I’ve been pretty darned busy lately, running every morning to see Mom in the hospital, then hurrying home to get in the garden because I’m getting late again this year.  I didn’t even have time to get my squash and melon seeds started inside.  Oh well, maybe we’ll have a good long growing season?

The onions are up three inches high and the asparagus I planted two years ago is growing so fast you can just about see it grow!  And nice fat stalks, too!  Mmmmm.  I’m glad I planted so much.  Now I have 90 plants and in another year I’ll be canning asparagus for the winter so we can enjoy our favorite vegetable year around.

Tomorrow I drive to Duluth to pick up my boyfriend, Will, from the airport, so today I’ve been getting ready for “company”.  Of course I haven’t cleaned house since Mom went to the hospital, so guess what I did today?  Sigh.  Well, it certainly needed it!

Tonight, I took a break and enjoyed my new deck.  The hummingbirds are back in force, and are so tame they fly right in front of my face.  I have three feeders up for the seed eating birds and we have goldfinches, purple finches, grosbeaks, song sparrows and others.  I’m hoping for an oriole, but none, so far.  My friend Jeri has several at her hummingbird feeders, but we live a few miles apart.  I’ve seen them here, but am still watching and waiting.  They are so pretty and have a beautiful song.

All those birds also help me by eating weed seeds and not so nice insects.  By flying buddies!

Readers’ questions:

Wall O Waters

Question about using Wall O Waters: Do you have to harden the plants off before you plant them out, since you’d be planting them out earlier than normal? Do the WOWs just protect them from needing to be hardened off? And do you notice that they get set back later in the season when it’s time to remove the WOWs? My tomatoes always seem so floppy when I finally take the WOWs off and they almost seem to get transplant shock then and need some time to recover.

Carmen Griggs
Bovey, Minnesota

No, I don’t feel that you need to harden the plants off when you use WOWs, as they are protected from wind, direct sun and cold rains.  I’ve never had them show the slightest bit of shock when I’ve just planted them straight from the greenhouse.

Yes, my plants also are a little floppy when I take the WOWs off.  I just stake them up and wait a week.  Although they are floppy, they have grown terrific roots and they quickly stock up.  I’m sure yours do, too.  Great product! — Jackie

“Best” canner

I want to start canning foods, but am not sure which is the best canner to buy.  My stove is electric (came with the house) and the cooktop is a flat surface, with the heating elements covered by the glass top.  What do you recommend?

Lois Lichtenberg
Grahamsville, New York

There is no “best” canner.  Get a fairly large capacity canner or you will always wish you had later on.  All modern pressure canners are safe and easy to use, needing little or no maintenance or repair throughout years of hard use.

Glass top kitchen ranges aren’t a good bet to can on.  In fact, most stoves advise against it; the glass can break with the weight of a canner on it.  You could pick up an inexpensive propane or even electric range to replace your glass top.  The switch shouldn’t be expensive and will allow you to can. — Jackie

Storing homemade salsa

I make my own salsa and the recipe is as follows:

2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
2 or 3 jalapenos or about a handful of jalapenos
3 or 4 gloves garlic
1/2 onion
and a small bunch of cilantro
Dash of salt
JUuice of 1 lime

I heat it for about 10 minutes on the stove and then put it in jars.  I have been freezing or keeping in refrigerator but I would love to know if this is safe to do a 20 minutes water bath and store it on the shelf like most canned products?  I find so much conflicting info on this.  I don’t want to get sick or injur anyone with poisoning.

Dyanne  Lerew
North Richland Hills, Texas

I would add 2 Tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar to your recipe and heat the salsa just to boiling, ladle into hot sterilized jars and process it for 30 minutes (pints) in a boiling water bath canner.  Good eating! Now if you grow your own tomatoes, peppers and other ingredients….. — Jackie

How do I get Issue No. 87?

