Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: October 27 ~ November 2, 2019

[ReneeT]

Lost my first post, so am just going to get the thread started, then go type the rest in a word doc and c/p once I get it done. Back soon, I hope!

 

[ReneeT]

Good Evening, All! Hope you all are doing okay out there!

Any preps going on this week? I am perusing the few ads that I have obtained so far for this week – so far the only thing I see in them so far is a sale on peanut butter that I will probably take advantage of as long as the use-by dates are reasonably distant. We will be going through peanut butter a bit faster than usual as the boys and I will be putting zip bags of peanut butter cookie dough in the freezer for holiday baking, making peanut butter 'fudge', Chex mix that requires peanut butter, and my co-worker Buddy's favorite no-bake cookies in the next few weeks.

It is supposed to get down into the 20's here this week; gonna be rainy midweek, with possibility of snow on Hallowe'en. If I'm going to get any outside work done, I will have to get it done early in the week while fighting ladybugs, or wait until later in the week and be cold. I think I'd probably settle for cold... but I'm going to have to battle the ladybugs a bit as I need to finish cutting herbs for drying, see if the birds have left me any sumac to collect, and finish getting my persimmon seeds planted.

Sometime early in the week, I do need to get the rest of my houseplants carried in, so Hubby and I are going to try to find the proper materials for making the shelf set I want to put them on while we are in town tomorrow – I've got some that are pretty tall. Gonna try not to bring in any snakes, lizards or ladybugs with the plants, but I guess we will see what happens lol!

Have to run in town tomorrow for a class at work – 52 miles round trip for a 30 minute class, so I am going to make it worth my while! Home Depot to find a different size pipe or dowel to use on my shelves. Wal-Mart to exchange some jeans (smaller size, woo hoo!), and pick up some boot mats to use on my houseplant shelves to keep the water where it belongs. Aldi to pick up some grocery items and snap pics of some prices to compare with the Amish store. Rural King to stock up on bird feed since I've got my cans cleaned out and ready to go. Grocery store for the on sale peanut butter (unless Aldi is cheaper), Dollar Tree to pick up some stuff daughter needs for the grandson's Hallowe'en parties at school, CVS to scan my card, and then a quick stop at Dollar General on the way home to pick up some sale items. Hmmm.... maybe I'd better add in taking Hubby out for supper as that looks like it's gonna be a longer trip than I thought!

Reckon I'd better go get the supper dishes done up and relax a bit before I head to bed. You folks all take care out there; stay safe!

 

[ivantherussian03]

I took my food and traps out to my camp site today by boat. Now I need to pull the boat out and winterize, and move it up to the house.

 

[20Gauge]

Worked on a new concrete block planter. Leveled, straighten and then added concrete and stone to firm it up.

Now I just need to wait 2-3 weeks for the weeds to die off and then I can begin adding the frame work to winterize it.

Once this one is done, I will have officially doubled our pepper production going into next year. It will take a full year to get the plants up to speed, but after that, we are good to go.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'll be having a somewhat busy week ahead. First, we'll be busy cleaning up the yard from the storm. It's going to be a huge job. Tree limbs are laying on our roof that have got to come off. Chainsaw and ladder will be required. So many other libs and debris that it's going to take longer than just a day to clean it up.

Tomorrow, we have to take a friend to her doctor for a once a year checkup. She will be spending the day with us afterwards, since her appt. is early in the morning. We always have fun together.

Saturday, I have to go to Florence, AL. to pick up my mom. She's been staying with her sister there after her sister had surgery.

Somewhere during the week, Sam's has a sale going, and I want to take advantage of it to stock more food for my pantry. They also have a sale on things like dish wash, cleaners, TP, paper plates, paper towels, etc. that I also buy when on sale there. Also, making out another order for the Keystone ground beef plus a few more items on the order for storage food from Walmart. I really like their dehydrated bell pepper by Zatarain's. It really colorful, LOL.

Well, gotta run. CaryC is hollering for me to come help hold the ladder while he gets on the roof with his chainsaw!

Hope everyone has a great week!

ps. Got the limbs off the roof, most of them anyway. This is gonna be a bigger job than we thought. Taking a break now, and only slightly made a dent in it all. We're not as young as we used to be, so will only work on it in sections at a time as we can. I did find all my lawn furniture, and got it all set back up.

