I need some Garden Help. We have a 44ft by 42ft area.

[Mashu]

Ok, basically its just me who will be taking care of it, so its almost like a job.  Right now, its 44 x 30, but if I clean up the rest of the area of rocks and stuff, it will be 42ft.  I convinced my parents finally last year to wall an area off while we still had funds to do so.  They complied, but I have to do all the work. 

Last year, it was kinda a starting to get the soil and area cleaned up for this year.  I heavily persuaded them this year was going to be hard.  And by the looks of it, it is going to be hard.  So, here are some questions I have. 

First and foremost, they bought Ed Hume seeds and said they were non GMO.  I looked on the packages and internet and couldn't find any information proving either side.  Anyone know if these are good?  We have enough for probably 1 more year of garden with these.

Second, I plan on buying from the internet at www.getseeds.net.  Basically we have a total of 7 people living here.  6 are here all the time, the other goes and comes at his own convenience.  There's my parents, both near or at 50, my grandma almost 65, me 21, my sisters 19 and 16.  To give an idea of who can do what, and what we need.   What is a good amount of seeds to have? 

Now, for the biggest question.  Assuming I place the rows of vegetables closer together, will a 44ft by 42ft be big enough to sustain basically 6 people?  If it gets bad, my other grandma, and aunt, who live next door may need food.  So if everything goes really bad, we will have at least 9 people around us that will need help.  Just because they are family, and are too old or disabled to help themselves. 

Fourth.  We plan on carrots, potatoes, etc.  The basics.  Is it safe to put a seed in place of a removed vegetable?  Or should we move the rows around when they are used up?  I ask because I remember reading that you should move the rows around to keep the vegetables in the best shape.  If that makes sense.  Any truth to this? 

Thanks for any help.  If you have a question, I will respond when I come back in. 

[deconstructmyhouse]

We need to know what part of the country you are in.
I'm a veteran gardener, I can start you with a few ideas.

First: does the area get alot of sun?
Do you have access to fertilizer? That's the most important thing.
if you don't have access to clean fertilizer (not chemical waste from vaccinated cattle, etc.)  you may consider this:

This sounds gross, but 9 people can totally fertilize a garden with their urine.
Save it in jars and dilute with water 1 to ten.  It is absolutely amazing.  The health of the garden will astonish you.
And there is absolutely no danger of adverse effects.

Now: you should be going for protein and high producing greens if you are trying to feed people.
Beans and peas are easy to grow and supply nitrogen to the soil for the next year.
Kentucky wonder bush or pole beans, sugar pod peas, get tons of those and you will all be healthy.

Potatos are great for rounding out a diet.  You can also grow potatos in a trash can.

Carrots are great, but you have to have the soil absolutely finely sieved so they can grow straight down.

Tomatos are great if you get the kind that grow in your zone, i can't help you here, I don't know where you live.

Start now turning over soil and adding vegetable compost, or diluted pee.  Peas and beans can go in asap.

cabbage, kale, chard are easy to grow and excellent sources of health.  Watch for cabbage moth caterpillars and pick them off religiously.

I don't recommend lettuce: it takes up space and doesn't give you much nutrition.

herbs especially cilantro and parsley are easy and important to grow as they help chelate the heavy metals they are spraying and get them out of  your body.

leeks, onions, garlic are good to add in between rows and help keep the pests down.

Do you have a fence to keep out critters? That's important too.

Good luck

[KarnEvil9]

Is it safe to put a seed in place of a removed vegetable?

What DMH said above. Soil prep is important. Start early.


If you're growing plants from seed, start them in the little peat pots that can be put directly in the ground with no root disturbance when it's time to transplant.

[munkey]

large seeds like peas, beans and corn should be planted directly into the soil rather than worrying about replanting.
rotate your crops as well, if you grow peas in a line, next season put in cabbage in its place for example.
Different plants have different effects on the soil.
Peas and beans put nitrigen back into the soil.

remember to build a compost bin for all your scraps. No onion or citrus as they can be very acidic.

[deconstructmyhouse]

garlic does not like to be in the same place two years in a row: there is blight that will develop in the soil and turn your garlic to powder.
Just move it around: put it where the peas were last year.

