We had the largest mayonnaise farm in Story County near Ames.
Technical point: You can't use your combine to harvest Mayo...way too messy.
Photo of typical mayo farm:
Posted on 01/06/2017 4:14:00 PM PST by greeneyes
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We had snow and no school for the last 2 days. This is the time of year that I review finances - personal and around the world. Then I do a budget, plan my garden etc. and take stock in the pantry.
I noticed some interesting articles in financial trends that I thought I would share, since there's not much to talk about right now relating to the garden. I am not sure I want to even contemplate let alone discuss them, but mention them more as an FYI.
Financial: Money doesn't grow on trees, but can it grow in Cyber space? I have noticed that several countries are beginning to stop the circulation of large denominated bills, and looking at block chain technology (ie bit coin type payments). The advantage to this "cashless" system for the government is less tax evasion, tracking drug money, tracking terrorist money. I read an article that stated that the US Federal Reserve is looking into the technology. With the widespread use of smart phones, and dr. or cr. card transactions, it wouldn't take long to implement.
Speculation is that most likely this would at first set up a parallel system. Another advantage is that this would eliminate the possibility of a "run" on an individual bank, as each individual could have an account, and currency would not have to printed or exchanged. The downside impact on individual freedom and potential for abuse is rather obvious.
I was reviewing a book that had gathered dust last year, and found an interesting suggestion for preppers. Each time you go to the store, buy something very cheap that could be used as barter if SHTF: Example salt. Less than a buck, lasts forever, can be used to preserve foods, barter, and of course one of the world's number 1 seasonings.
This is also the time of year that I will buy meats or poultry on sale and pressure can them - all the heat is appreciated this time of the year, and in the summer, it's ready to eat with no additional heat for the air conditioner to have to deal with.
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Hope you are all doing well. Have a great weekend. Prayers up for all. God Bless.
Pinging the List.
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We are expecting 12” this weekend.
Brrrrrr
BRRR. Drink something hot, bundle up, and stay warm - that’s my plan.
One year I did the “winter gardening”, which consisted of filling my porch with seeds in ventillated containers, exposed to the elements and freezing temps. It looked rather unsightly but I admit, by spring, I had the most robust seedlings! It was a great success!
This is also the time of year that I will buy meats or poultry on sale and pressure can them - all the heat is appreciated this time of the year, and in the summer, it's ready to eat with no additional heat for the air conditioner to have to deal with.
Good advice. I pressure can as well and do a lot of meat and soup stock. Then I can just grab a jar off the shelf and make a pot of soup by just throwing in the veggies.
It's nice cause you don't waste freezer space on the pressure canned meat for soups and stews.
More advice for people is to grow an herb garden of your own. Even in northern climates, (I'm in NY) there are a lot of common herbs that are perennials. I grow sage, thyme, lemon thyme, Greek oregano, and my own garlic.
Parsley is a biennial and will reseed but you have to start the first two years.
I left some rosemary in and covered it well. It can handle a mild freeze and so I'm hoping my plant will come back in the spring. If it doesn't, I'll just buy another one from some garden center.
The fresh herbs make fantastic spaghetti sauce and soup.
And you can dry your own.
FWIW, places like Sam's and BJ's sell common spices in pound sizes and spices keep a LONG time if you put them in a canning jar and freeze them. No processing needed. Just put on the lid and band and the jars are hermetically sealed and there's no risk of freezer burn or stale freezer taste.
I have read about it, but never did it. We did have someone who tried it, and kept us posted one winter. Can’t remember who it was though.
I usually have a few herbs indoors too, but never got around to it this year. I have quite a few dried that I harvested.
I put them into mason jars with an Oxygen absorber, and use a vacuum top to vacuum out the air - no heat involved.
Another tip that I read recently, was after about a year, before they loose potency, pack a jar with the herbs and fill it with Vodka. Shake it now and then. After about 6 weeks, drain and keep the extract. Make sure to label.
Since many spices and herbs have medicinal properties, this is a way of making a tincture that can be used for medicine. Such a tincture can last up to 10 years.
I saved a bunch of plasic food containers and poked holes in the top, filled with dirt and planted seeds of every kind. Usually, I stink with plants so it was a nice surprise to raise so many ‘super seedlings’ that year. Apparently, the repeated freezing/thawing made the seeds strong. Who knew???
The Holidays are past, and that means that we are looking through the seed catalogs and planning for this spring. And, I have suggested building a green house behind my shop.
This location will be shaded in the summer and get good sun exposure in the winter. It is something we have wanted for a long time. It won’t be this year, but maybe next.
Also, I want to build a pole shed for our garden equipment...our tractors, attachments and other items.
Remember, each day now, is a little longer than the one before...so be of good cheer!
Happy New Year!
A Good Plan!
Does that work with seeds like tomatoes, too?
I’ve had tomato plants come up in the spring spontaneously.
I would imagine that it would work with any annual but I never really thought about it but if it can grow stronger plants, then it’s worth a try.
I’ve had a lot of weak seedlings the last few years and would like to avoid that.
SoCal is getting lots of rain and we are so happy to have it.
I have a lot of baby succulents that are doing well in my patio garden and one area in a planter that I can’t get anything to grow. Everything I put there dies. I just put in a one gallon mexican papaya to see if it can survive.
It would be grand to harvest papayas!
There used to be a web site: Wintersown which had instructions for using Milk jugs. They also had free seeds or nominal donations, but I don’t think they are around any more.
We have been saving for a green house/ garden room to put over the patio door to the basement. That’s a South West exposure. We are discussing ways of heating it with out electricity.
Yes, I believe it does work with tomatoes.
Papaya’s are great for digestion.
We had the largest mayonnaise farm in Story County near Ames.
Technical point: You can't use your combine to harvest Mayo...way too messy.
Photo of typical mayo farm:
Go to the garden forums at gardenweb.com. They have a very large winter sowing forum. Amazing info there. I’ve never tried winter sowing but start annuals and herbs indoors under fluorescent lights. Fun little late winter hobby.
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