 

[nomifyle]

With the potato shortage in the news I just ordered a case of potato flakes from LDS. Cheapest I could find. I've ordered many things from them in the past and have never been disappointed. The only down side is their cans have no plastic lids and replacement lids for #10 cans are had to find. LDS no longer sells them.

Judy

 

[Kathy in FL]

Back from a two week business trip up into Canada. Holy smokes. My dollars went a lot farther there for the kind of things that I wanted a little bit of. Wine and maple products primarily.

Need to go through my #10 cans and pull out some more stuff for my parents. I'll also take Mom to Aldi's when the come for Thanksgiving. Send them back with a carload of food will hopefully take the pressure off of them through the holidays.

Keeping my eyes open for the possible holiday grocery sales for the same reason. The plan is to do a lot of canning of soups and stews over the holidays.

Looking for sales on Skechers shoes. I'm amazed at how fast 5 to 10 miles of walking per day on concrete will shred a tread.

Hubby and I are downsizing our closets. I nearly died laughing when we were going through his ties. He still had some in there from the 90s. Oh … my … gosh. My mom will be using some of them for quilting. Downsizing our DVD collection by getting rid of the plastic cases and putting them in binders instead.

Going through our investments and starting our downsizing plan for parts of the portfolio as well. We are five years into our ten year plan and so far so good. By the time hubs is 60 we hope to have most of the heavy lifting over with. We won't coast after that and we'll still be operating our business but the income will be more diversified meaning we will be able to slim the real estate portfolio and lighten up on working 15 to 20 hour work days. And no, I'm not exaggerating. When you are the boss, you are always "on" and I'm a gettin' tired of being attached at the hip to a cell phone and computer. Ugh.

And last but not least it looks like our fifteen year old may have found his passion. Search and rescue. He wants to go into the Coast Guard. He already has some training through boy scouts but I want him to have a lot more before he makes his final choice. Being an AST is a big deal. Means hubby and I need to make time to make sure he has the skills and education he needs to make a good decision.

Prepping isn't just about food these days.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

With the potato shortage in the news I just ordered a case of potato flakes from LDS. Cheapest I could find. I've ordered many things from them in the past and have never been disappointed. The only down side is their cans have no plastic lids and replacement lids for #10 cans are had to find. LDS no longer sells them.

Judy

I've noticed that the potatoes that I buy at Sam's and Walmart have gone way down in quality. I buy a 15 lb. bag every two weeks. They have always lasted, but now they rot before I can use them all. I've stocked up on canned potatoes, potatoes flaked and diced in # 10 cans, box potatoes, and those packets of mashed potatoes. I wish we could grow potatoes here, but we've never had any success.

 

[summerthyme]

Source for plastic lids for #10 cans...
https://www.berlinpackaging.com/p70...MIgbHZ5OC_5QIVD6rsCh1qTQieEAQYBSABEgLDmfD_BwE

(I have no idea of their shipping costs... make sure you check!)

Summerthyme

 

[Kathy in FL]

I've noticed that the potatoes that I buy at Sam's and Walmart have gone way down in quality. I buy a 15 lb. bag every two weeks. They have always lasted, but now they rot before I can use them all. I've stocked up on canned potatoes, potatoes flaked and diced in # 10 cans, box potatoes, and those packets of mashed potatoes. I wish we could grow potatoes here, but we've never had any success.

Grow them in a container. If we can grow them in the Tampa Bay region, I'm pretty sure you can do the same thing in the Mississippi regions. Trick is to keep them watered without watering too much and them rotting. And to keep the frelling possums, coons, and armadillos out of them. And the squirrels from digging them up. And the nematodes … oh heck, just grow 'em in big pots or half barrels or industrial strength garbage bags. My sons done pretty well with those methods.

 

[nomifyle]

I've noticed that the potatoes that I buy at Sam's and Walmart have gone way down in quality. I buy a 15 lb. bag every two weeks. They have always lasted, but now they rot before I can use them all. I've stocked up on canned potatoes, potatoes flaked and diced in # 10 cans, box potatoes, and those packets of mashed potatoes. I wish we could grow potatoes here, but we've never had any success.

We really don't eat much in the way of potatoes, but the potato flakes will add calories and bulk to other foods. I have some spinach powder that I sneak into DH's foods, he'd die if he knew. I've add a couple of T's of potato flakes to some of the soups I make for myself and can't even taste them.