Most other seeds do well in the same place over and over:
peas, beans, carrots, kale, chard, potatos, tomatoes etc

Starting things in peat pots is good, but some plants are sensitive and will die when transplanted, like basil
always start basil seed in the ground.  I've had nothing but trouble transplanting basil from greenhouse to garden
it likes to be in one place.

soil condition is the most important thing to consider.
fertilize, build it up, add whatever is clean in your area.  
I really recommend diluted human urine in first time gardens in first time soil.  
You can't go wrong with urine if you are eating well.  The quality of your garden will astound you.
Then spend the summer, fall and winter building up your compost pile, and you will also have that to build up your garden.

[joeblack]

what is the reasons of putting urine in the garden?

[munkey]

Urine is safe to use as a liquid fertilizer because it can be neutral in PH if you are healthy. it has many nutrients which plants like.
for years and years people who own citrus plants knew that you could pee on your trees regularly and have bumper crops of oranges and lemons.

edit to post above
If what you put into your body is good and healthy, what comes out will also be healthy.
Plants generally do not pick up human conditions and pass them along because they have a completely different makeup than that of people.

[Pheonix Renewed]

Helpful links for you:

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/ (Space saving/ maximizing)

http://www.survivalistseeds.com/Seed_Saving_Secrets.html  (seed saving instead of having to buy them over and over again)

[nustada]

I don't know where you live.

But I prefer permaculture.

That means basically to grow long term fruit and nut trees. Edible weedy plants (plants that tend to takeover but are edible), plants with pest repelling properties, add some snakes and give them a home, weedy legumes, berry bushes. Basically, in my opinion, in a survival situation, I do not want to have to have a garden, that would require manual watering and management. I suggest try to build the garden in a way, that you could walk away from it for ten years, come back and find just as much if not more food growing.

If you can build some swells, or ditches that follow the latitude lines, and a mini dam.

[Mashu]

We need to know what part of the country you are in.
I'm a veteran gardener, I can start you with a few ideas.

First: does the area get alot of sun?
Do you have access to fertilizer? That's the most important thing.
if you don't have access to clean fertilizer (not chemical waste from vaccinated cattle, etc.)  you may consider this:

This sounds gross, but 9 people can totally fertilize a garden with their urine.
Save it in jars and dilute with water 1 to ten.  It is absolutely amazing.  The health of the garden will astonish you.
And there is absolutely no danger of adverse effects.

Now: you should be going for protein and high producing greens if you are trying to feed people.
Beans and peas are easy to grow and supply nitrogen to the soil for the next year.
Kentucky wonder bush or pole beans, sugar pod peas, get tons of those and you will all be healthy.

Potatos are great for rounding out a diet.  You can also grow potatos in a trash can.

Carrots are great, but you have to have the soil absolutely finely sieved so they can grow straight down.

Tomatos are great if you get the kind that grow in your zone, i can't help you here, I don't know where you live.

Start now turning over soil and adding vegetable compost, or diluted pee.  Peas and beans can go in asap.

cabbage, kale, chard are easy to grow and excellent sources of health.  Watch for cabbage moth caterpillars and pick them off religiously.

I don't recommend lettuce: it takes up space and doesn't give you much nutrition.

herbs especially cilantro and parsley are easy and important to grow as they help chelate the heavy metals they are spraying and get them out of  your body.

leeks, onions, garlic are good to add in between rows and help keep the pests down.

Do you have a fence to keep out critters? That's important too.

Good luck

I live in Washington State, about 20-30 miles directly west of Mt. Rainier.  As the crow flies that is. 

We put lots of fertilizer in last year, and we had a fairly large compost that developed, like, a standard long bed truck size.  It pretty much covered the entire area of the garden.

As for Urine, I personally wouldn't have a problem.  Its about half the other people that would.  Kinda paranoid and all.

My grandma, next door to us, has a horse and a barnyard.  I have no idea if it has been vaccinated, I can only imagine it has because she is completely convinced of the lies spewed at her.  For example, she got a flu shot at the beginning of the winter.  Guess what, she got the flu.  But she won't listen.    So yes, we have pretty much an infinite supply of horse manure. 