Please help.  My goat is milk and I’ve lost my issue #87 — with all those great goat milk recipe’s.  I checked for it in the “Previous Issues” section but it’s not available.  Any suggestions on how/where else I can get the information?  I’m especially in need of the yogurt in a jar, put it in a pan of water, and let it set in the pilot-lit oven till done, and the cheese recipes.  I’ve been using this issue and it’s recipes for years — but these days, my grey matter just isn’t what is used to be.  I need words on paper.

Laura Cutter
Cocolalla, Idaho

I checked with Dave and the crew at BHM to see if they have an issue, but they are out of No. 87. Issue No. 87 is also not yet in any of the anthologies. It’s scheduled for the 15th Year Anthology which is a year away from being printed. I know you can call the BHM office at 1-800-835-2418 and have the articles xeroxed by the staff for a fee. — Jackie

After taking a downturn, Mom’s doing much better today, and because my sisters were there to visit her, I took the day off to work in the garden.  I’m kind of behind, and my boyfriend, Will, is coming for a two week visit on Thursday.  (Yes.  I’m EXCITED!)  But I’m tired out, too, and things are going slowly.  To top it off, I got a migraine this morning.  Gee.  Just what I needed!

But I planted 150 pots of blooming pink and blue hyacinths and tulips that I picked up for ten cents each on a closeout at Lowes, then started planting tomatoes in the big garden.  I got 12 done, and boy do those tomatoes love the Wall’O Waters I put around them.  It does take me about 10 minutes to fill each one with water, but it seems like the tomatoes have already grown stockier since they went in this morning!

We are expecting night time temperatures of 29 degrees in a few days, but I know the tomatoes will not only survive, but thrive in their little cozy tipis.

The new red raspberries have sprouted leaves, but the new asparagus hasn’t popped up yet.  Nor have the potatoes.  That’s okay, because they might get nipped by frost.  The “old” asparagus is coming up big guns!  There is about a dozen nice spears.  Guess what I’m having for dinner tomorrow?  MMmmmmm.

David and I are going to visit Mom tomorrow morning, then it’s back to planting tomatoes.  I’d like to thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement.  It means a lot to us all!

Readers’ questions:

Ideas on cornmeal

I am praying for your mom’s health.  Meanwhile, I want to buy bulk corn to grind for cornmeal etc.  Can I use corn from the feed store and rinse it before use.  The salesman said it was only good for animal feed and not cleaned well enough for humans–so what if I just clean it myself.

Gail Erman
Palisade, Colorado

You could probably clean that corn and dry it well; field corn IS dusty and sometimes is stored in bins that have rodent problems.  Another idea is to buy 50 pounds of popcorn at a Sam’s Club or other bulk store and use that to grind for cornmeal.  Popcorn is flint corn and makes excellent cornmeal.  Do remember that homeground cornmeal is a whole grain and will go rancid faster than store cornmeal, just like whole wheat flour will.  It’s best to grind just before you plan on using it for the freshest taste. — Jackie

Manure tea

I have been using the same garden tea, made from manure for about 7 years.  I just keep adding to it, but now I am wondering if this is safe ,bacteria wise?  Should a new batch be made every year?

Janice Groulx
Montrose, Michigan

I think you’re safe with your manure tea.  Just don’t pour/spray ANY manure tea on plants you will be eating, such as greens, tomatoes, etc.  Your manure tea would probably be stronger if you dumped the old batch and used fresher manure, though. — Jackie

Snow pea pods

Everthing I see on “putting up” “Snow Pea Pods” is that you have to scald them and then cool them and then freeze them. Is there any way to can them in jars using my pressure canner and if so, how would you reccomend they be done. And, anything special for them.

John Goodwin
Haines City, Florida

Snow pea pods really aren’t the best canned.  You can certainly DO it, but snow pea pods are best fresh, just steamed a bit or stir fried.  If you are going to can them, pack them in your jars, then pour on boing water and add salt as you wish, then process for the same time you’d use for fresh garden peas (shelled). — Jackie

Canning matters

I haven’t read BHM since 2005 and just now re-upped, (due to financial circumstances.) I want to express my sincere sympathies about Bob as that is the latest issue I have. I know you and David are strong people. And it appears you have your log home built now?  Congratulations!  Also, our prayers and thoughts will always be with you — and a speedy recovery to your Mom! I understand about aging parents.