Prepping isn't just about food these days. such true words Kathy. So many areas we need to know what we are doing. DH is showing me how to run the electric log splitter (I know electric won't work with a grid down situation, but it was much cheaper than the gas powdered one and it works for us now.) Neither one of us can pull the string to start the gas powdered chain saws, we have both an electric one and a battery powdered one. He did buy a new ax the other day, he broke the handle on his older one.

Judy

 

[Kathy in FL]

We really don't eat much in the way of potatoes, but the potato flakes will add calories and bulk to other foods. I have some spinach powder that I sneak into DH's foods, he'd die if he knew. I've add a couple of T's of potato flakes to some of the soups I make for myself and can't even taste them.

Prepping isn't just about food these days. such true words Kathy. So many areas we need to know what we are doing. DH is showing me how to run the electric log splitter (I know electric won't work with a grid down situation, but it was much cheaper than the gas powdered one and it works for us now.) Neither one of us can pull the string to start the gas powdered chain saws, we have both an electric one and a battery powdered one. He did buy a new ax the other day, he broke the handle on his older one.

Judy

Variation of the old Friendship Bread recipe using potato flakes: https://www.thespruceeats.com/potato-flake-sourdough-1806084

I've used potato flakes as a type of breading on chicken as well. They make a fairly decent thickening agent in recipes as well.

 

[Illini Warrior]

We really don't eat much in the way of potatoes, but the potato flakes will add calories and bulk to other foods. I have some spinach powder that I sneak into DH's foods, he'd die if he knew. I've add a couple of T's of potato flakes to some of the soups I make for myself and can't even taste them.

Prepping isn't just about food these days. such true words Kathy. So many areas we need to know what we are doing. DH is showing me how to run the electric log splitter (I know electric won't work with a grid down situation, but it was much cheaper than the gas powdered one and it works for us now.) Neither one of us can pull the string to start the gas powdered chain saws, we have both an electric one and a battery powdered one. He did buy a new ax the other day, he broke the handle on his older one.

Judy

the electric log splitter & chainsaw isn't the worst idea - you have a generator and like most people don't utilize it that much - instead of having to maintain 3 engines you now have one >>>> for working in a light slash pile setting - it's a good firewood getting setup .....

 

[Hfcomms]

Working on getting the hand pump on top of the well operational again. Had poly tubing instead of a drop pipe which didn't hold prime so used 30' of PVC with a foot valve and drilled a small hole about 6' from the top to allow water to drain to that level so it won't freeze. Replaced cup leathers and bottom leathers and have a new plunger assembly coming as the old one was pretty rusted. Haven't needed the hand pump as I use my backup generator to power the well pump but if we get an extended power outage in the middle of winter I need to keep heat in the well house or drain the power pump and put the hand pump into operation. Always have backups to backups. Also looking at replacing some of the deep cycle batteries for the solar system that are approaching end of life [ouch!] and it's definitely sticker shock. Oh well, it's only Federal Reserve Notes. LOL!!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Grow them in a container. If we can grow them in the Tampa Bay region, I'm pretty sure you can do the same thing in the Mississippi regions. Trick is to keep them watered without watering too much and them rotting. And to keep the frelling possums, coons, and armadillos out of them. And the squirrels from digging them up. And the nematodes … oh heck, just grow 'em in big pots or half barrels or industrial strength garbage bags. My sons done pretty well with those methods.

Cary loves his potatoes. He would eat them 3 times a day if I made them for him. We tried for years to grow them ourselves. Nothing ever worked. We grew them in regular garden space, raised beds, stacked tires, and different containers. The last year we tried was in a raised bed. The plants were so healthy looking. We just knew we were going to have a good crop. As we began digging them, I noticed that each and every potato had been eaten on by something. Eaten while they were underground! Lost the whole crop because of that. We never could figure out what had eaten them. The potatoes were covered in little tiny white insect like creatures that apparently live underground in the soil. That was two years ago, and we haven't tried since. Now, I can't even buy potatoes at the grocery store without them rotting, before I use them up in just two weeks time.