There is a fence that covers all sides, standard 2x4 mesh I believe 4 ft high. 

The area gets sun pretty much all day.  If its not cloudy that is.  In the summer it will get sun from probably 6:30am to at least 7:30 at night.  The only part that might get less sun is a small section to the northwest that may get blocked by the pile of brush, but no problem there. 

No worries about sugar snap peas, we eat those all the time. 

We will have 3 large garbage cans for potatoes. Last year, we started growing them in probably 10 gallon pots, not my idea, but we did grow some. 

How do you suggest we plant the rows?

And, I will start the rototiller tomorrow.  Today was a failure because my dad had the key to everything that needed to move.  And, for the past week or 2, it has been raining or...in some cases, snowing.   

Thanks for the help. 

[cladano]

I'm thinking about starting a garden this year as well. How are you guys storing your vegetables to last all winter?

[deconstructmyhouse]

I live in Washington State, about 20-30 miles directly west of Mt. Rainier.  As the crow flies that is. 

We put lots of fertilizer in last year, and we had a fairly large compost that developed, like, a standard long bed truck size.  It pretty much covered the entire area of the garden.

As for Urine, I personally wouldn't have a problem.  Its about half the other people that would.  Kinda paranoid and all.

My grandma, next door to us, has a horse and a barnyard.  I have no idea if it has been vaccinated, I can only imagine it has because she is completely convinced of the lies spewed at her.  For example, she got a flu shot at the beginning of the winter.  Guess what, she got the flu.  But she won't listen.    So yes, we have pretty much an infinite supply of horse manure. 

There is a fence that covers all sides, standard 2x4 mesh I believe 4 ft high. 

The area gets sun pretty much all day.  If its not cloudy that is.  In the summer it will get sun from probably 6:30am to at least 7:30 at night.  The only part that might get less sun is a small section to the northwest that may get blocked by the pile of brush, but no problem there. 

No worries about sugar snap peas, we eat those all the time. 

We will have 3 large garbage cans for potatoes. Last year, we started growing them in probably 10 gallon pots, not my idea, but we did grow some. 

How do you suggest we plant the rows?

And, I will start the rototiller tomorrow.  Today was a failure because my dad had the key to everything that needed to move.  And, for the past week or 2, it has been raining or...in some cases, snowing.   

Thanks for the help. 

wow
you are really near me!  I love Mt. Ranier!  We used to go stay at Paradise or Longmire all the time; hike the trails.  We stopped going after the flood closed things down a couple years ago; we are thinking of going again soon.

Anyway, sounds like you've got the fertilizer covered nicely.  I understand about how people feel about using urine...it's weird for some, but try it in secret on a small portion, it really is amazing.  The nitrogen, minerals and salts are all present for perfect soil.  But you don't need it with horses, veg compost etc.  You aren't far from the beach: take a trip and get some buckets of seaweed.  Lots is washing ashore in the winter storms.  Nothing better than seaweed to make a garden explode.  Rinse it off, chop it up, add it right to the soil.  I've got a pile of it melting down ready to be added.

Horse manure is fabulous!  Since it is not manure from commercial livestock (we have a lot of dairy cows here, I wouldn't touch their manure; by law they have to have regular injections, vaccinations, stuff added to feed etc.)  But a family horse barn; perfect.  I wouldn't worry for a second about the one vaccination the horse has had.  It's only a prob with a commercial operation. 

You are sitting pretty, my friend.

4 foot mesh fence? Excellent.

How to do rows?  Personal preference.  Best to make them so that you don't have to step on the earth you are fertilizing, tilling, seeding.  Soil doesn't like to be compacted. Keep it loose and fluffly, not stamped down.  Keep everything in arms reach from the paths between.

You are living in a great area for long summers and warm weather.  I think you could grow just about anything in your area.  Eggplant, zucchini, pumpkins, corn.   Always plant corn in a big square, not rows.  It needs to cross fertilize, the pollen on the hairs needs to blow back and forth in the wind to fertilize each and every kernel.

Your sun situation sounds excellent.

You're gonna have a rockin garden!

Any fruit trees on the property?

