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Well, the gardening is down to watering indoor plants. The weather is the coldest so far this season. Eleven degrees right now and down to 5 degrees tonight.

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.

If I have forgotten to add anyone to the ping list, please send me a private FRmail and I'll take care of it.

Hope you are all doing well. Have a great weekend. Prayers up for all. God Bless.

1 posted on 01/06/2017 4:14:00 PM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes; Diana in Wisconsin; gardengirl; girlangler; SunkenCiv; HungarianGypsy; Gabz; ...

Pinging the List.


2 posted on 01/06/2017 4:15:19 PM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

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!


6 posted on 01/06/2017 4:38:15 PM PST by LYDIAONTARIO
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To: greeneyes
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.

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.

7 posted on 01/06/2017 4:48:11 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: greeneyes

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!


11 posted on 01/06/2017 5:09:43 PM PST by Redleg Duke (Final countdown to the liberals' Trumpaccolips! Yee Haw!)
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To: greeneyes

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!


14 posted on 01/06/2017 5:14:00 PM PST by Melian (America, bless God. God, bless America.)
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To: greeneyes
Gardening reminds me of younger years, living on farm in Iowa.

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:

19 posted on 01/06/2017 5:33:43 PM PST by capt. norm (Capt norm)
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To: greeneyes; All
A couple of views of this mornings frost in the garden…

IMG_1315

IMG_1313

29 posted on 01/06/2017 7:36:16 PM PST by tubebender
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To: greeneyes; All

Per the radar, we are overrun with snow right now, but nothing is getting to ground level - I did see some tiny flakes & mini-flurries while filling up the bird feeders around 4:30 (for the first time this winter). When I looked out the window this morning, a dove couple was hanging around - I’m sure they were the ‘lovebirds’ I saw every day last winter & were looking to see if there was any food at the feeders yet. Since snow is forecast (6-8”), I figured some black oil sunflower seeds would definitely make the birds happy. To the east, the forecast is for blizzard conditions - my brother may get 12-14” ... glad it’s not me!!

This morning I took a “trip” to FL via Onalee’s seeds at http://www.onaleeseeds.com/ . I ordered several packages of Hyacinth Bean Vine (purple) & my free seed packet will be the white HBVs. I gave seeds away last year to a couple of friends and not a single one came up for them (or for me). The seeds were from my dear aunt who puts EVERYTHING in the freezer .... including all her seeds. HBV is a tropical plant (frost kills it, pronto) so I’m guessing that’s why the seeds didn’t come up. All the friends who got formerly frozen seeds will get a fresh pack from FL & we’ll see what happens.

The website is fun to browse through - lots of flowers/plants to look at. My seeds went in the mail this afternoon & from reading customer comments, Onalee’s is first rate. I liked reading about her garden helper, Bob .... we have a similar garden helper next door - especially good at digging holes where he thinks there are moles. :-)


35 posted on 01/06/2017 8:38:24 PM PST by Qiviut (In Islam you have to die for Allah. The God I worship died for me. [Franklin Graham])
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To: greeneyes

We’ve had the run of below freezing days in Texas like everyone else has. It’s not too often when we have more than 3 days without a warming above freezing at some point but we had just that. My rain barrels have a 4” layer of ice on top.

I spent the past 4 days cooking and canning large batches of chili, spaghetti sauce and concentrated beef soup stock. Going to can pintos tomorrow even tho it is going to be warmer.

I’m still getting a lot of peppers from the plants in my sunroom and balcony. I had enough hot peppers for my chili to be plenty spicy and some sweet peppers for my spaghetti sauce. Getting about 1 tomato/week. The best gardening treasure this winter has been an amazing quantity of huge blooms on my rescued hibiscus. I got 2 plants that a nearby WalMart thought they’d killed last summer, nursed them back to health and they are rewarding me daily! I can’t figure out how to post pictures while freeping from my phone or I’d show them.

And, amazingly, its time for me to put down tomato and pepper seeds to be ready for spring! I really need to get busy with those!


46 posted on 01/08/2017 11:06:08 PM PST by Wneighbor (Deplorable. And we win!)
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To: greeneyes

I’m ready for spring to be here.

Cold weather. Ugh...


53 posted on 01/09/2017 9:38:24 AM PST by Augie
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