Posted on 03/23/2008 11:36:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Americans finding soaring food prices hard to stomach can battle back by growing their own food. [Click image for a larger version] Dean Fosdick Dean Fosdick
Home vegetable gardens appear to be booming as a result of the twin movements to eat local and pinch pennies.
At the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta this winter, D. Landreth Seed Co. of New Freedom, Pa., sold three to four times more seed packets than last year, says Barb Melera, president. "This is the first time I've ever heard people say, 'I can grow this more cheaply than I can buy it in the supermarket.' That's a 180-degree turn from the norm."
Roger Doiron, a gardener and fresh-food advocate from Scarborough, Maine, said he turned $85 worth of seeds into more than six months of vegetables for his family of five.
A year later, he says, the family still had "several quarts of tomato sauce, bags of mixed vegetables and ice-cube trays of pesto in the freezer; 20 heads of garlic, a five-gallon crock of sauerkraut, more homegrown hot-pepper sauce than one family could comfortably eat in a year and three sorts of squash, which we make into soups, stews and bread."
[snipped]
She compares the current period of market uncertainty with that of the early- to mid-20th century when the concept of victory gardens became popular.
"A lot of companies during the world wars and the Great Depression era encouraged vegetable gardening as a way of addressing layoffs, reduced wages and such," she says. "Some companies, like U.S. Steel, made gardens available at the workplace. Railroads provided easements they'd rent to employees and others for gardening."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
I might need to know where this is! Just in case I am close up some of these days. :-)
Well, you said a mouthfull there. I get tired of being lumped with those folks just because I want to garden "my way" and use old fashioned means of pest control and fertilization. *WE* preceeded the greenies and the gores in this! ~grin~ We are the frontrunners. ~wink~
cleaning supplies - check
extra clothing - check
water - check
and NEVER let it be known locally that you have what you have or that you are in any way prepared for emergencies. The less people know the safer I am! Yeah, I have told ya'll here. And I have a select few friends who are either fellow planners or close enough friends that I would take them in because I know they work and do their part. To the remainder of the area I either do not exist or I am just a flighty born-again hippy type. LOL Loose lips sink ships. Think it's been said on FR often.
4-Year-Old Strangled In Trampoline Netting
Denver Boy In Foster Home Found By Younger Sister
POSTED: 2:26 pm MST February 6, 2009
a snippet.
Consumerreports.org listed trampolines as the number one product not to buy for kids. In 2003, some 98,000 trampoline-related injuries resulted in emergency room visits, according to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission. At least 6 deaths have been reported since 1990.
Somebody locally recommended that malabar spinach to me last year and I forgot about it. I was told that it grows better in this heat than regular spinach. Wish I'd have thought to buy that when I loaded up on seed this year. Will have to find some. Writing it down so I don't forget again. Can't I plant that later than ordinary spinach?
For that very reason we have tried to keep contact going regularly through this past year. There are about a half dozen other families that have done that too so this has been a helpful thing I think. We (Lloyd and I) discussed a couple of weeks ago that we need to step things up again because of the anniversary of the death coming up. I have already noticed that she has been appreciative. Today, for the first time, she finally took me up on my invitation to come over and just keep my company while I do my work so we can visit. We visited while I planted and it was good. She had finished packing up all his clothing this morning and said she just needed to get out of the house. I was *so* glad that she did this. And when Lloyd got home from work we went and ate, had a wonderful afternoon and evening all together.
Good grief! And it just dawned on me that I forgot to mention the pennies again! DOH!!!!
They last for years! While they are at their peak vitamin-wise for a couple of years, if the lid hasn't rusted through and the seal hasn't leaked, it is still good! Just remember to always sniff, heat it to boiling for several minutes and that eliminates any possible remote chance that botulism if there were any, is killed. That is good advice on all canned vegetables even store bought. I was a manager in a canning company for several years - believe me things happen.
The bacon was a trial - got a good buy on bulk bits and pieces and had seen where Jackie said you could can it, so I tried - Mmmmmm nothing like some good smoked bacon for seasoning those green beans or succotash. Talk about comfort food. :-)
Some people get pretty innovative with storage - cases stacked with a piece of plywood on top then covered with a tablecloth makes what everyone thinks is an endtable, but holds a treasure trove of good food. You will find that your store bought stash will diminish and your home canned will take over the space.
I cheat on watching the race... I have a TV Tuner card in my PC so I have it playing in the lower corner of the monitor and a quick double-click brings it full screen when something interesting is happening.