[deconstructmyhouse]

OH
one important thing about horse manure: never put it on green and hot, it will burn your plants.
only use manure that's at least six months old.
OR you can make a manure tea out of the fresh stuff and water with it: just mix some horse apples in a bucket of water, mix it up good and top dress with the solution.

[Mashu]

wow
you are really near me!  I love Mt. Ranier!  We used to go stay at Paradise or Longmire all the time; hike the trails.  We stopped going after the flood closed things down a couple years ago; we are thinking of going again soon.

Anyway, sounds like you've got the fertilizer covered nicely.  I understand about how people feel about using urine...it's weird for some, but try it in secret on a small portion, it really is amazing.  The nitrogen, minerals and salts are all present for perfect soil.  But you don't need it with horses, veg compost etc.  You aren't far from the beach: take a trip and get some buckets of seaweed.  Lots is washing ashore in the winter storms.  Nothing better than seaweed to make a garden explode.  Rinse it off, chop it up, add it right to the soil.  I've got a pile of it melting down ready to be added.

Horse manure is fabulous!  Since it is not manure from commercial livestock (we have a lot of dairy cows here, I wouldn't touch their manure; by law they have to have regular injections, vaccinations, stuff added to feed etc.)  But a family horse barn; perfect.  I wouldn't worry for a second about the one vaccination the horse has had.  It's only a prob with a commercial operation. 

You are sitting pretty, my friend.

4 foot mesh fence? Excellent.

How to do rows?  Personal preference.  Best to make them so that you don't have to step on the earth you are fertilizing, tilling, seeding.  Soil doesn't like to be compacted. Keep it loose and fluffly, not stamped down.  Keep everything in arms reach from the paths between.

You are living in a great area for long summers and warm weather.  I think you could grow just about anything in your area.  Eggplant, zucchini, pumpkins, corn.   Always plant corn in a big square, not rows.  It needs to cross fertilize, the pollen on the hairs needs to blow back and forth in the wind to fertilize each and every kernel.

Your sun situation sounds excellent.

You're gonna have a rockin garden!

Any fruit trees on the property?

Yeah, Mt. Rainier is awesome.  Since they logged off and put random homes next to us, the trees that blocked the view were removed.  Though we can only see the very top part of it because we live on a hill that has one other set of hills about a hundred or so feet taller then us.   But, a simple 4 min drive and it becomes 100% visible.   But, I haven't been there in years.  We stopped going probably 8 years ago.  After that, everyone grew up and stopped wanting to go with family people.  Unfortunately, I was the one who started all the rebellion.   Then I found Alex Jones through a friend, and he started the process and literally showed that half the stuff I believed was wrong, and the other half was fantasy.  ^_^  Then I found God, and now instead of trying to break everyone up, I have to fight double hard to keep everyone together.

Well, to put it lightly, their have been 1-3 horses living in the same barn for over 25 years.  So the amount of manure that has developed is insane.  There's one section that is almost a foot deep in the winter.  But thats only because water runs off and collects in this one spot.

As a rule, winters are pretty warm.  But this year has been odd, as Im sure you have seen.   The random snow for example.  I remember once or twice, but its been multiple times I've seen it.  And that heavy snow we had in January dropped a tree on my car.  Luckily it landed partially on the house, and partially on the back window/trunk area.  Fairly cheap fix for what could have happened. 

Well, today when it gets above freezing, im going to start the tilling.  I spread all the compost out recently, and yesterday I cleaned up large rocks that the ground seems to give birth to.   Last year, for about a foot deep, almost no rocks.  This year, on the surface, rocks.  Its weird.

We have 3 apple trees that are almost pruned, and a plum tree.  But, the plum tree isn't big.  It give some fruit, but it was a replant from my Grandpa.  For some reason, even though it took, it hasn't grown much.  And the apple trees bare so much fruit that alot ends up going to waste.  Hopefully not this year.  I plan to can any and all that survive. 

[deconstructmyhouse]

You are too way cool because you are going against the grain,
you are keeping the family together, taking rocks out and growing that food.
Kudos to you
May your harvest be bountiful and your spirit stay strong

[Pheonix Renewed]

Please do read the first link I gave you, it will help you make maximum use of your space!

[independentWV]

I'm thinking about starting a garden this year as well. How are you guys storing your vegetables to last all winter?

