Our new black lab pup, Spencer, is the smartest dog I’ve ever raised.  He learned to sit at six weeks of age, and was potty trained shortly thereafter.  In the winter!  Of course all puppies like to chew on wood, so when I split firewood, Spencer was right there to grab a chunk and chew on it.  So AH HA, I thought.  Why not teach him to bring in firewood????

So first I’d just encourage him to bring in his little piece of wood.  Then I’d pick up a small, handy sized piece and give it to him and praise him when he’d carry it awhile toward the house.  Then I’d encourage him to carry it while I carried in an armload of wood, always giving him a dog biscuit when he made it all the way into the house.  Now he picks up his own wood!

When I do horse chores, he roams the pasture and picks up a chunk to bring home.  Or when I split wood, he grabs a nice piece and trots right up to the door and waits for me to open it.  Now if I can just teach him to put it into the stove!!!  Oh well, I’m happy with his progress so far.  I’ll bet before long I can open the door, point to the wood pile and tell him to get firewood.  Won’t be much longer, I think.  It’s so much fun to teach him and he enjoys the learning.  He always has a big smile on his face.

Readers’ questions:

Seed company stories

Love your column and blog.  Thought I’d share a similar experience I had with nursery plants from a seed company. Last year, Shumway sent our strawberry plants waaaaay too early for No. Mn. and most rotted before it was time to plant. They were true to their word and gave me a credit for all the plants that failed. This year when I called in my order for seeds and the replacement plants, they told me the planned ship date for the strawberries. I explained that the date would be much to early and that that was why I was using a credit. The nice lady asked, ” okay, when *would* you like us to ship?” Funny. All these years we struggled with keeping nursery stock alive until it was time to plant and all I had to do was ask!   Maybe Gurney’s will be just as helpful for you next time. Keep up the great work!

Mary Ann  Wycoff
Embarrass, Minnesota

I’m glad you had good luck with Shumways; I have, too.  But Gurneys?  No. Since they got bought out their quality, prices AND service are way down. Check the web site, Dave’s Garden; Watchdog and you’ll see what I mean.  And I always give companies the benefit of the doubt.  On my order, I asked for a late April shipment because we live in northern Minnesota.  I don’t think the first week in April quite qualifies.  Sorry.  No more Gurneys for me.  But Fedco, on the other hand, I can’t praise high enough. — Jackie

Pressure canner for beginner

What brand and size pressure canner do you recommend to a beginner? I want to can meat and chicken and turkey very soon. Are european jars more economical  over time or are Ball or Kerr  jars most economical. You are awesome.  Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Enjoyed your  article in #111 - especially the statement “smart, huh?”.  you are so real and down to earth.

Dolly (Nellie)  Jenkins
Balch Springs, Texas

I would get the biggest canner, within reason, that you can afford. They are more economical to can with because you can put up more food at a time with the same energy expended.  Personally, I like the canner that Lehmans carries; no gasket to eventually replace.  But any of the new pressure canners work just fine.  Don’t waste your money on a pressure “cooker/canner”; they are too small and don’t can worth a darned. I use American canning jars; Ball,Kerr and Golden Harvest…as well as any other reused jars that a lid and ring will screw down firmly on.  There are a few that appear to be the same but the ring with a lid in it will just spin and spin, never tightening down.  The European jars are pretty, but too expensive.  I’m using jars that are 50 years old and still perfect.  Pretty
good track record, considering how many cannings they’ve seen.  Congratulations on starting canning.  I promise you’ll LOVE it! — Jackie

Fleas out of control

It is barely spring and aleady the fleas are out of control. I have been using DE and it helped until they invaded the chicken coop. There are now thousands and  there seems to be no end to their increase. I’ve read everything on the internet but still have so many especially after I go to gather eggs. Your best suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you, Nita Holstine

Randal  Holstine
Hawley, Texas

Here’s what I’d do;  I would completely clean out the chicken coop, removing ALL old litter, nest box filler, manure…everything.  Then hose down the coop with bleach water; pressure wash it if you have a pressure washer…or can borrow or rent one.  Let the coop dry well, then dust the nests, as well as the floor, with rotenone powder. Also dust the chickens as they roost that night, holding them upside down by the feet so you get their “arm pits” and into their feathers.  Repeat the dusting in one week and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in your little buggers. — Jackie

Soil testing kit

I want to add limestone (pulverized) to my raised beds to help prevent blossom end rot. I have 2 beds each is 4 ft x 10 feet.  the bag I bought only gives amounts for huge gardens.  How much should I add?  Can too much be bad?

