Gallon storage jars
I finally have a copy of “Recession Proof Your Pantry” and am now looking for a reliable source for sealable gallon-size glass storage jars. Do you have any recommendations? The jars in the big box stores have cardboard inserts to seal the lids and those don’t wash well or seem reliable.
T. Becker
Monroe, Wisconsin
You bet. Uline, on 12575 Uline Dr, Pleasant Prairie, WI, 53158 has all sorts of storage containers as well as mailing supplies and all sorts of useful stuff. Their phone number is 1-800-295-5510 and they are real nice to talk to. No minimum order, but they do sell in case lots (jars). There are 6 jars in a case, so that isn’t much of a problem. They have glass jars with plastic and food grade metal lids. Here is the internet address: www.uline.com/Grp_287/Jars-Jugs — Jackie
Pressure canning pumpkins
Can I use a pressure canner to can my pumpkins into quart or pint jars?
James Bosch
Edgerton, Missouri
Definitely. Just dice them up into 1-inch cubes, after peeling them, then boil for 2 minutes to heat them thoroughly. Pack into jars, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Add 1/2 tsp. salt to pints and 1 tsp. to quarts if you wish. Ladle boiling cooking liquid over pieces, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Process at 10 pounds pressure; pints for 55 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes. If you live at an altitude above 1,000 feet, consult your canning book for directions on increasing your pressure to suit your altitude if necessary. Check out my book, Growing and Canning Your Own Food for this and much, much more! — Jackie
Rocky dirt
My wife and I just bought 14 acres for the start of our homestead. We were up there yesterday and were talking to a neighbor who was very nice and informed us that a lot of the dirt is rocky. What is the best way to fix that? Didn’t you and Will have that problem as well?
Hollis
Wilmington, Delaware
We STILL have that problem, although every year it’s better and better. We picked a lot of rock and added rotted compost to cover some of the rocks, but every year, we still have to pick more rocks. Less each year, of course, but some. The good part of that is that our rocky, gravelly hill has plenty of drainage so no plants ever get waterlogged. Congratulations on your new homestead! Wow! Remember that no homestead is perfect; we all have things to work around and fix. It’s part of “improving” your homestead. Enjoy it! — Jackie
If I may speak from my experience as a farmer. You never finish picking rocks. Like Jackie said, you may pick fewer rocks and the ones you pick may get smaller, but if you till up the ground frequently (like every year)… You’ll be picking rock frequently (again every year)!
i have a friend that does catering. i get a lot of food grade glass gallon jars from him. check with some people in the food service busines;you might find what you need.
Comments are closed.