Tammy  Amland
Howard Lake, Minnesota

P.S. My sister is just south of you in Virginia, MN.

Glad to have you back, Tammy!  Thanks for your kind words.  Bob’s death was hard on us, but we got through it with time.  Yes.  We got our log home built, although we are still working on it as we are paying as we go.

Does your new canner have a dial or weighted vent?  In Minnesota, no one needs to can at 15 pounds as there isn’t an altitude here that requires that.  You would over proces food and also risk blowing some of the liquid out of the jars.

Parts are usually pretty easy to get, so that isn’t usually an issue. I would have the gauge checked (if it has one), to make sure it is still accurate.  Your local Extension Office should be able to do this for you for free or very cheaply.

You can use baby food jars for jams, jellies and preserves.  I wouldn’t can other foods in them, as the lids ARE being reused.  But for these foods, the jars will certainly work.

I use ANY jars that a canning lid and ring will fit on properly and haven’t had any problem with them at all.

I’ve never counted my jars.  Eeek!  I probably wouldn’t want to know how many I have.  But I pick up many new-to-me ones every year so I can increase my pantry.  I have full jars in the pantry, then use some and wash them out, storing them in a cupboard until I use them again, so they are constantly moving about. — Jackie

Love your canning tips

Jackie,  I thank the Lord that I found you.  I have been trying to learn to can on my own.  Was starting to think no one did it anymore.  I love your tips!  I will add you and your mother to my prayer list.  You get some rest and remember God Loves you!

Jennifer Joyner
St. Mary’s , Georgia

Thank you so much for your prayers.  Mom seems to be on the mend, so we’re heaving a huge sigh of relief!  I took today off and enjoyed the garden and flowers.  You’re right; I did need the rest!  And I know I’m lucky because God does love me! — Jackie

Double stacking jars?

Am making storage shelves in our pantry so my wife can store all the food we can.  So can determine shelf spacing, I need to know: is it safe to double stack pint jars of home canned food (NOT boxed)when storing them?  Don’t want to do anything that would compromise the seals.  Have searched all over the web and can’t find an answer to our question.  My wife seems to recall hearing somewhere that its not safe to double stack the jars.

Jack  McDonald
Rexford, Montana

It is not recommended that you double stack your jars.  I’ve been a bad girl and have done it at times and haven’t had a problem with seals failing.  It would be better if you had a piece of OSB or plywood that you could put on top of the bottom layer of jars, then put the top layer on that.  In that way the weight of the top layer would rest on the RIMS of the jars, not the centers. — Jackie

Praying for you

I didn’t know any other way to contact you – sorry if this is the wrong place. Just wanted to tell you I’m praying for your mom’s and YOUR health. I’ve taken care of the elderly family members, too, my mom lived with me for several years. ‘It’s hard’ is an understatement, but Oh, so worth it all!!! God bless you all.

Dianne Williams
Birch River, West Virginia

Thanks, Dianne.  Everyone’s prayers have certainly helped; Mom is doing much better now.  It’s great to have such a large “extended family”! — Jackie

Dehyrdating fiddleheads

I would like to know if you can dehydrate fiddleheads.  They are in season here now and I don’t have a lot of freezer room and I don’t like them canned.  Also, is there some place I could get morrel mushroom spores I would like to grow some have never tasted them but love all other kinds of mushrooms.

Susan Carmichael
Houlton, Maine

Yes you can dehyrdate fiddleheads.  Clean them of their papery “husk”, then boil them for one minute.  Drain well, then lay out on your dehydrator tray in a single layer.  Dry till very leathery, like green beans.

You can buy morrel mushroom (and many other kinds!) spawn from Fungi Perfecti. Morrel’s are wonderful mushrooms, one of my very favorites! — Jackie