This week for the preparedness challenge, I filled our propane tank for our camp stove and worked on our garden's watering system, which probably doesn't qualify as "preparedness" but since we've been traveling away from home for almost the entire week, it's about all I could do! At least I did ONE thing and I now know where my two propane tanks are and that at least one is filled.
I confess, I was a bit proud of myself for traveling prepared! Instead of eating out for the two days it took us to travel from CA to WA, we packed an ice chest and took an extra bag of food. This allowed us to eat some excellent meals with very little effort, saving us money and our health! Knowing we had food along the way was a blessing and I plan to do a little grocery shopping for the trip back. I'd love to find a farmer's market! Too bad I'm on the wrong side of Seattle or I'd go to Pike Place Market as I travel back through (we're soooo close). My consolation is that we WILL be traveling through Cottage Grove, OR and I get to stop at Territorial Seed Company! Yahoo!!
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I think about you every day....when I am tending to my bees...If it weren't for you..I would be an idealist and not feed the bees and they for sure will not make it. Thanks God - they are still around. I pray you success with bees next year.
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Thank you so much for hosting this everyweek. I've made alot of new friends and gained new followers from your weekly challenges. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get alot done this week. But I did stop at the library and pick up a few Herb books, to see what I have growing in our yard. I haven't done it yet(have to discuss with Hubby) but there is a workshop about an hour from us on foraging for food in the back yard. The workshop includes a tour harvesting and then preparing a lunch with the items harvested. I have a hard time figuring out what plant is which on my own with a book. It would be so much more helpful and safer for a professional to show me!
ReplyDeleteI also called the butcher and set up a time to get our chickens done. We were going to butcher them ourselves but Hubby is moving to a new well site and won't have time. I don't butcher, I just process after...
I'm not sure if you're travelling through, but Corvallis OR has a glorious farmer's market in the summer with lots of fresh, organic fruits, vegetables and snacks!
ReplyDeleteWeekend Farmer, I really glad to know that the experiences we share here actually do help one another! And it blesses my heart to know that someone else still has their bees!! Next year, my experience will help me, too!
ReplyDeleteDomestic Goddess, Personally, i'd jump at a chance to take that workshop! What an excellent opportunity!
Thanks for the encouragement, Mary!
Anonymous - I'm off to check my road map! Thanks for the tip!
You'll love Territorial Seed Company. We live just half an hour away outside of Drain and 90% of our seeds come from there. Anyhow, if you're making a stop in Cottage Grove you'll most likely be passing through Eugene. If you have time, you should make a stop at the farmers market there. It's not as big as Pike Place but just as diverse and fabulous. Have a safe journey home!
ReplyDeleteYes, Eugene it is!!! Thank you BB!!
ReplyDeleteAmy, I have to giggle at this. We have traveled with our own food for over 10 years. (Some might think us to be hard core..I just think I am prepared and consistant.) :-) Even when we go stay with family we come with a HUGE cooler(s) of food prepared or to share. I think that actaully helps relieve the burden of hosting for them too, since sometimes what we eat seems "wierd" to them and they want to "accomidate" but don't feel they know how. Now that we have become a big family...it really helps relieve the burden of our hosts feeding soo many people too. So I always go "packin".
ReplyDeleteWhen we stay in hotels, and a place with a kitchenette is not prearranged, I have been known to bring a few appliances in our room, like a plug in burner and pot, electric skillet or Crockpot, depending. :-) Does that make me crazy?? :-)
I also have "car snacks" for trips, otherwise we will cave in and eat fast food and feel crumby for it.
We still eat out once in a while, or have regional treats, but we keep that in check, because of our devotion to become debt free (get the farm paid off) and live a cash lifestyle.
SO be careful with whole 'packing food thing'..Its a slippery slope! (Tee hee!) No seriously...its a great habit to get into. Having the right coolers that fit your needs (and car) is very helpful, as is a good stock of icepacks to rotate. :-)
Blessings, Pamela
Harvested armloads of oregano (2nd harvest) and basil (1st harvest) and saved seed from Chervil. All will be dried naturally. I don't like to do my herbs in the dehydrator. I feel it takes too much out of them.
ReplyDeleteOrdered 3 books - housekeeping with natural ingredients, recipies for dehydrated food, and another urban homesteading book.
My herb harvest may seem a tiny thing, but in a pinch (ha-ha, pun intended) dried herbs could be used for barter or sale, and nearly all the herbs I grow are also medicinal.
I still buy seed, but saving seed is becoming more and more important to me. I don't think I have any hybrid veggies in my garden this year, and will try to save seed from everything. (use next seasib and again - barter or sale)
In a hyper-emergency (you all know what I mean) I believe a makeshift market network will break out. As we have discussed, no one can do it ALL, so one will have this, another one that.... Find what you can do or have, try to do that well.
We are planning a trip to TN in the fall and I want to do the same thing. We have a family of 6 so there is no way we can eat out, get decent food and afford gas for the drive home! There will be many picnics in the Smokey Mountians for us. :)
ReplyDeleteMade strawberry freezer jam, rhubarb wine and dried the lemon mint.
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