Any "home-canners" Out There?

[Guest Viola]

Jen, that sounds like it is going to be beautiful! Do you have a digital camera to send us pictures? Aren't cats so funny that way, they have to be right under your hand, nose or what ever is handy

[jerseyangel]

Jen--your runner sounds like it's going to be beautiful. Your description of how Maggie liked to sit on it as you were working made me laugh! Allo does the same thing--with the newspaper, laundry, jackets, and anytime we bring anything new into the house, he has to immediately go and sit on it or crawl into it.

[elisabet]

hello every one,

do you know of any home made paste? Gluten-free Casein-free of course.

thanks elisabet

[tiredofdoctors]

Elisabet -- don't know yet about paste, but I'll check my recipes!

Jen -- the antique reupholstering hammer is WAY COOL But I don't think I'd use it at this point -- it's probably sturdier than anything made these days, but what a GREAT antique! BTW: For the dark grease on the stitching -- Dawn liquid. Its gluten-free, and they used it during the Exxon Valdez to de-grease the birds that were contaminated. The hankie runner sounds beautiful. I agree with Shirley -- can you send a digital picture? I can relate to Maggie's antics -- Destiny does the same thing. Anything I'm working on, I have to move her off of prior to continuing! If I'm tall kneeling while I'm doing something, she sits on top of my calves! I go to sit back down, and I almost sit on her!

Shirley -- a Celiac party sounds heavenly to me, at this point. I can't find any celiacs in this area -- evidently we have a really BAD support group. I don't have it in me to start a support group, but I would like to have a Celiac get-together -- I think it would be great to be able to eat everything that's at the party!

[jenvan]

Anything I'm working on, I have to move her off of prior to continuing! If I'm tall kneeling while I'm doing something, she sits on top of my calves

That is hilarious Lynne!

I will definitely take a picture of the runner when I finish it....probably do a picture post sewing and then one post embroidering.

elisabet- do you mean homemade tomato paste or glue paste??

[Guest Viola]

I'm really excited about getting the local Celiacs together. I'm going to write up an ad for the local papers pretty soon, even though we still have to wait a month or so before the roads can be counted on for sure. But now that we got the idea, I'm antsy to get started getting it arranged No patience.

If it's glue paste you want for something, we actually glued a handle on a china cup one time with canned milk. Nothing else! and it lasted for a long time, however, I didn't own a dishwasher at the time. But milk makes a good wax too if it's put on thinnly and allowed to dry. There you go, a hint from the past ... now does that age me or what?

Jen ... where did you get the hankies you're using, are they the old lacy ones, or are they plain and you are going to embroider? Do you have a machine that embroiders, or are you doing the hand embroidery? Questions, questions

[jenvan]

Shirley--

I got the hankies from a local antique store. I had some from my grandmothers and an aunt, but decided to keep those out and in my jewelery box instead. They are mostly a linen or cotton, with some embroidery, mostly white or a little lace. I plan to go back and embroider to put some color in it, flowers etc. A few of the hankies have some color, but primarily they are "white." We even found a few in the orginal box! Oh, I also got an antique apron Yes, I like aprons too. At the last family reunion, some great aunts took all of my great grandma's aprons and told stories on each of them, how each had a specific purpose--laundry apron, summer kitchen apron, gardening apron, sewing apron etc. etc.

In my hunt I also bought an antique tablecloth and came across some unusual items--such a embroidered, crisp linen cocktail napkins.... Back then there was a specific type of linen or service for everything! Very proper...

[Guest Viola]

Wow Jen, you really had a good time hunting. I can't wait to see that runner.

I'm in the process of looking for a new machine as my old one is pretty much given up the ghost and at 30+ years old it isn't worth the few hundred dollars to fix it. I'm thinking about getting a Husqvarna Embrodery machine. My sister-in-law has one and loves it. And we could share the embroidery cards, so that would be good. Have you seen one? It would be fun to make table clothes etc. with.

[tiredofdoctors]

What a great family heirloom -- in addition to some special pieces thrown in. I love the idea of the antique aprons, too. I was lucky enough to inherit the tablecloths from my grandmother that no one wanted -- because they were "antique-looking" and not new! (Not that the cousins didn't take ALL the expensive antique furniture!!) I can't wait to see your runner -- it is going to be beautiful

[jenvan]

Shirley--

I have seen those machines--how cool! Those would be so fun to have. Just had a random memory--my grandma would sew quilts (I have several), and used to give to some almish women to do the actually quilting portion. I have a gorgeous quilt my great aunt made---crazy quilt, gorgeous colors, fabrics etc, and she embroidered all over it, family names, flowers, household items. I'm sure you ladies would enjoying seeing a pic of it, will have to take one soon.

Lynne-

Thanks for the encouragement, hope it comes together And good reminder on the dish soap, I had heard that before and forgotten. Will try it...

Judy are you out there reading? You should join in and talk gardening with us! (I haven't gotten there yet...but in a few months will get to posting and asking new flowers and veggies I want to try in the garden. Got several organic and companion gardening books for Christmas...)