I can tomatoes and beans, make pickles with cucumbers and can, Potatoes and onions just put in cool place, cayenne peppers dry and grind to powder, freeze other peppers. Need more information let me know expert at this stuff.

[Pheonix Renewed]

I can tomatoes and beans, make pickles with cucumbers and can, Potatoes and onions just put in cool place, cayenne peppers dry and grind to powder, freeze other peppers. Need more information let me know expert at this stuff.

What type of canning method do you use? I really, really want to get into canning, and would LOVE to hear more, please.

[independentWV]

What type of canning method do you use? I really, really want to get into canning, and would LOVE to hear more, please.

Tomatoes; put in boiling water for a few seconds to loosen skins then remove allow to cool then core and peel. Put cored/peeled tomatoes in pot and cook down takes about 30 minutes. Then put in warm quart jars with one teaspoon of canning salt then add lid and ring. Fill large pot or canner with water and bring to boil add quarts of tomatoes (make sure water covers completely) for 10 minutes to seal then remove and allow to cool.

Beans; string, wash and cook in water for 15 minutes. Fill warm quart and pint jars with beans, add one teaspoon of canning salt for quart jars and 1/2 teaspoon for pints. Fill large pot or pressure canner with water make sure jars are completely covered. In pressure canner boil jars for 20 minutes, in large pot 4 hours will need to check and add water as needed to insure jars stay covered with this method.

Pheonix, what kind of pickles have recipes for bread and butter or dill? Can post both if you want them. Hope this helps!!

 

[Pheonix Renewed]

yes, both, please.

Do you have a recipe for pickled or candied watermelon rind? (both?)

So, I fill up the jars, then boil the filled jars with their lids firmly on? Do I leave space, does it matter?

[pizzedoff]

Take into consideration on the different heights the different veggie grow ie carrots in front corn in the back, as you don't want your tomato plants shading your beets.

[independentWV]

yes, both, please.

Do you have a recipe for pickled or candied watermelon rind? (both?)

So, I fill up the jars, then boil the filled jars with their lids firmly on? Do I leave space, does it matter?

Pheonix, will gladly provide pickle recipes need to get them out of my canning supply box and hopefully can post tomorrow. Yes on watermelon rinds will post that too.

Beans CORRECTION add water in jars sorry forgot that make sure water cover vegetables and fill to top firmly apply lids and boil. Sometimes there may be half a jar not enough to completely fill that is fine if beans just make sure water covers the vegetables in jar.

Tomatoes no water in jars just tomatoes.

[donnay]

Tomatoes; put in boiling water for a few seconds to loosen skins then remove allow to cool then core and peel. Put cored/peeled tomatoes in pot and cook down takes about 30 minutes. Then put in warm quart jars with one teaspoon of canning salt then add lid and ring. Fill large pot or canner with water and bring to boil add quarts of tomatoes (make sure water covers completely) for 10 minutes to seal then remove and allow to cool.

IndependentWV,

I can also; another method I do with tomatoes (about 5lbs) roast them with grape seed oil add onions and garlic and sprinkle sea salt, organic oregano and organic sweet basil --about 30 minutes at 400 degrees.  Allow them to cool down and mill all of it together till it comes out like a paste then I make a spaghetti sauce with them.  After that I can the tomato sauce. All organic!

Another thing is, I was taught that you do not can tomatoes without putting a teaspoon of lemon juice in each jar, otherwise it may go rancid.  Have you ever heard this?

[7deviations]

Buy some gardening books.  The best I have seen to date is still...

"How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method" by the staff of Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine.

It is a huge tomb of knowledge and information, truly unparalleled.  Many gardening books show sample gardens designed to feed or supplement the dietary requirements of an average family or they break it down per person.  They show how much you need to plant of what crops to cover vitamin and calorie requirements.  I would also suggest a book on how to save seeds as well as books on how to store your surplus crop over winter.  I would focus on high yield, nutrient dense crops.  Don't forget that you can grow sprouts in the home for added foodstuffs that don't take up garden space.

If I locate some downloadable info I will post links.

It is nice to know that there are other people out there preparing.  Even squirrels know enough to store nuts for winter.  Humans used to posses this basic knowledge as part of their shared heritage.