Cathy Ostrowski
Amherst, New York

Buy yourself a cheap soil testing kit.  Then sprinkle your limestone on the surface of your beds.  Work it in and then check your pH; you want it between 6.8 and 7.  Work more in, if needed, working it into at least  the top 6 inches of your beds.  I’ve had luck by tossing a handful of crushed egg shells into each planting hole, covered with an inch of dirt, then planting the tomato plant.  The roots absorb the calcium and the egg shells\ also help give the plant good drainage. — Jackie

Upside-down tomato planters

Really enjoyed all your articles in the recent “Economic Squeeze” edition.

Joanna  Wilcox
Boone, North Carolina

Yes, these planters really do work, whether it’s the commercial planters or just a 5 gallon bucket with a few holes cut in it. The key is to use good soil, fertilize regularly, either with manure tea or a chemical fertilizer, such as Miracle Gro.  And WATER, WATER, WATER…they tend to dry out when the weather’s hot.  And, Yes, they do grow big tomatoes! — Jackie

Shelf life of canned poultry

How long is the shelf life for canned poultry, beef and other meat? Thanks

Cindy Hills
Wild Rose, Wisconsin

These foods have a very long shelf life;practically forever!  As long as they are stored in decent conditions so the jar lids don’t get moisture on them and rust, and the seal remains good, those jars will remain full of good tasting, nutritious food, for years and years.  This is why I LOVE to can!  Talk about your food security! — Jackie

Ready to make the move

Well, the time has come.  After years of planning, saving and investigation - we are ready to move out West to a family agreed upon place.  Actually, we are one job interview away from going this
summer.

Patricia Graig-Tiso
Oneonta, New York

Of course you have concerns!  Anyone with half a brain will, when changing homes so drastically.  But we did it, and so can you.  Keep your family communications open and ask that everyone help in the tightening up, when needed, and pitching in to make your new home a great one.  (So your kids want to have a game room that looks like a jail!  Do it.  Or they want a round garden of their own.)  Treat them like adults and they’ll surprise you.

As for the elevation; no problems for most people.  We moved from 1,200 feet to 7,400 feet and the only differences I could see were that I huffed and puffed while climing steep hills more and my potatoes took longer to get soft when I boiled them.  No biggie.  Of course I had to can my foods at a higher pressure than when we lived on the  “flat”.

Zone 4?  Don’t I wish!!!  We live in zone 3 and still grow a terrific garden with plenty of flowers.  There are, of course, less options in zone 4, as opposed to zone 6, but we still have lots of choices.  You just have to use a few season extenders; it’s totally do-able!  Enjoy your adventure! — Jackie

Canning bean soup

I am making navy bean soup using a ham bone.  How can I can the rest?  I do not have freezer space.

Leona Martel
Stratford, South Dakota

Piece of cake, Leona.  Just pick as much of the meat off the ham bone that you can, stir it into the soup, heat it again, then ladle it into hot jars, to within an inch of the top.  You’ll be processing it at 10 pounds pressure (unless you live at an altitude above 1,000 feet and must consult your canning manual for directions in increasing your pressure to suit your altitude) for 75 minutes for pints and 90 minutes for quarts. Enjoy your “instant meals”! — Jackie

Problem with deer

We live in northern Wisconsin near a large national forest.  We also garden and grow most of our own veggies to can.  However, not only do we have snow in April, but we also have a problem with the neighborhood deer.  Our gardens are carved out of an area between large pines and maples - this makes the sunny areas not contiguous and difficult to fence conventionally.  We’ve used net fencing and deer spray, put up strands of fishing line for the deer to run into, tried having the dogs do their thing on the perimeter of our land, but nothing has helped.  This year we’re going to put conventional fencing around at least 3 sides of our two largest gardens, but that still leaves an opening.  This year the lilacs are showing buds and the deer have already sampled them. Last year they at least waited until they leafed out.  I’ve found some new stuff that has cloves, garlic, dried blood and meat meal to spread around the perimeter, but that’s really expensive.  (The dogs think it tastes just fine!) Any ideas?