 

[nomifyle]

Cary loves his potatoes. He would eat them 3 times a day if I made them for him. We tried for years to grow them ourselves. Nothing ever worked. We grew them in regular garden space, raised beds, stacked tires, and different containers. The last year we tried was in a raised bed. The plants were so healthy looking. We just knew we were going to have a good crop. As we began digging them, I noticed that each and every potato had been eaten on by something. Eaten while they were underground! Lost the whole crop because of that. We never could figure out what had eaten them. The potatoes were covered in little tiny white insect like creatures that apparently live underground in the soil. That was two years ago, and we haven't tried since. Now, I can't even buy potatoes at the grocery store without them rotting, before I use them up in just two weeks time.

There are bags made specifically for growing potatoes and I've seen from https://www.survivalplus.com/a-garden-in-a-basket/. It was alson an article in Mother Earth News from Kurt Saxon. I just might try this myself this spring. Seems cheap enough.

Judy

 

[Kathy in FL]

There are bags made specifically for growing potatoes and I've seen from https://www.survivalplus.com/a-garden-in-a-basket/. It was alson an article in Mother Earth News from Kurt Saxon. I just might try this myself this spring. Seems cheap enough.

Judy

Judy check eBay as I have seen them there as well. I got my son some great grow bags that he’s used for tomatoes. And some smaller ones that he used to nurse along some bare root seedlings bought in an off season clearance sale.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

There are bags made specifically for growing potatoes and I've seen from https://www.survivalplus.com/a-garden-in-a-basket/. It was alson an article in Mother Earth News from Kurt Saxon. I just might try this myself this spring. Seems cheap enough.

Judy

Thanks for the reminder on those grow bags, Judy! I've seen those, but have never used them. They would sure give us an option next spring!

Let me tall ya'll a story.....It's been several years, but I had this great idea to order from our local co-op a 50 lb. sack of potatoes. I was going to can them myself. Got my canner out, had all the potatoes peeled, the whole works. I spent a lot of time on canning those potatoes. I can't remember how many jars I finished with, but it was a lot of quarts. After a few weeks, I opened a jar, and they were ruined! Apparently, no one told me they had to be pressure canned!!!!!! Had to throw them all out. Live and learn......

 

[20Gauge]

Here is a picture of the new planter. I have it covered with a tarp so that the weeds will get killed off before I add the frame and stone.

The other picture is of the last one I completed. We planted the tabasco plant about 6 weeks ago. It is already nearly 3ft tall and is beginning to flower. This was not expected to say the least.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

You've got those planters looking really good, 20Gauge! A lot of time, effort, and money, I'm sure are going into building them. They should be permanent, though.

Cary is in the process of taking down all of our raised beds. Probably will take him all winter to get them all. We built ours out of treated lumber, and they have begun to rot after all these years. Instead of replacing the beds, we'll have our whole backyard to have a garden. Gives us more growing space. That's if we have a garden anymore. Age and health are big factors for us both.

 

[20Gauge]

You've got those planters looking really good, 20Gauge! A lot of time, effort, and money, I'm sure are going into building them. They should be permanent, though.

Cary is in the process of taking down all of our raised beds. Probably will take him all winter to get them all. We built ours out of treated lumber, and they have begun to rot after all these years. Instead of replacing the beds, we'll have our whole backyard to have a garden. Gives us more growing space. That's if we have a garden anymore. Age and health are big factors for us both.

This is why we are building the planters in the form they have. As we will have a concrete walkway in between each, we can use ladders and if needed walkers safely. The whole design is to allow us to continue gardening long after we can no longer bend over to till the ground as before.

It is a combination of several ideas, greenhouse, no till gardening, using planter beds, overwintering, etc.

IF and it is a big IF this works, we will have 30+ years of gardening. Side note, each planter costs about $500. As it now stands, each one has paid for itself in less than two years.

I have included a picture of the turkeys we have in the yard the other day. Just for fun!! LOL

 

[prudentwatcher]

I have been busy getting health stuff taken care of over the past couple of months, through arguments with the insurance company about what they will and won't cover. Worked out much better than I thought it would. Got a new CPAP machine (my old machine was basically dead); lost the last remaining pounds standing between me and knee replacement surgery and should have the surgery around Thanksgiving; had a colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago--all good; and a trip to the dentist for a cleaning showed a rear molar that needs to come out, and it will come out on Thursday so there will be no infection risk before the knee surgery. I should be all good and ready to go for 2020. Had my eyes checked and new glasses done this summer.