-peace, love, respect...   7deviations.

[deconstructmyhouse]

Tomatoes; put in boiling water for a few seconds to loosen skins then remove allow to cool then core and peel. Put cored/peeled tomatoes in pot and cook down takes about 30 minutes. Then put in warm quart jars with one teaspoon of canning salt then add lid and ring. Fill large pot or canner with water and bring to boil add quarts of tomatoes (make sure water covers completely) for 10 minutes to seal then remove and allow to cool.

Beans; string, wash and cook in water for 15 minutes. Fill warm quart and pint jars with beans, add one teaspoon of canning salt for quart jars and 1/2 teaspoon for pints. Fill large pot or pressure canner with water make sure jars are completely covered. In pressure canner boil jars for 20 minutes, in large pot 4 hours will need to check and add water as needed to insure jars stay covered with this method.

Pheonix, what kind of pickles have recipes for bread and butter or dill? Can post both if you want them. Hope this helps!!

 

Uhhhh, canning tomatos is WAY more complicated than this...you've just listed a likely recipe for botulism here...
(for one thing: you need lemon juice for the right acidic level, and the bath should be at least 45 minutes at a rolling boil.

Tomatoes can be dangerous, don't short cut!!!

Seriously, don't pass around recipes for canning without knowing what you are talking about, you can hurt someone.
Best to google any reputable site and read through the detailed canning instructions for tomatos.  It will be long and full of info: I SUGGEST YOU READ IT CAREFULLY!
Canning tomatoes shouldn't be done lightly.

[independentWV]

Uhhhh, canning tomatos is WAY more complicated than this...you've just listed a likely recipe for botulism here...
(for one thing: you need lemon juice for the right acidic level, and the bath should be at least 45 minutes at a rolling boil.

Tomatoes can be dangerous, don't short cut!!!

Seriously, don't pass around recipes for canning without knowing what you are talking about, you can hurt someone.

Best to google any reputable site and read through the detailed canning instructions for tomatos.  It will be long and full of info: I SUGGEST YOU READ IT CAREFULLY!
Canning tomatoes shouldn't be done lightly.

I personally lab tested this process (jar of tomatoes 6 years old) and it has years of clinical data with no problems. Who is it that does not know what they are talking about?

[donnay]

I personally lab tested this process (jar of tomatoes 6 years old) and it has years of clinical data with no problems. Who is it that does not know what they are talking about?

That's interesting, I had no idea.  I was taught the lemon juice method as well. 

This past year we had lots of pumpkin and I wanted to can it pureed and I was told not to do that either.  Do you have any input on that?

[Pheonix Renewed]

I will be pressure canning. I would like to do it without adding acidity. But I also don't want to get myself sick, lol.

[donnay]

I will be pressure canning. I would like to do it without adding acidity. But I also don't want to get myself sick, lol.

I love pressure canning.  Usually that is the safest way to can.

This past summer I pressure canned green beans and they (tooting my own horn) came out superb. 

[Pheonix Renewed]

I love pressure canning.  Usually that is the safest way to can.

This past summer I pressure canned green beans and they (tooting my own horn) came out superb. 

Good job!!  I couldn't even get my green beans to grow, they died from all the rain.  In fact, almost all of my garden died from the excessive rains.

I found this site, while looking for some blueberry jam recipes: http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm

But they seem to be a bit more mainstream, not really the "going back to our roots" that I was hoping for. But at least I will be able to make catsup and bbq sauce, and jellies, that don't include HFCS and that have low glycemic sugar types. I'm actually quite excited about that, but I need to figure out how to make smaller batches at a time. I would like to use the larger batches at harvest time, but I don't want to have to do without during the rest of the time, if I should run out.

[independentWV]

That's interesting, I had no idea.  I was taught the lemon juice method as well. 

This past year we had lots of pumpkin and I wanted to can it pureed and I was told not to do that either.  Do you have any input on that?

Recipe is from prior family generations lived to 90's and 100's but just wanted to double check so lab tested old jar of tomatoes.

Pumpkin I puree and freeze with food saver just because that was the way my family did it. Canning would be better due to freezer space will do some research and lab test if I can find sample.



