{"id":181,"date":"2008-04-29T19:24:37","date_gmt":"2008-04-30T01:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/?p=181"},"modified":"2008-04-29T19:24:37","modified_gmt":"2008-04-30T01:24:37","slug":"spencer-is-learning-to-bring-in-firewood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/2008\/04\/29\/spencer-is-learning-to-bring-in-firewood\/","title":{"rendered":"Spencer is learning to bring in firewood"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nOur new black lab pup, Spencer, is the smartest dog I’ve ever raised.\u00a0 He learned to sit at six weeks of age, and was potty trained shortly thereafter.\u00a0 In the winter!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 So AH HA, I thought.\u00a0 Why not teach him to bring in firewood????<\/p>\n

So first I’d just encourage him to bring in his little piece of wood.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Now he picks up his own wood!<\/p>\n

When I do horse chores, he roams the pasture and picks up a chunk to bring home.\u00a0 Or when I split wood, he grabs a nice piece and trots right up to the door and waits for me to open it.\u00a0 Now if I can just teach him to put it into the stove!!!\u00a0 Oh well, I’m happy with his progress so far.\u00a0 I’ll bet before long I can open the door, point to the wood pile and tell him to get firewood.\u00a0 Won’t be much longer, I think.\u00a0 It’s so much fun to teach him and he enjoys the learning.\u00a0 He always has a big smile on his face.<\/p>\n

Readers\u2019 questions:<\/p>\n

Seed company stories
\n<\/strong>
\nLove your column and blog.\u00a0 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!\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe Gurney’s will be just as helpful for you next time. Keep up the great work!<\/p>\n

Mary Ann\u00a0 Wycoff
\nEmbarrass, Minnesota
\n<\/em>
\nI’m glad you had good luck with Shumways; I have, too.\u00a0 But Gurneys?\u00a0 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.\u00a0 And I always give companies the benefit of the doubt.\u00a0 On my order, I asked for a late April shipment because we live in northern Minnesota.\u00a0 I don’t think the first week in April quite qualifies.\u00a0 Sorry.\u00a0 No more Gurneys for me.\u00a0 But Fedco, on the other hand, I can’t praise high enough. — Jackie<\/p>\n

Pressure canner for beginner
\n<\/strong>
\nWhat 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\u00a0 over time or are Ball or Kerr\u00a0 jars most economical. You are awesome.\u00a0 Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Enjoyed your\u00a0 article in #111 – especially the statement “smart, huh?”.\u00a0 you are so real and down to earth.<\/p>\n

Dolly (Nellie)\u00a0 Jenkins
\nBalch Springs, Texas
\n<\/em>
\nI 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.\u00a0 Personally, I like the canner that Lehmans carries; no gasket to eventually replace.\u00a0 But any of the new pressure canners work just fine.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The European jars are pretty, but too expensive.\u00a0 I’m using jars that are 50 years old and still perfect.\u00a0 Pretty
\ngood track record, considering how many cannings they’ve seen.\u00a0 Congratulations on starting canning.\u00a0 I promise you’ll LOVE it! — Jackie<\/p>\n

Fleas out of control
\n<\/strong>
\nIt 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\u00a0 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<\/p>\n

Randal\u00a0 Holstine
\nHawley, Texas
\n<\/em>
\nHere’s what I’d do;\u00a0 I would completely clean out the chicken coop, removing ALL old litter, nest box filler, manure…everything.\u00a0 Then hose down the coop with bleach water; pressure wash it if you have a pressure washer…or can borrow or rent one.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Repeat the dusting in one week and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in your little buggers. — Jackie<\/p>\n

Soil testing kit
\n<\/strong>
\nI 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.\u00a0 the bag I bought only gives amounts for huge gardens.\u00a0 How much should I add?\u00a0 Can too much be bad?<\/p>\n

Cathy Ostrowski
\nAmherst, New York
\n<\/em>
\nBuy yourself a cheap soil testing kit.\u00a0 Then sprinkle your limestone on the surface of your beds.\u00a0 Work it in and then check your pH; you want it between 6.8 and 7.\u00a0 Work more in, if needed, working it into at least\u00a0 the top 6 inches of your beds.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The roots absorb the calcium and the egg shells\\ also help give the plant good drainage. — Jackie<\/p>\n

Upside-down tomato planters
\n<\/strong>
\nReally enjoyed all your articles in the recent “Economic Squeeze” edition.<\/p>\n

Have you ever tried the upside-down tomato planters? Example link below. Do they really work that well?\u00a0 I thought plants produced better fruit if you kept them going upward. Will an upside-down
\ntomato plant produce big tomato’s?<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.harrietcarter.com\/index.cfm\/fuseaction\/product.detail\/_\/Tomato-Planter\/productID\/C008005B-9B9A-46AA-9303-99E7B98A59CC\/<\/p>\n