I have done some more stocking of the pantries given what I have been reading about crop shortages and the crazy weather. Just yesterday I added a lot of boxed potato mixes and instant potatoes to the stash, along with canned sausage gravy (on sale!--hardly ever find it), more rice and pasta to pack away in mylar bags, more spices, some boxed milk, and some cornbread and muffin mix pouches. And a fair amount of Halloween candy (non chocolate) made it in as well and will be stored away. I should have to hit Walmart by the end of the week to pick up a prescription and will add more canned tomatoes, canned potatoes, jarred pasta sauce (the cheddar cheese kind) and anything else that strikes my fancy that day and is a good deal.

 

[Freeholder]

Here is a picture of the new planter. I have it covered with a tarp so that the weeds will get killed off before I add the frame and stone.

The other picture is of the last one I completed. We planted the tabasco plant about 6 weeks ago. It is already nearly 3ft tall and is beginning to flower. This was not expected to say the least.

What do you fill those planters with? I've been thinking that -- as bad as my back has been -- I need to go to a raised bed with sides like that. I was thinking of building wood beds on legs, but I know they wouldn't last very long. Cement blocks would be much better.

Kathleen

 

[20Gauge]

What do you fill those planters with? I've been thinking that -- as bad as my back has been -- I need to go to a raised bed with sides like that. I was thinking of building wood beds on legs, but I know they wouldn't last very long. Cement blocks would be much better.

Kathleen

The blocks are laid on to a foundation. Then loose laid, even out and straightened. I then fill every other cell with concrete and push a pvc pole into it to tie it together. The other cell is just ruble. I build a frame of pvc and chicken wire to keep deer out. The bottom 12 inches is gravel, the rest is good soil.

I will run water into the planter from underneath and then place a shut off valve. The irrigation is just 40 sch pvc with really small holes. Works real good. Large holes allow to much water out so the distribution is not even at the ends.

I lastly top the blocks with a 50 50 mortar and sand topper. Just trowel it to your liking.

Note I learned to use 6 by 8 by 16 blocks. Saves concrete as 1 60lb bag can do 2 cells

 

[Kathy in FL]

This is why we are building the planters in the form they have. As we will have a concrete walkway in between each, we can use ladders and if needed walkers safely. The whole design is to allow us to continue gardening long after we can no longer bend over to till the ground as before.

It is a combination of several ideas, greenhouse, no till gardening, using planter beds, overwintering, etc.

IF and it is a big IF this works, we will have 30+ years of gardening. Side note, each planter costs about $500. As it now stands, each one has paid for itself in less than two years.

I have included a picture of the turkeys we have in the yard the other day. Just for fun!! LOL

I swear those turkeys look like what i see on a regular basis at our BOL. Of course it is up in north Florida and is more similar to Georgia than our AO is which is tropical. I love it when the turkeys are out and about. I catch them congregated up in trees sometimes too. I keep forgetting the wild ones can fly a bit just like the chickens my grandmother had in KY that would roost in trees over a hen house any day. LOL

 

[20Gauge]

I swear those turkeys look like what i see on a regular basis at our BOL. Of course it is up in north Florida and is more similar to Georgia than our AO is which is tropical. I love it when the turkeys are out and about. I catch them congregated up in trees sometimes too. I keep forgetting the wild ones can fly a bit just like the chickens my grandmother had in KY that would roost in trees over a hen house any day. LOL

We have two flocks in the area. Both started with just two hens. They now are 10 and 12 hens large. Every year they have about a dozen chicks and it is a waiting game to see how many survive. Especially with our cat on the hunt. We catch her stalking the bigger birds once in a while. I hope they will be come larger in the new few years. I anticipate having two flocks of 25 or more. That would be great!

 

[Digger]

We should have our 1st freeze tonight or tomorrow night. I have to pick the garden today. It is raining of course. My weekly plan had to change when I found out I needed to baby sit all week instead of just one day.

We got the flue cleaned on Sunday. We will build our first fire of the season in the next day or two. My feet have been cold for a day or two in the morning.

We did some of our monthly shopping. Walmart had the large size coffee this time. I also bought a can of sausage gravy to try. I am liking buying most supply's at the first of the month. It gives me a better idea how much we use. Before I just bought as we needed. But I could not tell you how long an item would last. But with all our money coming in at the beginning of the month, this works best for me. Our hay money is just here and there. My contract work pays when it pays. Sometimes they get a month or two behind on paying. But that all goes to the land payment. We are trying to pay it off early.

