Chicken broth

Can I make broth out of Chicken Skins? I would skim the fat and can the rest.

Shirley Owens
Milton, Florida

Yes, but it won’t have as much flavor as broth made from either chicken pieces, carcasses, or bones boiled down (with some meat on them). — Jackie

Potato bugs

We are trying our best to be organic gardeners but are loosing the battle with potato bugs! We have tried lime, seven dust and using a “beetle juice” mixture. However we can’t seem to beat them. I have resulted in hand picking the bugs, larva and eggs off the plants and have to do this everyday! Do you have any other suggestions for us?

Courtney Burgan
Clear Spring, Maryland

Even when I use other methods, I do hand pick every day. It really stops the damage sooner. My best results have been with Rotenone powder used with a duster to get under the leaves and with Spinosad, which is a natural bacteria that is not harmful to you, pets, birds, or friendly insects. — Jackie

4 COMMENTS

  1. Pam,

    Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to you! I’d sing it, but you wouldn’t want that, you can bet. I’m sorry happy you ordered a pressure canner. You’ll simply love all it can do for you.

    Jackie

  2. Jackie I also wanted to say I so admire you for how you live. I have long wished to have such a life as yours. You have inspired me to begin canning once I found you 2 years ago and I have had a lot of fun with it. Out here in California it is hard to find property I can afford that will give me a garden big enough to support my “canning habit” but I do what I can and get the rest from pick your own farms in the area.
    I have just ordered a pressure canner and am planning to start canning again for this year. So much fun!!
    I love your blog and the emails I get on a regular basis and am sure I will have some questions for you in the near future.
    Congratulations on your wedding day and your amazing wedding cow and brand new calf gifts. I envy! Pam
    OH and today is my B-Day.

  3. Although I am unsure of the potato bugs back where you are I wanted to make a suggestion for you. Have you tried Diatomaceaus Earth? You can get food grade of this “flour” and dust your plants even the day you harvest and still eat them with no problem. Diatomaceaus Earth is a product I take on a daily basis and even feed my dogs each meal. Many people use it on their farm animals to de-worm without chemicals. It is a natural product and can be used on all your garden foods with no harmful side effects.
    You can check out health benefits and bug control options on-line. Be creative and use the stuff on everything. It is considered good for organic farming.

  4. I feel your pain Courtney and agree with Jackie. Picking them off (and squishing egg sacs and tiny larvae) has worked best for me. The bugs are going gangbusters here in our Michigan garden but I’ve beaten them back and there are fewer and fewer to pick off now. I’ve yet to find a spray or powder that just makes them all go away.

Comments are closed.