Michele Green
Eagle River, Wisconsin

About the best “spray” product against deer is Liquid Fence, but it’s not 100% effective.  I’m sorry, but the only safe anti deer protection is to totally fence in your garden area.  For us that means fencing in not only our garden, but our orchard and our entire house yard.  I’ve been buying fence all year, and finally have enough to do it.  It’s NOT cheap, but it does keep them out.  You’ll need 6′ high welded 2″x4″ 14 gauge wire fencing and 8′ T posts.  Luckily, my last 3 rolls I got on a half-price sale at our local L&M Supply.  No more “Where did the flowers go?  Oh no.  Not the green beans!!!”.
Horray!!!! — Jackie

Preserving eggs

I am getting plenty of eggs this year and want to know is there any other way to can them besides pickeling?

Rebecca Douglas
Okeechobee, Florida

Sorry, none that I know of.  Any readers have a great idea? — Jackie

I’ve ordered lots of trees and bramble fruits for our orchard this year; I keep seeing these things bringing higher and higher outrageous prices and decided THIS year I’d get the orchard booted up. Okay, but every day now, I’m getting a box or plastic bag full of trees and plants! The best have come from Starks and Fedco, although I did get some AWESOME Hanson’s bush cherries from Exciting Gardens, which I didn’t expect. The worst were from Gurneys, arriving four weeks ahead of decent planting time here in northern Minnesota, when we had two feet of snow on the ground…and another two feet three days later. I’m sure those folks have internet access and could see weather patterns across the country. But evidently, they don’t care. So no more Gurneys orders for me!

I’ve got almost everything in, the day it came or as soon as we had DIRT showing. So far, so good. I always soak the trees/plants a couple of hours before I plant them, in case they’re partially dehydrated, so I’ve got a mop bucket in the tub full of fresh water…and trees! I’m so excited and our weather’s helping out with nice warm days and rain periodically. Wish us luck!

Readers’ questions:

Health insurance

I was looking at another homestead blog and the topic of health insurance was mentioned. Do you have health insurance? Through the state or paid for by yourself? This other blog stated thay were a homesteader and used the state health insurance program. Is this really self reliance? Depending on the government and fellow tax payers to pay thier insurance? My opinion is no, this is not self reliance, it is using your neighbors to pay your way. I am a very conservative person and do not believe in anyone paying my way. I work hard for a living and don’t think my hard earned money should be given to someone else. Just curious as to what your thinking was on this issue.

Kevin Gray
Ellendale, Minnesota

In a way, David and I are lucky. As my late husband, Bob, had a 100% service connected disability through the VA (agent orange), David and I receive survivors’ benefits which include CHAMP VA insurance. I don’t feel this is putting our health care on our neighbors, as Bob died as a result of his service in the Marine Corps, in Vietnam. It’s lucky we DID have the insurance, as my cancer surgery and treatment, and last summer, David’s bout with flesh eating bacteria would have really, really hurt us financially.

There is a Christian share-pay type of medical help, where thousands of people are banding together to help share the burden of each others’ medical care. If we did not have health insurance, I would seriously consider joining this group. www.medi-share.org It is not an insurance company, but a co-op of sorts.

There IS no perfect answer for homesteaders. Some opt for just letting nature take its course, but I couldn’t have done this when David was suffering so badly with the flesh eating bacteria, knowing that he would die without treatment. End of story. — Jackie

Thanks for the articles

I just wanted you to know how much your articles mean to me and how much help they have been since we have got our own 10 acre with pigs goats and chickens and horses.

Mary Ingold
Kalispell, Montana

Thanks a lot, Mary. I really enjoy the interaction with fellow homesteaders in the magazine and blog. I’ll bet you’re having the time of your life on your new homestead! — Jackie

Buying hypodermic needles

Where can I buy hypodermic needles for my medical kit, like you suggest?

Stephen Nagy
Ocoee, Florida

You can buy them at any farm and ranch store, on the internet from such sources as Nasco or Hoeggers Goat Supply. Or the next time you are at your vet’s, ask him/her for a few. Just explain why you want ‘em or you MIGHT get a few raised eyebrows. Stores just sell them without a problem. Farmers and ranchers use them by the box with vaccinations, antibiotics, etc. — Jackie

Canning leftovers

I will be cooking for a crowd and making a large quantity of chili, which will include pre-canned kidney beans. I would like to can the leftovers. Do I still process the chili for the longest time for pints and quarts? I have the same question for soups with meat, meat pasta sauces, stews, etc. Usually, I freeze these, but now that I finally have a pressure canner, I would really like to use this method.