There is more here than two middle aged folks can do. But I love our life so we just keep plugging away.

 

[Digger]

We should have our 1st freeze tonight or tomorrow night. I have to pick the garden today. It is raining of course. My weekly plan had to change when I found out I needed to baby sit all week instead of just one day.

We got the flue cleaned on Sunday. We will build our first fire of the season in the next day or two. My feet have been cold for a day or two in the morning.

We did some of our monthly shopping. Walmart had the large size coffee this time. I also bought a can of sausage gravy to try. I am liking buying most supply's at the first of the month. It gives me a better idea how much we use. Before I just bought as we needed. But I could not tell you how long an item would last. But with all our money coming in at the beginning of the month, this works best for me. Our hay money is just here and there. My contract work pays when it pays. Sometimes they get a month or two behind on paying. But that all goes to the land payment. We are trying to pay it off early.

There is more here than two middle aged folks can do. But I love our life so we just keep plugging away.

 

[Marseydoats]

I figured that all meat prices would be going up with the pig shortages, so I planned to stock up on canned dog food. I wanted 6 flats, they only had 4. Bought all the Spam they had and stocked up on PB. I was really late doing my normal Oct. Stocking trip, but it was just too hot. I still have to go to Walmart for the rest of it, maybe tomorrow, if it's not pouring rain.
Does anybody besides me think they have switched to pop top lids on things so that they won't store as long?
I also got a bale of hay this morning. I love my hay people, I really do! They gave me one of the extra large bales they usually keep for their own use. I can't get it off the truck though...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I figured that all meat prices would be going up with the pig shortages, so I planned to stock up on canned dog food. I wanted 6 flats, they only had 4. Bought all the Spam they had and stocked up on PB. I was really late doing my normal Oct. Stocking trip, but it was just too hot. I still have to go to Walmart for the rest of it, maybe tomorrow, if it's not pouring rain.
Does anybody besides me think they have switched to pop top lids on things so that they won't store as long?
I also got a bale of hay this morning. I love my hay people, I really do! They gave me one of the extra large bales they usually keep for their own use. I can't get it off the truck though...

I had to take a friend to Walmart, yesterday, so she could pick up a few items. While she was shopping, I took a trip over to the meat/pork section. From what I saw, the price hasn't begun to increase on the pork, yet. I'm sure that will change soon, though.

I've also thought the pop top lids were being done so that items won't store as long. I started out rejecting anything that had those tops, but now, it's just about all there is. I've about come to the conclusion that we're going to have to start buying them, or do without. I do not trust them to hold up in a long term storage plan, though. I would keep them in a shorter rotation.

 

[Freeholder]

The blocks are laid on to a foundation. Then loose laid, even out and straightened. I then fill every other cell with concrete and push a pvc pole into it to tie it together. The other cell is just ruble. I build a frame of pvc and chicken wire to keep deer out. The bottom 12 inches is gravel, the rest is good soil.

I will run water into the planter from underneath and then place a shut off valve. The irrigation is just 40 sch pvc with really small holes. Works real good. Large holes allow to much water out so the distribution is not even at the ends.

I lastly top the blocks with a 50 50 mortar and sand topper. Just trowel it to your liking.

Note I learned to use 6 by 8 by 16 blocks. Saves concrete as 1 60lb bag can do 2 cells

Thanks for the information -- I'll have to see what I can do!

The electrician was just here -- it's going to cost a lot more to rewire the house than I had planned on spending, but I can manage it and will still have my emergency fund, so we are going to do it. He'll be getting started within a few days. It will be good to have power to all of the house again, and not have to worry about it burning down around our ears.

There's a flock of wild turkeys that lives in the cow pasture/woods around our place. I see them once in a while. I think the flock is bigger this year than last year, possibly because my livestock guardian dog keeps the coyotes away. I haven't seen any deer this year, though.

Kathleen

 

[Illini Warrior]

The blocks are laid on to a foundation. Then loose laid, even out and straightened. I then fill every other cell with concrete and push a pvc pole into it to tie it together. The other cell is just ruble. I build a frame of pvc and chicken wire to keep deer out. The bottom 12 inches is gravel, the rest is good soil.

