Comments on: Friday Food Storage Quickie

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:08:56 +0000

How convenient — you post about orange veggies the week our CSA gives us The Tastiest Squash in the World! Seriously, I could have served these for dessert with just a little cinnamon or something on them — no sugar necessary. I will be stocking up on lots and lots of delicata squash now in addition to the carnivals and sweet dumplings. All these varieties are also useful for small households, since one of them splits neatly into two meal-sized portions if stuffed, and there isn’t a lot of waste if you don’t notice and one of them goes unsalvageable.

By: clew

clew — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:18:20 +0000

An unexpected drawback of no car — no car food-drying!

How much do I need to worry about pests after the squashes? I have some Blue Hubbard in the basement/garage now, but I know the neighborhood has rats.

I love ‘root loo’.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:04:27 +0000

I heard that the #10 cans of dried blackberries at http://www.shelfreliance are FANTASTIC. I even found a coupon code to help us all out also–Save15. Thanks for all the great info! This blog is fantastic.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:33:56 +0000

I just finished reading your book – how timely it is! Now I find your blog and will enjoy reading more of your thoughts and practical tips. I appreciate your emphasis on doing everything we can with what we have rather than focusing on buying into new technology. With that said, I did manage to purchase a solar oven this week…I just couldn’t get my homemade ones to get hot enough, consistently enough.

Living in SW Florida means no leaving food in the ground or root cellar for me. It does mean we can grow things almost year round, though. I have done a bit of container gardening, and we’re getting ready to start seedlings and put seeds directly in our first raised bed this week. I’m new to all of this and have always had a black thumb. However, sites like this and others, along with the books I keep adding to my Self-Sufficiency bookshelf are a big help, and I have hope that my our family can make it work.

By: Fern

Fern — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:58:33 +0000

Andrew-L – it’s more that the squashes and sweet potatoes need it drier than a root cellar – root cellars are high humidity.

Fern

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:08:50 +0000

Leila, I’d just soak the fruit and then add as much to your pie as you think is appropriate. You won’t need as much (or any) thickener. Does that make sense, or are you looking for a recipe for a non-rehydrated pie?

Andrew, sweet potatoes, squash and pumpkins like warmer temperatures than root cellars – they are subject to cold injury. A cool human house temps – 55-60ish stores them very, very well.

Chelee, I don’t have time to do a lot of price research, which is very laborious on a slow internet connection – so I don’t have a favorite source for things. Anyone else?

Sharon

By: AppleJackCreek

AppleJackCreek — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:13:30 +0000

We get our solar chargers & flashlights at the local hardware store – here it is Canadian Tire (so much more than tires!).

Camping supply places often have them too, hereabouts.

Maybe you could check some of those kinds of spots in your area? Canadian Tire has online shopping, but I don’t know if they ship across the border.

By: Chelee

Chelee — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:26:30 +0000

Sharon, do you or your readers have a great place to buy some of the things you mention. Solar battery chargers and solar lanterns in particular. I checked the vendor on the side bar and he doesn’t have them.

By: squrrl

squrrl — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:44:14 +0000

Well, it must be a power-trip to think of all the Sharon-zombies marching out to stores and fields on your advice! Hehehe. This weekend Jacob and I stocked up on more pasta and popcorn, matches, dried elderberries, and another flashlight, an LED headlamp, and more batteries. We also got several different types of winter squash to try at the farmer’s market, though we didn’t “stock up” since it’s just the beginning of the season and we’ll have plenty more opportunities when it’s cooler. I tried growing them, but it was a tragic flop. Already have a fair supply of dried fruit, and more tomatoes are in the dehydrator (plums on the counter waiting to be split) as I speak. The neighbor and I have grand plans underway for huge amounts of pumpkin leather for her farmer’s market stand, storage, and Christmas baskets–the recipe above sounds to die for.

I’m really hoping to avoid having February see me crawl back to the grocery store for abominable vegetables from Chile this year.

So, obviously, I LOVE the new feature.

By: Andrew-L

Andrew-L — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:57:04 +0000

Hi Sharon,

Great post! Just wanting to check – do you mean that winter squash, pumpkins & sweet potatoes need to be stored somewhere warmer than a root store / cold room?

Thanks!