just dark clouds and intermittent rain when I got off work so I went by the Farmer's Market area to see if any of the vendors were insane enough to be set up - Yup, there were a few crazies there I bought a lovely mixed bouquet from a little girl; a smallish head of cabbage from another vendor, and then a mixed box with yellow squash, green zucchini, red tomatoes, and a purple bell pepper from my neighbor lady before the rain starting going sideways again. The bakery folks weren't there, so I guess I'm going to have to make my own muffins this weekend, doggone it

Just heard from my aunt that her grandson - who is one of the cousins who helps around our farm in exchange for hunting rights and is a lineman is now down south where the storms were worse, trying to get the lines back up and power back on - if y'all have any prayers to spare, send a few the way of the folks who are trying to get the power back on, and those without power as well.

I'd picked up some chicken breast (no thighs available) when I went to daughter's to keep an eye on the boys on Wednesday, so I put it in to the crock pot to cook for the stray cat this morning before I went to bed. This afternoon when I woke up, I swiped some of the cat's chicken from the crockpot and let it cool while I hard boiled some eggs, then made a bit of chicken salad for Hubby and myself for supper (my 'secret' ingredient in chicken salad is a few dashes of Old Bay Seasoning.) I will slice the tomato and fry a bit more than half of the zucchini to go with the sandwiches as it gets closer to supper time. I'll make a small portion of freezer slaw with half the cabbage and what's left of the zucchini grated and added in; then cook the rest of the cabbage to go with the smoked sausage I bought to make gumbo and needed to use up what was left.

The yellow squash, I'll slice really thin and add to pasta salad (glad I remembered to grab Feta cheese the last time I was at Aldi), and I'll make stuffed pepper boats with the pepper - I'm sooo lazy when I make stuffed peppers; I cut them into lobes, blanch them, throw a little pasta sauce in the bottom of my smallest crock pot, pack the boats (lobes) with meatloaf mix, top with a bit more pasta sauce, then after they're done and shortly before I serve them, I'll add some shredded mozzarella cheese to the top and let it melt. If we happen to have any of the stuffed peppers left over after a day or so, I'll throw 'em in the food chopper and chop 'em, heat them up, and put them on top of some pasta noodles.

Dang, I made myself hungry typing that - don't think I'm going to be able to wait the hour plus for Hubby to get home before I eat supper!! He'd rather eat supper by himself than deal with a snarling wife who has the 'hangries' anyway

Take care all; stay safe out there!

 

[moldy]

Sounds delicious, renee.

 

[nomifyle]

I finally unboxed my last order from wm.com that was delivered about 10 days ago. Its been on my front porch covered up. The two ten pound bags of sugar are hard a a rock. That's what I get for leaving it out there so long. The cans of pickled beets were just jumbled up in the box, a few dented, of course. But at least I have the extra beets for the pantry. Still no shipping on my prefered items at wm.com. They are losing money on me, I just don't get to the store but about once a month.

Still trying to get all the dishes and laundry done. Helen's timeline is coming to a close. The new hot water heater is still in the box in the back of the truck. DH is feeling lousy again, but I think we'll try to get it in the house today.

I hung some jeans on the porch and they got dry, but I didn't bring them in last night so now they are damp again.

At least with the hot water heater not hooked up we are saving on the electric bill.

 

[moldy]

Finally dragged myself out of bed. Need to work on laundry today and cleaning. DsisIL is coming to stay with us for a while and will be here next weekend, so it's now or never. DH and I (mostly DH) cleaned part of one of the storage areas so we have somewhere to move things. I also need to make a pasta salad - it's too hot here for most meals, and that one is cheap and easy. I'll be able to add some zucchini and peppers from the garden.