I will run water into the planter from underneath and then place a shut off valve. The irrigation is just 40 sch pvc with really small holes. Works real good. Large holes allow to much water out so the distribution is not even at the ends.

I lastly top the blocks with a 50 50 mortar and sand topper. Just trowel it to your liking.

Note I learned to use 6 by 8 by 16 blocks. Saves concrete as 1 60lb bag can do 2 cells

I always lock that bottom row of blocks to the foundation >>> a drilled hole into the foundation and then a piece of 3/8 rebar driven in - fillin that cell with a bit of concrete around the rebar ....

 

[moldy]

The last 3 days have been nothing but snow. We have a total of maybe 4 inches, but Lordy, do people forget how to drive in it!! Luckily, I've been off. I've painted a couple rooms in what will be my business office (our guest house, essentially) and made a couple tinctures. SIL tried the one I made for SIL's tinnitus (sister in law tried son inlaw's) and liked it for her neuropathy. Makes sense - it's nervines and circulatory stimulants. I just didn't have enough for her at the time, so I"m getting more made to ship to her.

DH had a neighbor work on our woodstove - it needed some welding. I will feel so much better when it is back in place. Wood heat just feels so much better than gas (or electric!). Talked with youngest DD yesterday - she said she and her roommate were trying to keep from turning up the heat. OK, that's my girl, trying to save money...but they have it set on 55*!! She is fine with it..."I've got extra blankets and long johns, Mom," she says. "But getting out the shower is pretty rough!!"

I did manage to get some perennials planted last week before the snow. Rose, elder, creeping Oregon grape, snowball bush... all lovely medicinal plants. DH is encouraging me to order more and stock my apothecary well. Getting ready to do that now.

I work the next several days. I made the decision not to train for a sexual assault nurse examiner. Multiple reasons - I feel that I can't give it the time it deserves, and the place that runs it seems like a bit of a hot mess. I have enough irons in the fire at the moment. If it's meant to be, it will happen.

 

[anna43]

This morning I finished up all outside work preparing for winter. Since it snowed earlier this week I guess its good I'm done.

I completed my winter stocking up last week. It is always my plan to hibernate if/when the roads are bad. I commuted 25 miles to work on a dangerous two lane highway for 25 years and when I retired promised myself I wouldn't drive on bad roads again. I will be in town on Friday to take D-I-L to a medical appointment so may shop the grocery sales for a few items. Depends if she feels up to it.

My potatoes this year did nothing and they usually are very productive. The sweet potatoes only made 3/4 bushel which is about half the usual harvest. Tomatoes were late but very productive and I canned juice, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes and tomato spice jam. The only other crop that did well was squash and I have 24 large butternut and about the same amount of acorn squash in the basement plus I've given away a lot. The weather was too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold and generally a miserable growing year.

I did an inventory of home canned products and counted 696 jars. Guess its a good thing I canned the abundance in prior years so I still have veggies available that did not grow this year. I have two pork loins that I want to can but am out of wide mouth pint jars. So far I haven't convinced myself to buy more jars. When I was younger I didn't hesitate as I considered it a wise investment. Now that I'm a senior citizen I'm finding it hard to justify the expense.

 

[20Gauge]

I always lock that bottom row of blocks to the foundation >>> a drilled hole into the foundation and then a piece of 3/8 rebar driven in - fillin that cell with a bit of concrete around the rebar ....

I just lay the first row on the wet concrete. It works perfectly. It is not a retaining wall or under any great stress. Then again I am not in an earthquake area.

 

[Illini Warrior]

I just lay the first row on the wet concrete. It works perfectly. It is not a retaining wall or under any great stress. Then again I am not in an earthquake area.

looks like you have the corner blocks laced - that'll help with the pressure - above ground containers like yours are under alot of pressure to expand - usually what happens to the wood construction types ....

 

[Freeholder]

Things are progressing rather quickly here. The electrician came out to look the house over yesterday. His estimate is a LOT more than I was expecting -- I had asked here at TB2K for guestimates on what it might cost last year when I realized that the whole house needed to be rewired, and a couple of people who had had it done recently (with bigger houses than ours) said their houses cost around $5,000. The estimate I got was at least $12,000 and maybe more. And I've got to get the paneling down off the walls -- he'll make holes in whatever is under the paneling (sheetrock or plaster and lathe -- I can't tell which from the edges of the electrical box openings), and then we'll cover the walls back up again. Thankfully, some guys from our church are willing to come help with getting the paneling down; they'll be here Saturday morning. I have enough money to meet the electrician's price -- just barely -- but it doesn't leave much for any of the other things I was hoping to be able to do. I will be glad to get it done, though. We basically have two circuits still functioning, and one of them goes to the well house. And there is the constant concern that the house could catch on fire.