 

[independentWV]

Dill Pickle Recipe I use:

8 pounds 3 to 4 inch long pickling cucumbers
4 cups white vinegar
12 cups water
2/3 cup pickling salt
16 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
8 sprigs fresh dill weed
8 heads fresh dill weed
 
 DIRECTIONS
Wash cucumbers, and place in the sink ( I use the bathtub!) with cold water and lots of ice cubes. Soak in ice water for at least 2 hours but no more than 8 hours. Refresh ice as required. Sterilize 8 (1 quart ) canning jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine the vinegar, water, and pickling salt. Bring the brine to a rapid boil.
In each jar, place 2 half-cloves of garlic, one head of dill, then enough cucumbers to fill the jar (about 1 pound). Then add 2 more garlic halves, and 1 sprig of dill. Fill jars with hot brine. Seal jars, making sure you have cleaned the jar's rims of any residue.
Process sealed jars in canner or boiling water. Process quart jars for 15 minutes in canner or 1 hour in boiling water.
Store pickles for a minimum of 8 weeks before eating. Refrigerate after opening. Pickles will keep for up to 2 years if stored in a cool dry place

Must go make run more later!!!!

[donnay]

Good job!!  I couldn't even get my green beans to grow, they died from all the rain.  In fact, almost all of my garden died from the excessive rains.

I found this site, while looking for some blueberry jam recipes: http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm

But they seem to be a bit more mainstream, not really the "going back to our roots" that I was hoping for. But at least I will be able to make catsup and bbq sauce, and jellies, that don't include HFCS and that have low glycemic sugar types. I'm actually quite excited about that, but I need to figure out how to make smaller batches at a time. I would like to use the larger batches at harvest time, but I don't want to have to do without during the rest of the time, if I should run out.

Here is a recipe I used for Blueberry jam and it came out great!

Low-Sugar Blueberry Jam Recipe
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2006-08-01/Low-Sugar-Blueberry-Jam-Recipe.aspx

Recipe is from prior family generations lived to 90's and 100's but just wanted to double check so lab tested old jar of tomatoes.

Pumpkin I puree and freeze with food saver just because that was the way my family did it. Canning would be better due to freezer space will do some research and lab test if I can find sample.

Thanks!!

[netizen_x]

what is the reasons of putting urine in the garden?

Nitrogen. It will promote the green leafy growth of plants but too much will make plants lanky and will kill grass and other monocots - plants with parallel veins. As suggested, dilute 1:10.

Someone mentioned 'yeast infection' - not a problem. Yeast is not an infection in the soil and is good for brewing beer and making bread. But don't use the piss of people on pharmaceuticals - the pill, hormonal drugs or heavy metal-laden psycho drugs.

You need more than nitrogen so compost and add a little poo-poo when no one is looking. Definitely research permaculture principles. there are some good videos around too.

[netizen_x]

You are living in a great area for long summers and warm weather.  I think you could grow just about anything in your area.  Eggplant, zucchini, pumpkins, corn.   Always plant corn in a big square, not rows.  It needs to cross fertilize, the pollen on the hairs needs to blow back and forth in the wind to fertilize each and every kernel.

And consider the old native american technique of growing your beans or peas with your corn so that you save space. The corn provides support for the vines and the beans/peas (legumes) fix nitrogen into the soil. Symbiosis.

[deconstructmyhouse]

Nitrogen. It will promote the green leafy growth of plants but too much will make plants lanky and will kill grass and other monocots - plants with parallel veins. As suggested, dilute 1:10.

Someone mentioned 'yeast infection' - not a problem. Yeast is not an infection in the soil and is good for brewing beer and making bread. But don't use the piss of people on pharmaceuticals - the pill, hormonal drugs or heavy metal-laden psycho drugs.

You need more than nitrogen so compost and add a little poo-poo when no one is looking. Definitely research permaculture principles. there are some good videos around too.

also, if you have a heavy salt diet you can get the soil too salty over a summer...plants will begin to look "burned": but this takes a long time of too salty urine build up.

When you know you've been eating beautifully and balanced and organic, please, by all means, dilute and PEEE on that garden.  There is no better fertilizer.