Joanna\u00a0 Wilcox
\nBoone, North Carolina
\n<\/em>
\nYes, 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.\u00a0 And WATER, WATER, WATER…they tend to dry out when the weather’s hot.\u00a0 And, Yes, they do grow big tomatoes! — Jackie<\/p>\n

Shelf life of canned poultry
\n<\/strong>
\nHow long is the shelf life for canned poultry, beef and other meat? Thanks<\/p>\n

Cindy Hills
\nWild Rose, Wisconsin
\n<\/em>
\nThese foods have a very long shelf life;practically forever!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This is why I LOVE to can!\u00a0 Talk about your food security! — Jackie<\/p>\n

Ready to make the move
\n<\/strong>
\nWell, the time has come.\u00a0 After years of planning, saving and investigation – we are ready to move out West to a family agreed upon place.\u00a0 Actually, we are one job interview away from going this
\nsummer.<\/p>\n

Having grown up on a farm and having moved around a bit, one would think that I would not have a bit of trepidation.\u00a0 However, I am concerned about the much higher cost of living (compared to here we live now), the high elevation and being only zone 4 (even though I am an experienced gardener and avid reader\/researcher), relocation costs (even though we’ve been saving for them – they lways end up being excessive), and moving the teenagers.\u00a0 I have read all of your advice for years and have followed much of the advance preparation parts.\u00a0 I would like to see if you have any last minute tips for our family?\u00a0 We are not taking any livestock as we are moving from a town lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Patricia Graig-Tiso
\nOneonta, New York
\n<\/em>
\nOf course you have concerns!\u00a0 Anyone with half a brain will, when changing homes so drastically.\u00a0 But we did it, and so can you.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 (So your kids want to have a game room that looks like a jail!\u00a0 Do it.\u00a0 Or they want a round garden of their own.)\u00a0 Treat them like adults and they’ll surprise you.<\/p>\n

As for the elevation; no problems for most people.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 No biggie.\u00a0 Of course I had to can my foods at a higher pressure than when we lived on the\u00a0 “flat”.<\/p>\n

Zone 4?\u00a0 Don’t I wish!!!\u00a0 We live in zone 3 and still grow a terrific garden with plenty of flowers.\u00a0 There are, of course, less options in zone 4, as opposed to zone 6, but we still have lots of choices.\u00a0 You just have to use a few season extenders; it’s totally do-able!\u00a0 Enjoy your adventure! — Jackie<\/p>\n

Canning bean soup
\n<\/strong>
\nI am making navy bean soup using a ham bone.\u00a0 How can I can the rest?\u00a0 I do not have freezer space.<\/p>\n

Leona Martel
\nStratford, South Dakota
\n<\/em>
\nPiece of cake, Leona.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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<\/p>\n

Problem with deer
\n<\/strong>
\nWe live in northern Wisconsin near a large national forest.\u00a0 We also garden and grow most of our own veggies to can.\u00a0 However, not only do we have snow in April, but we also have a problem with the neighborhood deer.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This year the lilacs are showing buds and the deer have already sampled them. Last year they at least waited until they leafed out.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 (The dogs think it tastes just fine!) Any ideas?<\/p>\n

Michele Green
\nEagle River, Wisconsin
\n<\/em>
\nAbout the best “spray” product against deer is Liquid Fence, but it’s not 100% effective.\u00a0 I’m sorry, but the only safe anti deer protection is to totally fence in your garden area.\u00a0 For us that means fencing in not only our garden, but our orchard and our entire house yard.\u00a0 I’ve been buying fence all year, and finally have enough to do it.\u00a0 It’s NOT cheap, but it does keep them out.\u00a0 You’ll need 6′ high welded 2″x4″ 14 gauge wire fencing and 8′ T posts.\u00a0 Luckily, my last 3 rolls I got on a half-price sale at our local L&M Supply.\u00a0 No more “Where did the flowers go?\u00a0 Oh no.\u00a0 Not the green beans!!!”.
\nHorray!!!! — Jackie<\/p>\n

Preserving eggs
\n<\/strong>
\nI am getting plenty of eggs this year and want to know is there any other way to can them besides pickeling?<\/p>\n

Rebecca Douglas
\nOkeechobee, Florida
\n<\/em>
\nSorry, none that I know of.\u00a0 Any readers have a great idea? — Jackie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our new black lab pup, Spencer, is the smartest dog I’ve ever raised.\u00a0 He learned to sit at six weeks of age, and was potty trained shortly thereafter.\u00a0 In the winter!\u00a0 Of course all puppies like to chew on wood, so when I split firewood, Spencer was right there to grab a chunk and chew […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}