I've got a batch of kittens 'rescued' from a near-by farm (the babies were old enough to come out of their nest, but not old enough to stay out of the way of the farm equipment, and they were harvesting corn and soybeans, so the barn and farmyard were busy; the farmer knows a friend of mine and let her know that he would be really happy if the kittens were somewhere else where they'd be safe, and she is on the road all the time and couldn't take them, so guess where they ended up?!? LOL!). They are old enough now to go to new homes, so I've put up a Craigslist ad and may have someone coming to look at them tomorrow. I want to keep one, but certainly don't need all five since I already have two cats. They are very friendly, sweet little things, so hopefully they'll be gone soon.

Might have mentioned this in another post, but last spring my oldest daughter helped me plant ten fruit trees (six apples, two plums, and two peaches). The area they are in is rough ground, and I wasn't able to get out there much over the summer; with the long dry spell we had, I was afraid they might all have died. But I went out a couple of days ago to check on them, and they are all still alive! Some need to be staked, but it looks like we'll have our own fruit in a few years! I'd like to get a few more plums for drying (the two I have are both Stanley prune-plums), and a couple of Damsons. Not too fond of the Japanese varieties. And I might go ahead and plant a couple of Asian pears. I'd had one store-bought fruit years ago, and was not at all impressed, so had never even thought of planting one, but last week Asian pears were the least expensive fruit in the store, so I picked up a few just to try again, and these are pretty good! The first one I'd had might not have been fully ripe. And I'd like a couple of regular pears; they'll have to be very disease-resistant.

Kathleen

ETA: I just added pictures of the kittens! I'm keeping the black and white one, because my other two cats are both solid gray, and we need something different so we can tell them all apart!

 

[20Gauge]

looks like you have the corner blocks laced - that'll help with the pressure - above ground containers like yours are under alot of pressure to expand - usually what happens to the wood construction types ....

After several years, no movement. The block are staggered and one cell out of two is filled with concrete and a vertical post to prevent movement. The other cell is filled with stone and rubble. It does seem to work. Now if we froze a lot, I would have a different method. Around here if it gets below 40 degrees, people panic and stay home due to the "snow storm / ice storm".

All told we have about 10 days of below 32 degree weather each year.

Lastly, I have great drainage on the planter so that there is little to freeze.

Wood doesn't last long around here. A friend built one our of wood and 3 years later it was falling apart. He spent a lot of time on it.

 

[nomifyle]

Yesterday two boxes from Amazon arrived, both with canned goods. One box was okay but the canned chicken in it was wrapped in a case so damage would have been difficult, although there was a small bottle of tea tree oil that had half leaked out. The other box had no packing either but the cans were loose and half of them were dented. CS initially said I would have to return the damaged cans and I said that was rediculous (sp) that I have prime, she put me on hold and came back and said they would refund the entire order but would not replace them, that I could reorder. They are replacing the tee tree oil. I did tell her that these boxes must have been packed by the robots.

This combined with all the problems I've had with deliveries from Walmart that part of the time never show up I'm considering not online ordering canned goods. Its so convinent (sp) when the orders come intact, but frustrating when half the order is damaged.

Judy

 

[20Gauge]

Yesterday two boxes from Amazon arrived, both with canned goods. One box was okay but the canned chicken in it was wrapped in a case so damage would have been difficult, although there was a small bottle of tea tree oil that had half leaked out. The other box had no packing either but the cans were loose and half of them were dented. CS initially said I would have to return the damaged cans and I said that was rediculous (sp) that I have prime, she put me on hold and came back and said they would refund the entire order but would not replace them, that I could reorder. They are replacing the tee tree oil. I did tell her that these boxes must have been packed by the robots.

This combined with all the problems I've had with deliveries from Walmart that part of the time never show up I'm considering not online ordering canned goods. Its so convinent (sp) when the orders come intact, but frustrating when half the order is damaged.

Judy

I have yet to get a dented can. Though I only have 4 orders so far.