[chrissy]

jen---i'd like to hear about your companion gardening---would love to be able to keep the bugs away without chemicals. i used to tell my kids i would pay them a penney for every potato bug they picked off the plants----i can't remember if they ever got payed. we have open fields on two sides of our property, so we get alot of bugs. the people that are more in town don't even get the potato beetles. do you do any raised bed gardening?

christine

[jerseyangel]

I have a raised bed in my front yard (enclosed in stacked stone) that I grow perennials in. It looks so nice all the way from spring to the first frost. Not much work, either--I live in a subdivision, but prefer a natural look to the landscaping. It's pretty random--I have purchased plants and have some dug from my sister's yard which we wrapped well for the trip back to NJ. I just read the old posts from this thread last night--I love to garden, stencil, needlepoint, cook, bake, sew and decorate. Hope ya'll don't mind my butting in

[jenvan]

Patti-

glad to have you--any canner, crafter, gardener, sewer, cook, etc are welcome here your beds sound very nice. anything favorite things to grow or sew?

Christine-

i haven't done any raised beds yet, but from what i was reading this month actually, i am thinking about trying it. it seems like a better way actually then the regular bed by our house. I haven't had much issue with potato bugs yets...had aphids, earwigs, but mostly the downy mildew was my problem. my friend Shirley taught me to use soapy water to get rid of aphids--worked like a charm! Clever idea getting the kids involved--which my parents had done that, maybe I wouldn't be so afraid of bugs now

[Silver-naki]

Count me in on the GARDENING & also the "home-Canning" episode!

I couldn't exist without a Garden... and also preparing all my own "home-grown" veggies, & Fruit. Our Garden is so huge, I actually have to hire help with it. We also have all the "fun" Dwarf Fruit Trees on our Ranch here, so anything I "must" buy in the Produce section of the Grocery Store, is nothing less than "fake Food!" Laugh!!!

There's nothing better than HOME-GROWN & "HOME-MADE!" Cheers all!!

[jenvan]

silver-sounds like your garden is huge! i couldn't pull that off for a while, but hope for a big one and some land some day. and a mini honeycrisp apple orchard too

[Judyin Philly]

I have a raised bed in my front yard (enclosed in stacked stone) that I grow perennials in. It looks so nice all the way from spring to the first frost. Not much work, either--I live in a subdivision, but prefer a natural look to the landscaping. It's pretty random--I have purchased plants and have some dug from my sister's yard which we wrapped well for the trip back to NJ. I just read the old posts from this thread last night--I love to garden, stencil, needlepoint, cook, bake, sew and decorate. Hope ya'll don't mind my butting in

Hi Patti and Jen

I'm back.... This thread is just too much to give up

I've been cking it and love love love the tips.

Patti--I'd love to see a picture of your raised bed. I take pictures each year and have a scrap book for each one plus a journal that I love (Might be able to find the purchase site if anyone wants it)where I can track when things come up, what works, what doesn't, where things are...kinda like my "brain on paper" since I can only remember my name lately... The author spoke at my garden club meeing.

Jen--think someone on here mentioned putting 'hot tobascco' sauce in the 'dishsoap/water/ spray. It worked well for my roses too. Only have 2 bushes,,they are so hard for me to grow in PA...Also, my garden club (no not the hat and white glove set) mine is the 'get down and dirty kinda gals) only gloves we wear are gardening ones...anyway we did a experiment for slugs..the beer works really well but we found

1. putting crushes egg shells around the base of hostas helps,,cuts the little buggers up. they don't like it.

2. Starbucks will give out their 'used coffee grounds' and put those or the left over from your own pots..around the base of the plants.

3. One gal dumped the left over cold pot of coffee...if any is left in the am...while your checking your gardens in the early mornings..love that quiet time of day......over the hosta plants.

4. you know those round really prickly seed balls..I think they are called sour gum ball..(help me here if anyone knows the name) well you put those all around the base of the hostas and they look kinda pretty esp when putting in new small hostas.

I've tried them all and one worked best for my esp in mid to late Aug.

5 Can you guess which of the 4 worked the best?????

Let me know your guesses....

Ok, I've chimmed in so I can get posts of this wonderful thread..

Thanks Jen for starting it.

I'll post a funny canning story later today....I've been told I must stay on topic....

Love and hugs to you all

Judy in Philly

[chrissy]

i used to have a garden that was about 2500 sq feet---but i just couldn't keep up with it, so several years ago i reduced it a little over half----and still had a hard time keeping it weeded. i am interested in sq foot gardening, too. i have heard that you can grow alot more produce in a smaller space and have less weeds. i used to love gardening and canning (i remember doing about 100 qts of pears when i was about 8 months pregnant once, plus whatever else i canned that year) i have been battling so much depression over the years that i just lost interest in the things i used to do. now that my kids have this diagnosis, it gives me a new reason to rekindle my interest in the things i used to enjoy.

so, why don't we start a thread that has canning recipes?

christine

[Silver-naki]

silver-sounds like your garden is huge! i couldn't pull that off for a while, but hope for a big one and some land some day. and a mini honeycrisp apple orchard too

JEN!