When you are taking a break from some of Jackie's articles, you might just want to read some of the other articles - I finally felt so guilty reading all their magazine for free that I finally broke down and subscribed - quite a resource - I think Dave Duffy pretty much is a clone of my thoughts on many many things.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009
Release #09-120 CPSC
Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC Spells Out Enforcement Policy For New Lead Limits In Children’s Products Effective February 10
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting on February 10, 2009, consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. This new safety requirement is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) aimed at further reducing children’s exposure to lead.
In an effort to provide clear and reasonable guidance to those impacted by this important law, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing its enforcement policy on the lead limits established by the CPSIA.
Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should also be aware that CPSC will:
*Not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling
**a children’s product to the extent that it is made of certain natural materials, such as wood, cotton, wool, or certain metals and alloys which the Commission has recognized rarely, if ever, contain lead;
**an ordinary children’s book printed after 1985; or
**dyed or undyed textiles (not including leather, vinyl or PVC) and non-metallic thread and trim used in children’s apparel and other fabric products, such as baby blankets.
(The Commission generally will not prosecute someone for making, selling or distributing items in these categories even if it turns out that such an item actually contains more than 600 ppm lead.)
Sellers will not be immune from prosecution if CPSC’s Office of Compliance finds that someone had actual knowledge that one of these children’s products contained more than 600 ppm lead or continued to make, import, distribute or sell such a product after being put on notice. Agency staff will seek recalls of violative children’s products or other corrective actions, where appropriate.
*Issue an interim final rule effective February 10, 2009, which establishes alternative lead limits for certain electronic devices, in order to prevent unnecessary removal of certain children’s products from store shelves.
*Accept a manufacturer’s determination that a lead-containing part on their product is inaccessible to a child and not subject to the new lead limits, if it is consistent with the Commission’s proposed guidance or is based on a reasonable reading of the inaccessibility requirement. Paint and other coatings or electroplating are not considered barriers that make a component inaccessible.
This enforcement policy will remain in effect until superseded by action of the Commission.
CPSC still expects companies to meet their reporting obligation under federal law and immediately tell the Commission if they learn of a children’s product that exceeds the new lead limits starting on February 10, 2009. Companies also should know that the CPSIA generally prohibits the export for sale of children’s products that exceed the new lead limits.
As announced on January 30, 2009, the Commission approved a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers. Significant to makers of children’s products, the ‘stay’ provides limited relief from the testing and certification for total lead content limits, phthalates limits for certain products and mandatory toy standards. Manufacturers and importers - large and small - of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will still need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements. Certification based on testing by an accredited laboratory is still required for painted children’s products and soon will be required for children’s metal jewelry, as well as certain other products for non-lead issues.
********************************************************
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC’s web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
I think that happened for Lloyd the night he came home from work and I'd been given 8 LARGE overflowing grocery sacks of green tomatoes. I had the stove full of cooking chowchow. He didn't know what chow chow was and there was no supper ready. And he just didn't "get" why the dining room table was invisible under layers of *green* tomatoes! ROFL
and as a side note, the person who gave me the 8 sacks of green tomatoes was the deceased husband of my friend I've been talking about. That was November before last and the last produce obtained from his prolific garden. Neither of them were able to pick the last of the tomatoes before the freeze that year.
We ate fresh ripened tomatoes for 3 months from those and that was while tomatoes were so expensive here that local restaurants stopped putting them on salads and sandwiches. I just used the last of the canned ripe tomatoes about 3 months ago but we still have many pints of chow chow and green tomato pickles. I am still taking jars of the sweet green tomato pickles and chow chow to my friend every time she runs out, so she's still eating a bit of produce from her husband's efforts.
I miss a whole lot of Texas cooking... If it weren't 1,560 miles, I would slip down to Weatherford and visit my Son and get me some of that fine food!
LOL! Mr. mm has learned about canning season. Everything else takes second place when produce is coming in.
It’s leftovers for dinner, buddy, and don’t you dare move the canning jars.
E. COLI O157, LIVESTOCK SHOW - USA: (COLORADO)
**********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Thu 5 Feb 2009
Source: The Rocky Mountain News [edited]
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/05/e-coli-outbreak-linked-national-western-stock-show/
At least 11 kids have been sickened by _E. coli_ O157:H7 bacteria,
likely transmitted during field trips to the National Western Stock
Show in January 2009. There are 12 lab-confirmed cases and 8 others
are pending, according to Denver Public Health. Just one of the 12 is an adult.
So far, all confirmed and probable cases live in Front Range
counties, from Boulder to El Paso County, Denver Public Health
reports. The pattern of transmission suggests that some kids who went
to the stock show with their teachers contracted the bacteria, then
spread it at child-care, pre-school, or school settings.
Any child with diarrhea who attended the stock show should see a
doctor before returning to child-care, health officials said. And any
child with bloody diarrhea, whether or not he or she attended the
stock show, should see a doctor.
