All Things Prepping & Homesteading

[Pollard]

Prior prepping threads by nw_arizona_granny, CottonBall and I are listed/linked on my profile page along with some other prepping related links; https://freerepublic.com/~pollard/

AZ_Granny's prepping info from another forum that she and I used to frequent; https://permasteader.com/AZ_Granny/stor01.html

The above html pages as a zip file; https://permasteader.com/AZ_Granny.zip (html files are on a single folder and if kept that way, links will work)

My prepper/homestead files; https://permasteader.com/cloud/index.php/s/H8iLwmfLHiGFyjG They are categorized by subject in folders and sub-folders and most are pdf files. The top level folder is called Prepping. You can download the entire thing, a single folder, subfolder or single file.

I added a folder called High Tunnels inside the Agriculture folder last week.

No particular subject from here on out. Talk or ask questions about anything related homesteading & prepping.

[Pollard]

Prepper Ping

[cherry]

thx for this thread.....been racking my brain thinking of things I need to get or keep or expand on....

number one I think is SEEDS....organic/heirloom seeds....even in an apartment you can have a pot of micro greens....

[M Kehoe]

Ping.

5.56mm

[metmom]

Question….
What’s the best way to store whole coffee beans?

My thought was to put them in canning jars and vacuum seal them and stick them in the freezer, but I could find next to nothing about that method for storage.

I thought someone here might have experience with this.

[metmom]

In line with that, I was wondering how long seeds would remain viable. I have older seeds and am surprised at how old they are and can still grow.

Anyways, I found this........................

A commonly asked question is how long will the seeds remain viable?

Much of seed viability depends upon storage conditions.
The ideal storage condition for seeds is somewhere cool and dry.

For many homeowners a capped jar in the refrigerator serves the purpose.
Just looking at the seed will often give an indication of seed quality.

For seeds that are usually smooth and round or plump, they will not germinate well if they are pocked or wrinkled.

Peas, corn, and many other seeds are normally wrinkled but may not look as good as they should.

How long will vegetable seeds last if stored properly?
Seed and(Viability in Years)

Asparagas (3),
Muskmelons (5),
Beans (3),
Onions (1),
Beets (4),
Peas (3),
Broccoli (5),
Peppers (2),
Cabbage (5),
Pumpkins (4),
Carrots (3),
Radishes (5),
Cauliflower (5),
Spinach (5),
Corn (2),
Squash (4),
Cucumbers (5),
Tomatoes (4),
Lettuce (5),
Watermelons (4),

Source : Iowa State Extension

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1995/3-3-1995/seedv.html

[metmom]

I am saving heirloom onion seeds.

Last year I bought Stuttgarter onion sets and wow, did those keep well. So I let a bunch of them go to seed and meanwhile made little bags out of tulle or camping netting and put a drawstring on them.

It serves two purposes. It isolates the two different kinds of onions I have and the bags will collect the seeds when they mature.

The reason for isolating them is that I didn’t want hybridization from cross pollination. So when the red onions flowered first, I let them be and bagged the flower heads of the Stuttgarter. After a couple weeks, when the Stuttgarter started opening up, I then put bags on the red onions, waited a couple days and then took them off the Stuttgarter onions so they could be pollinated.

The poor bees though, just didn’t know what to do with the mesh bags. They sure gave it the old college try, though, trying to get to the flowers.

I later found out that you can buy these bags online as blossom bags. It was cheaper to make them and I like to sew anyways.

I also plan on using them on tomatoes next year. I have plans to plant a couple different varieties and since tomatoes essentially self-pollinate, you bag up the flower cluster and let them do that. When the fruit begins to set, you can remove the bag but must label them so you know which ones are the pure variety.

[Pollard]

Anything in your house that would typically need replacing in whatever time span you want to prep for. Anything that disappeared from stores last Spring is a good starting point.

