Weather damage to raised beds
A few days ago I noticed the boards of many of my raised beds have lifted off the ground. The boards lifted in some cases six inches off the ground. Guess the weather (snow, freeze, heavy snow, melt, snow again, refreeze, melt, refreeze yet again) caused this but this is the first year it happened. What advice would you give to make sure I don’t break/damage anything when (finally) the warm weather comes.
Jon Gallo
Often the boards will settle back (at least mostly), when the frost finally goes away. If not, you can usually use a board between the bed edges and a sledge hammer and pound the bed edges back into place, a little at a time. This is not common but does happen, as you’ve found out. To keep it from happening next winter, stop watering your beds after freezing and hope it doesn’t rain a lot after that. It’s usually the water that draws frost below the bed to heave it up. — Jackie
Canning apple cider syrup
Can apple cider syrup (apple molasses) be preserved by canning? And if so by which method?
Kenneth Winningham
Killeen, Texas
Yes, you can can your own apple cider syrup (apple molasses), which is made by boiling down cider until it reaches a pancake syrup consistency. While still simmering hot, ladle into hot, sterilized jars (pints will work best). Leave 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim of jar clean and place hot, previously simmered lid on jar and tighten ring down firmly tight. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Remember to start your timing when the canner comes back to a full rolling boil. And if you live at an altitude above 1,000 feet, consult your canning book for directions on increasing your processing time to suit your altitude. — Jackie
gen,
The reason folks use corn starch and/or sugar/syrup is to get more end product from the original cider. But this also lessens the wonderrful flavor. When you “cheat” you “pay”.
I had never heard of apple cider syrup, oh YUMMMM! Paired with pumpkin pancakes! I looked online and actually found several recipes, but so many of them used corn starch, and others used spices and either brown sugar or corn syrup. I think I could handle the brown sugar and cinnamon, but adding corn syrup seems like cheating the cider a bit, to me. Thanks Kenneth for another new idea, this I intend to attempt, come next fall. I also found a maple cranberry applesauce recipe, I appreciate all the new ideas I find by reading Jackie’s blog, and since I’m not afraid of the water bath canner, I’m going to need more shelf space in my basement.
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