_E. coli_ O157:H7 infections can be very serious in young children
and in the worst cases lead to kidney failure.
Continued......
—
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
[Although a foodborne source is possible, this cluster of verotoxin
producing _E. coli_ is probably a petting zoo type outbreak.
The state of Colorado can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map of the USA at
http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=5417618&v=40,-97.6,4
- Mod.LL]
[see also:
2008
I am so glad to know this!!! I would have bought more of them if I had known that and will have to look again next time I get to WalMart. That may not be for a month but I will look.
I also bought seeds on clearance last year from the dollar store. I didn't know about those either, of course they are last year's seeds but they were marked 90% off and I couldn't resist. They are normally 4/$1. I bought a dollar's worth of seeds at 90% off so I got 40 packets. They are in a large old coffee can now. LOL
I am REALLY glad to hear you say they are old seeds now. I feel like I got an extremely good value!
I tell ya, you just can't beat the stuff! I love my compost too. This year I picked up 15 bags of leaves cleaned up at an old cemetary. I've got a new bed of irises out of those cemetary leaves too. Somebody just raked the rhizomes out with the leaves so they were mixed in everywhere. I'm loving it as they are already up. Can't wait till I see the blooms!
Airlock?
All I recall is attaching a large balloon to the top of the vinegar bottle, it got huge and then it went down after a period of time.
I would assume the balloon locked in the air.
A few years ago, you could get the recipe that I used on the Welch food site.
LOL, the first time that I tried it, in Portland, Oregon, we were moving in bits and draps and I was there almost a year, while Bill sold out in San Diego.
He came up, and a day or two later, Scott was robbed of his lunch money on the way to school, so the Police were called and we found that he was one of 9 or 10 kids robbed that morning.
After the cop left, Bill asked what the strange smell was, in the chair [stuffed type] that he had been sitting in?
Boy was he mad, when he found out he was hiding the wine factory, that was behind the chair....LOL
It is legal to make small amounts of wine for family use.
Both my daughters used to hate it when I gave them gardening chores. They said they'd rather do housework. (which was fine with me!) Now, that they are both out on their own they can't wait to garden. The oldest daughter and her husband bought their first house 3 years ago when he retired from the army. From the first days that daughter was out planting and planning. She *has* the fever and can't wait for my visits to discuss gardening.
The youngest daughter is still in a renting situation but has been looking for a good value on a house to buy. She also now talks of room to plant vegetables because she misses the taste of "ours." :-) It is a very humbling thing to see them come to this.
What about soil testing?
I confess, I have never had this done. I always ~intended~ to but haven't ever done it at any of the places I've lived. But with the amending efforts from compost and leaves you are well on your way to great soil imho.
Have any of you used diatomaceous earth to control pests?
Great stuff that! A bit pricey but the cost has gone down in recent years. I always forget to put it out till I've got bad problems but it does fix things.
Sending up prayers for your back too. I am there with ya on the back. There are days when I can't get from the bed to the bathrooom without aid but I also find I am much better and in less pain on the days when I get out and work in the garden. Learn your limits and then make yourself stick to them so you can garden again tomorrow. For me, it's about balancing the work with the pleasure. I think gardening is the most healing thing I can do for my back - as long as I keep within my limits and take those rest breaks.
AMEN and I second that!
Six months ago when I had plenty of work I had 3 great computers running perfectly. Economy went south and the computers knew it. I now have only this one that will get on the internet and none that work well enough for me to do engineering work on them. ~sigh~ I have to borrow one of Lloyd's for my paying jobs. I know this is a computer conspiracy. They *knew* when my paychecks evaporated!
If you feel you are near enough and would like to can someday I would show you how. We just need a day when there's something to can.
Have any of you used diatomaceous earth to control pests? For crawling pests, I haven’t found anything that works better. <<<
I did use it for insects for years.
Anything that you learn here, is the basis for more study, you will never learn it all and we all have our own methods of doing things.
You can get a soil test at the extension office or could at one time. You might ask at the local nurseries.
Keep adding the compost that comes your way and if your plants are growing well, then you are on the right path.
When I am working in the garden, I feel God is close by, and will always be amazed at the miracle of a seed, some not much larger than a grain of sand, will grow and produce the food needed to keep us alive.
At times I have wondered if I collected seeds, just to have a seed collection?
Excellent idea to plant and attract the needed bees, there has been some articles on the colors of flowers that bees prefer, I have forgotten what I read.
Ohh dear, this could become a big project, take a look at the results here.....LOL
Can someone tell me how to stop the computer from killing my radios?
The static is so bad that I can’t listen to them.
A friend said to sit the tower on the floor, but that cannot be done here, no room.
I put a couple of old sponge mouse pads under it, no change.
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