Rosemarie Wesolek
Mahaffey, Pennsylvania

Yes, you can certainly can up your leftovers. And yes, you still need to process them for the full 75 minutes for pints and 90 minutes for quarts, regardless if they have been precooked or not. — Jackie

No yolk in chicken egg

In the past week, I’ve had 2 chickens lay tiny eggs, almost like a bird’s egg. We broke one open to discover there was no yolk, just the white. Do you know what might be the cause of this? One chicken was a bantam, and the other an Australorp. Both are around 7 years old, but still lay pretty regularly.

Michelle Klose
Kaufman, Texas

This isn’t as uncommon as it might seem, nor is it anything to be concerned about. Sometimes a tiny bit of tissue sloughs off from the ovary or oviduct and an egg begins to form around it…with no yolk. It is “strange”, in that you had two hens recently that did this. Nothing to worry about. — Jackie

Storing rice long-term

Jackie, my wife and i love your articles and we have been advid readers since American Survival Guide went belly up and then switched to BHM. My question is what is the best way to prepare rice for long term storage. We are an Asian house and want to store approx 500 pounds for emergencies.

Howard Sobel
Lorton, Virginia

The best way I’ve found to store large amounts of wheat, corn and rice for long term storage is to go to a bakery or large grocery store with an in-house bakery. They usually have three to six gallon food grade pails with locking lids that they sell very cheaply or even give away. Because you want to store it long term, it would be a good idea to freeze each bag or pail for about two days, just to kill any possible insect eggs in the rice before you store it. Then just pour it into clean, dry pails and lock down the lids. For extra protection, you can run a band of duct tape around the edge of the lid. Then mark on the pail what you have in it and when\you put it into your pantry. Rice is good for years and years that way; I’m eating rice out of a bucket I put up in 1989!!! And the rice is perfect, too! — Jackie

Canned bacon

To answer the question about canned bacon, of all the places to look try www.canned-bacon.com/. It seems it will soon be in production in Ohio. Thanks for all the knowledge you share.

Randy Grider
Marion, Illinois

Thanks for the information! There’s been a lot of interest in the canned bacon. Readers will love you! — Jackie

Comments on vet antibiotics

Not really a question, but a comment on your article on first aid/medical supplies in the latest BWH magazine. You suggested keeping a supply of antibiotics on hand and that your doctor might write a prescription for you to do that. No need to see your doctor!

Many antibiotics that are prescription for humans are OTC for some veterinary uses. Not only can you save a trip to the doc and a bill from the doc, but the antibiotics used in veterinary practice are often purer than those used for human practice. Many of the antibiotics are OTC for fish, and fish are very sensitive to some of the additives and binders that are commonly used for human drugs.

You can get a bottle of 100 100 mg Doxycycline for birds for $29.99 at:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+5992+12269&pcatid=12269

Penicillin, Ampicillin, Tetracycline, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Erythromycin can all be purchased for anywhere from $14.99 - $35.99 per 100 (per 60 for erythro) at:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+12101&pcatid=12101

I’ve used Foster & Smith and can personally vouch for them, but you might be able to find them even cheaper from different sources.

I’m not a doctor and don’t even play one on tv, so I’m not going to recommend that anyone use a drug for anything other than its intended on-label use. But you can do with the information what you will.

William Shadle
Myerstown, Pennsylvania

Thanks Bill. I’ve used these sources also. But in my position, I can’t “advise” readers to do so. LAWSUIT! But as you said, animal/fish/bird antibiotics are just as good as human. My husband, who was a veterinarian, told me when he was in vet school, they visited several drug companies and watched the manufacture and packaging of antibiotics and other meds. The conveyor ran pills down to a Y; the left side got a veterinary label; the right, a human label! (Now we know why dog anitbiotic syrup is cherry flavored!) — Jackie

Canning store-bought butter

This may be a wacky question, but can you can butter from storebought butter? I normally freeze mine, but was curious if it could be done. If so, would love to have the processing time and directions.

Andrea Del Gardo
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Yes! All you have to do is to gently heat the butter to melt it; a double boiler works well for this. Then ladle into hot, sterilized jars to within half an inch of the top of the jar, wipe the rim of the jar clean and put a hot, previously simmered lid on and screw down the ring firmly tight. Process in a boiling water bath for 40 minutes. The butter tastes fresh when you open a jar, although it does separate a little. Better than NO butter, for sure!!! — Jackie