Yes, our GARDEN is EMONGOUS to say the least... a person could literally fit a HOUSE inside the plot... it's all fenced in with a "gate' and all of that fun stuff. (to keep the critters out) We have alot of Land & live way out in the Country on a Ranch, so can grow all the "fun" stuff we want, including a multitude of Fruit TREES~

The Garden is alot of work for us each year, but I sure as heck wouldn't be without it! I just hate buying Produce in the Grocery Stores... but there comes a time, where one must do this on occassion too.

I have Chickens too, so have my own fresh, ORGANIC, free-roaming brown Farm EGGS.... thankfully, I don't have an intolerance to "Dairy" that I know of~ Now all we need is a few Milk Cows!! LOL! (One cannot "milk" a Horse!)

Another interesting thing..... is around here where we live, each Spring, we go walking the local water irrigating Canals, & pick fresh "wild" Asparagus! It grows heartily along the Canal banks & ditches. We bring it home, clean it up real good, freeze it, "Can" it, or "pickle" it! There's always neat things to find from the EARTH. We do the same with wild Pine Nuts we gather in the hills..... (roasted Pine Nuts...) ORGANIC!

[Judyin Philly]

(One cannot "milk" a Horse!)

quote]

what a riot.

I'm envenious of your garden but not the work envolved..you rock.

judy in philly

[jenvan]

Judy-- Hmmm, I'm going with the eggshells, b/c I think that is just such a fabulously clever idea ! Speaking of ideas--my favorite one from this fall can be found in this post. Finally deterring aggressive squirrels from my pumpkins with a hearty coating of tabasco, cayenne and black pepper !

Chrissy-- Your my hero, canning 100 qt, barefoot and pregnant !! You are a trooper! My least fav garden task is the weeding too... My lower back, legs and shoulders got worse over the summer. Have to figure out a better way... (Hmmm, my husband maybe?!) I could come up with some canning recipes...have to go back to my calculations That would be fun.

Silver-- Your house etc. sound really neat. I can't imagine keeping up with it all...if I didn't work full-time I could. You do sound like you have a great appreciation for the earth

[Guest Viola]

Judy, thanks for the hints with the hostas, I've used the beer and coffee grounds, but never thought of the egg shells, that would likely be more effective. Might also keep the bull snakes away from the stairs too. My mom hates snakes when she comes to visit

Silver, have you had deer problems? We have major problems with deer out here. This winter they've gone into a fence area and ate all the leaves and buds off my Rododendriums. It's getting so frustrating. We have to keep everything fenced or caged and on a large area, it's pretty hard to do. They off course have no problem going over anything 6ft. or under.

I see most of you quit gardening in the winter ... well we do too, however we have put in some interesting plants that add to the winter landscape. In one bed I have Rhodos and Cottonaster. Both are ever green and the Cottonaster has bright red berries that attract the birds. In another I have a Mungo Pine with a big Rhodo behind it and Heather in front of the pine. We have some willows out in the yard with bright red and yellow bark. You don't have to do anything with them in the winter, but they really look super. That is if we don't get a big snow fall to cover it all, but then you have interesting bumps in the snow

Jen, I would love to see a picture of that crazy quilt. I have a baby size one that my great Grandmother made around 1886. The embroidery is fascinating, but the fabrics are so neat ... velvets, silks, some with logos stamped into them (I think they were called water marks) and one little piece of fur. Some day I'll have to take it out of storage and take pictures of it.

[Judyin Philly]

I see most of you quit gardening in the winter ...

Jen, I would love to see a picture of that crazy quilt.

Hi Viola

My neighbor put in a witchhazel tree that's blooming now. So pretty

I have a 'Itea' tree what has 4 seasons of color and blooms Got it free from the plant exchange at garden club.

Viola and Jen--please take pictues of your crazy quilts PLEASE PLEASE

Jen -- They are my very favorite.

After mom passed in Sept I got a regular quilt made by my great great grandmother. Guess crafts and gardening are in are genes...better than celiac disease

I have to get off this computer and get some work done but so glad I've found this thread and have to take some time to read the whole thread...and get my note book out and take notes on tips you guys shared....

Judy

[jenvan]

E-mailing my mom to bring her camera down to this week so I can take pics of the quilt

So....Judy....did the eggs win?

[tiredofdoctors]

Man -- in one day there is so much good information!! Patti -- you're not butting in -- welcome aboard! I would love to see a picture of your raised beds. Okay guys, need input -- I'm thinking of doing raised beds around the perimeter of our yard -- long, but fairly narrow (two to three feet) for my vegetables. Yes, No??? If so, any suggestions with how to set it up? It's the first time I've tried a raised bed for anything, but have to do SOMETHING to increase the size of my garden without expanding my current space. Any and all advice is more than welcome . . . .

[Guest Viola]

A friend in Nelson has raised beds like that around her house. It is right up against the house, so she has put her peas and beans in the back of the bed and just put up string climbers on the wall of the house. Note ... she has wood siding, I don't think it would work with modern siding. Then her lettuce, carrots etc. are closer to the front of the bed to make it easy to weed. She also has strawberries in it. It's amazing how much she grows in that little space. She get horse manure to mix in every spring ... I think Silver can help with that one We don't have horses anymore.