11:03 - David Vitter (R-LA) Proposed amendment to strip the 4.1 Billion designed for ACORN." 
Things are going to get very bad sooner rather than later I'm afraid.
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 ...
This is one recipe I found - Cantaloupe Jam
Cantaloupe (very ripe) Chunk, cook and mash
3/4 pound (1.8 cups) granulated sugar per pound of cantaloupe
1/2 teaspoon each ginger, mace and cinnamon
If I were making it, I would increase the cinnamon (good blood sugar regulator - and I like the taste) and I would add either 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or one crushed 1000 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which does 3 things - improves color - acidifies the jam for safer storage - good anti-oxidant.
I would cook it to the jelling temperature using a thermometer (that is water boiling point plus 8 degrees F. to altitude/barometric pressure adjust, bring a pot of water to boiling and check the temp. then add 8 degrees to that. This is kind of a handy rule of thumb that has worked well for me without adding the SureJell - pectin - which is not only expensive, but I don't keep a stock of it on hand and never seem to have any when I need it. Also, I don't have to make a lot of small batches - seems to work in larger batches of jam/jelly.)
Pour it hot into the sterile jars, wipe top edge of jars and put lids on (bring lids to about a low boil in water first)tighten bands and waterbath them for 10 minutes. (note: remove them from the water - don't take the shortcut of just leaving them to cool in the water - kills some of the seals - same thing in pressure cooker too.)
Granny, that plant was owned by Conagra a mega conglomerate corporation into just about anything to make the bucks.
But, somehow I can't see Michelle 0bama doing that.
Ok, regarding the cheap pkts. of seed - They are the way that inventories are balanced in the seed industry - note that they say 'Packed for 2009 season' does not say produced in 2008 for 2009 season, as long as they meet the State required germination percentage, they can be sold that way. Many are varieties that just didn't sell well enough - therefore the older varieties show up.
Producing those hybrid seeds is a very labor intensive industry, so guess where many of them are produced... India has a huge hybrid seed production industry.
I had a friend sprinkle DE into her bluebird house nests because the blowflies were killing the hatchlings and she said she had a much better survival rate.
I found this on FOXNews.com today.
List of Recalled Peanut Products
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,489015,00.html
Over the last decade or two, such companies as Ball Kerr Mason Golden Harvest, etc. (all canning jars) have been bought up by Jarden Corporation. They have been selling way more jars than normal.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net sales increased 48% to $1.2 billion
"While the first quarter is traditionally Jarden's seasonally smallest quarter, our performance was in line with our expectations and a good start to achieving our full year outlook," said Martin E. Franklin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jarden Corporation.
Full year revenue for 2008 is expected to be approximately $5.35 billion.
I'm not trying to say that we should be 'panic buying' of canning jars, but a goodly supply would surely be reassuring.
Scary to think one processing plant has that broad of an impact!
I can’t wait to get to Jackie’s site, one could be there for weeks I imagine. :)
I think if I cleaned out some of the cupboards I have in other rooms with non-essential stuff I would have room for jars.
That’s a good way to watch the longer races, lol as they tend to be somewhat boring at times. At least the 1 1/2 milers are with the new car. The Shootout tonight will be a different story. Short and wild.
Computers definitely can be frustrating. Mine loves to freeze up when I have the screen capture on for races. But, that little number with the keyboard was very strange. I guess I won’t buy anymore at the thrift shop. :)
Pinging NYT - Do you have a solution to granny’s problem. You are the computer whiz after all. :D
Mr. mm complains about the number of canning jars I have.
A good source for someone wanting to add more is garage sales or an older neighbor or relative who no longer cans.
Investing in a good pressure canner is also worthwhile.
It’s very worthwhile for vegetables and meat and soup.
I know a lot of people are hesitant to use them and I actually never stay in the kitchen while it’s going. I check the gauge periodically once it’s up to pressure, but don’t STAY in the kitchen.
The one I got was through Lehman Non-Electric Catalog, another place that sells stuff for do-it-yourselfers. It’s an Amish place.
Considering that Monsanto article I posted above, things are really looking scary.
If things got very bad people would have to hide their gardens as though they were pot.
There was a map at that site that shows the states that already have the law.
I’m off to work in a few - BB about 3:30.
My thrift shopping was fruitful the other day. I got a $180.00 Brighton handbag for $15.00 and a pair of shoes that still had the price of $80.00 for $3.00. :D
However, I am still looking for the food dehydrator that will be much more useful in the future. I have other thrift shoppers looking for me.
We've been finding used ones here and there for a couple of years now. My sister beat me to my moms jars last fall. Mom is just not able to can anymore. I may have to resort to canning in the old blue and green mason jars we've been able to get. We also invested in a cavernous freezer last fall. Now I have to get a generator, just in case.
11:03 - David Vitter (R-LA) Proposed amendment to strip the 4.1 Billion designed for ACORN."
Things are going to get very bad sooner rather than later I'm afraid.
I bought my seeds from Baker Creek Seeds last year. They are all heirloom seeds, open pollinated, and most are rare. One variety, the “Old Tennessee Muskmelon”, yielded me over a dozen muskmelons, each weighing in at 12 - 14 pounds, and a taste to remember. Baker Creek can be found at www.rareseeds.com. Warning: Highly addictive - too many good choices - Hard to make a decision.
Did you hear the latest from our Delaware 'Loose Cannon'?
He was soooo reassuring when he said that if 0bama and he do everything right there was still a 30% chance that the economy would go down the drain. Now what do you think the chances are that they will do 'everything right'? Based on their record so far, my calculator says 99.99999% chance.
Oh Oh - saving for later.........:D Loving these seed catalogs.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2009
Release #09-119
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 704-3595
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Intermatic Recalls Digital Timers Due to Shock Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Intermatic DT17 Heavy Duty Digital Timers
Units: About 200,000
Importer: Intermatic Inc., of Spring Grove, Ill.
Manufacturer: Computime Ltd., of China
Hazard: The recalled timers can have a faulty ground connection, posing a shock hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled Intermatic DT17 heavy-duty digital timers are lamp and appliance timers. They were packaged as the “DT17C Heavy Duty Digital Timer” and the “DT17C8 Heavy Duty Digital Timer.” The timer is white-colored and measures 3 3/8” tall x 2 5/8” wide x 1 5/8” deep. Only products with date codes of “40Z” through “52Z” or date codes ending in “A,” “B” or “C” are included in the recall. The brand name “Intermatic” is molded on the front of the timer, and the model number (”DT17”) and date code are printed on the back of the timer.
Sold at: Retailers and electrical distributors nationwide from September 2005 through December 2008 for between $15 and $25.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should unplug the timer immediately and contact Intermatic to obtain a free replacement including shipping.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Intermatic at (800) 704-3585 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.intermatic.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recall product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09119.html
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