[Pheonix Renewed]

I got my pressure canner today. I'm kind of excited to use it. Is that ridiculous?

[deconstructmyhouse]

I personally lab tested this process (jar of tomatoes 6 years old) and it has years of clinical data with no problems. Who is it that does not know what they are talking about?

Just because a couple of jars doesn't have botulism, doesn't mean your canning directions are safe. They aren't.
Please google canning tomatoes and botulism for more info.
It isn't something to mess around with.

Interesting side note: I have heard that tomatoes several generations ago had safer levels of acid for canning.  Perhaps it was the soil, the varieties, there are many conjectures.

The molecular content of modern tomatoes, it seems, is a bit different and requires the addition of lemon juice and long boiling times.

Those using pressure canning: that's a great, safe way to go!

Love this thread! Keep it up, I'm learning some new recipes!
Thanks all

[donnay]

I got my pressure canner today. I'm kind of excited to use it. Is that ridiculous?

Nope.  Because I got myself the 24 qt. pressure canner last summer and June, July, August, September, October I canned like crazy. 

I made my own apple sauce (cinnamon and spiced), apple pie filling, apple butter, spiced pears, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry jam.

The veggies:  Summer squash, pumpkin, corn (yellow and blue), pickled beets, pickled brussel sprouts, bread and butter pickles, dill pickles and green beans.

As I said earlier I made my homemade tomato sauce.  I used three kinds of heirloom tomatoes from Italy and they were fantastic!  There is nothing like fresh garden tomato sauce. 

I only hope this year will produce a bumper crop for us as well.  I am definitely looking forward to spring!

At any rate, I'll stop rambling...see now, look what you done, I am getting excited to do it all again!   

Happy canning!

Edit: One more thing, I bought a Aerogarden; in the summer, I grew spices (Cilantro, Sweet Basil, Italian Basil, Parsley and Mint) and in the winter, I grew romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes. 

[deconstructmyhouse]

EXTENSION CONNECTION – Canning Tomatoes
By: Paulelda Gilbert, ISU Extension Nutrition & Health Specialist

Q. I have canned tomatoes for years, but this time the lids have popped off, though they were sealed after I put
the hot tomatoes in jars.
A. The “open-kettle” method of canning is unsafe because undesirable organisms could grow and lower acidity enough
to allow production of botulism or other food bacteria. In the “open-kettle” method you risk not keeping the entire contents of
the pan cooking at a boiling temperature; you risk contamination as you fill jars and handle the jars, lids and utensils.
Therefore, once jars of tomatoes are filled and lids are tightened, they need to be placed in a boiling water bath or
pressure canner for a specified amount of time, to kill all harmful bacteria. When this step is not taken, bacteria might be
present which grows in the jars once they return to room temperature and the lids will not stay sealed. The food then needs to
be discarded. All home canned foods (fruit, vegetables, jam and jellies) need to be processed after jars are filled to ensure food
safety.

Q. Why do we need to add lemon juice to our home canned tomatoes?
A. Our current varieties of tomatoes are not as high in acid as they used to be. To ensure safe acidity in whole crushed,
or juiced tomatoes, you must add fresh or bottled lemon juice or food grade citric acid to each jar before processing. For quarts, use 2
tablespoons lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid per quart. For pints use 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon
citric acid. Food grade citric acid is available at some food stores or drug stores. Do not substitute ascorbic acid for citric
acid.

Q. Why is the acid content of the tomato important?
A. Improperly canned tomatoes have caused some cases of botulism poisoning in recent years. Botulism comes from dangerous toxins that are produced when Clostridium botulinum spores grow in low acid foods. These factors affect the acidity and therefore the safety of tomatoes for home canning.  Tomato cultivars (variety) vary in acidity. Growing conditions, climate and location also affect acidity. Overripe and infected tomatoes may be low enough in acid to support Clostridium botulinum. Use only firm, ripe tomatoes that have no spoiled parts or mold. Tomatoes harvested from dead vines are low in acid. They can be eaten fresh or frozen, but do not can tomatoes from dead vines. Do not add any ingredients beyond those given in the directions. Adding other vegetables can lower the acidity and change the processing time.