The most common items are every day stuff that you shop for regularly but can extend out to things like shoes. I save my old work boots and my shoe size hasn’t changed in 35 years. I could use 100 pair of socks though. LOL

I’ve been meaning to put some sort of list together based on order of importance and/or length of shtf event.

Then there’s things like utilities, communications, defense, meds and first aid supplies.
I bought seeds last year but ended up being too busy finishing the perimeter because I bought meat goats with covid stimulus check. Bought more seeds this year but need to build a good fence around the garden area still as it’s inside the perimeter fence with the goats. At least I’m stocked up on seeds though and I buy strictly heirloom. Most come from rareseeds.com aka Baker Creek. They’re in MO as am I so I know they’re acclimated to this climate.

[Openurmind]

Thank you... :)

[Pollard]

Instant coffee last a long time since it’s freeze dried. No grinder or coffee machine filters needed either. Just hot water. We lived off grid for 5 years so we got used to instant. The “Best By” date on the Folger’s I just bought is for two years out but I’m sure 3 years would be fine. Might get a little weaker over time.

I think coffee beans have oil content in them that eventually goes rancid but I don’t know how long that takes.

[Mathews]

Bttt

[metmom]

I think I’ll pick up some instant then, too.

Mostly for emergency use or barter.

[Pollard]

I printed that webpage to a pdf file and added to Prepping/Agriculture/Seed

https://permasteader.com/cloud/index.php/s/H8iLwmfLHiGFyjG

[SteveH]

bookmark

[Jane Long]

Instant coffee last a long time since it’s freeze dried. No grinder or coffee machine filters needed either. Just hot water.

---

Great idea. Need to add to my supply, for sure.

Having this issue, right now....if anyone has any advice, much appreciated....

Finding that vacuum sealed works just as good (better, maybe?) than the mason jar stored dry goods like rice, beans, powdered milk.

I put oxygen packets, in both.

The beans in the vacuum seal, from several years ago, looks just as good/fresh as the jarred ones....and, take up much less room.

Question....if these beans/milk/rice, etc are vacuum sealed w/an oxygen packet, do I still need to put inside of a dark mylar bag and/or tub? Are all tubs okay (meaning....dark/opaque storage tubs) once these are vacuum sealed?

TIA

[Freedom4US]

Canning jars work great for long term storage. Roasted coffee beans tends to go stale. If you want to store coffee, what you really want are green, unroasted coffee beans. It is easy to roast what you need. Lots of places sell them online.

Remember bulk items like flour, rice, pasta, cornmeal, oatmeal, dried peas, grains, noodles etc tend to attract critters, or, may even harbor larvae themselves. “Pantry Moths”. You do not want these in your larder.

What I do with new arrivals is wrap securely in plastic and give them maybe 3 to 5 days in the freezer. It’s important that the temp is below °0, Then it’s pretty safe for long term pantry shelf storage. I’ve used 12 year old flour that is perfectly fine and made fantastic fresh bread. I know everyone freaks out if something is left out on the counter for 15 minutes these days, but properly stored foods can be safely consumed for way past “best by”.

Those “old fashioned” metal tins are great, they weren’t just for decoration, but they keep vermin out. Mice have trouble with metal. I like canning jars for longer term storage because glass is better at keeping air excluded

[metmom]

I am a big fan of canning jars and my vacuum sealer with the jar attachments.

I have filled and vacuum sealed jars with pasta, beans, nuts, chocolate, etc. Then they go in the cupboard in the basement.

I also keep my pasta in the kitchen in canning jars or some of those Oxo airtight food storage containers.

I freeze spices and nuts in jars as well, and they look as fresh as the day I put them in.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Seeds are important. I went to HD last week and stocked up. Because you never know.

[Georgia Girl 2]

You can food savor them if you have that system. We use it for everything.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

If you have a septic tank you will want to stock up on bacteria treatment for the tank.

Also be able to do basic maintenance on your septic and well systems.

Now is the time to learn.

Before you have any issues.