What Did You Prep This Week

Bought some more food, learned about solar panels, and finally got around to playing with the new radio I bought. And I think I've finally decided on a Baofeng radio as my next purchase, along with some more medical supplies.

Being a liability to my family makes me feel very uneasy so I bought a Health Walker off Kijiji on Monday, and added walking to my rehabilitation plan.

Thanks,I just found a used copy on Amazon.

So are you now settled back in AB?? Maybe I've missed it, but are you in the north or south?
good luck with the new acreage either way!

Finished picking up any berries on the property (raspberries and red currants) and made syrup out of them. Also picked up all the apples that were ready (about 1/2) and processed a bunch; stored the remainder wrapped in paper in the cold room.

Arranged the cold room with shelving, moved our stash of dry food in and made a list of items needed. Purchased a bunch of canned soup as they were on sale, also visited our friendly Costco store for some shelf stocking. We are happy to have this cold room storage and find that we have ample space for expansion.

Purchased a "heavy duty" rototiller.

Filled up all my gas canned with fresh gas and Stab-il. Purchased more Stab-il.

Installed a dark, opaque rain barrel in the green house with a spot from the eavestrough. The intent is to collect rain water and also to use as thermal mass during the shoulder seasons.

Getting ready to pick up the grapes on the property (Valiant grapes) to make some grape jelly. Justified a trip to the store to purchase small jars, lids and rings for all our jars. We also scored new to us jars when the last owners left a bunch in storage for us on account of running out of space in their boxes.

Met with the neighbours who all seem very nice and a few are avid gardeners, so I'm sure I can learn a few tricks from them. We'll try the C5's suggested "dinner party" to see if they could become complements to our preps (or how we can make them...)

Busy times, but it's all starting to feel like home!

We harvested our potatoes and onions already. Early I know but the rain wouldn't stop and the raised beds were not draining anymore. So into the basement, in peatmoss buckets they went.
Finally starting to get cucumbers and tomatoes onto the plate as well.

Power and gas has been run out to the shop we built last year in the backyard but with all the rain, the gravel driveway continues to be delayed. Very frustrating.

Had to replace the propane fridge in our holiday trailer, $3000 hit we were not expecting... which has cut into my ammunition and food storage budget of course.

two steps forward and 1.5 steps back...

Hey Dangphool, we moved back to the greater Edmonton area. Happy to be here. Certain things I'll miss from the Deep South for sure, but "there is no place like home!"

We've had the same issue with our raised straw bale beds. Water just filled em up and won't bugger off. Last of my potatoes are coming out as soon as the rain stops. I've been reloading a lot, spending some warm dry time down cellar.

If you don't mind me asking, just how in hell did you spend $3,000 on a fridge in a camper?!

Have pulled our onions and they are currently hanging from the rafters in the shed drying. Haven't dug the potatoes yet, probably soon. Have been busy canning and jam/jellying. Waiting for my grapes to finish ripening to make my own grape jelly this year. First time for grapes.

Good luck with your acreage Helicopilot.

We have also as of this month finished paying our mortgage, so our little piece of (our heaven) is now all ours. Comes in handy right now as hubby got laid off last month.

Wow, Dangphool, that was quite the expense for the fridge.

Well this is more recycling than prep but I welded up a little hillbilly reactive target stand for plinking from some burned up tools.
must have burnt up a half dozen rods or more sticking it all together with my maxstar 150....running off a 12 volt system 😆 life is sure rough off grid...
the top target is welded to a heavy duty spring socket extension, so it wobbles all around when hit..... hmmmmmm..I kind of do the same thing.

LOOKS AWESOME!!

Firewood stacked by the back door, I am ready for winter. With the stove door extension I built I no longer have to trim this wood down to 20 inches in length I can stuff the whole 24 inches in.

We picked our grapes and made jelly, also picked and stored/processed a few bushels of apples.

Mrs HP made some pies and went gifting them to the neighbours. It's important to show the neighbours we're good people, especially in rural area. They've since reciprocated in kind (many folds!) so it seems like the effect was positive. We've got a lot to learn from them as they are farmers and experienced gardeners so we may need to consult them in certain things.

Made arrangements for property security and alarm. Hope this won't be needed but it's comforting to have.

We had to order one from Dometic, the manufacturer as there were none in Alberta. We used the Dometic dealer, and because he was mobile, he was cheaper than the dealerships we checked with. They actually gave us his business card.

That included extra warranty and the installation... $2700 😥

With back to school looming I've been looking at alternatives to the boring brown bag lunches so today we are making yogurt and I have canned my own fruit cups in jelly jars. What fruit I don't grow I buy from the farm market or store ( organic only) but the expense when the fruit doesn't get eaten in time is crippling so I needed a way to maintain the budget but still give the kids the best I can.
Tomorrow the Boy will take roasted chicken drumsticks instead of a sandwich but from there I'm at a loss - especially considering how fussy he can be. Feel free to post suggestions.
Been canning pounds of green beans (30lbs so far this weekend), local corn and carrots and also pickling beets. I'm hoping to have enough put up to make it through to the next growing season but, just in case, I've planted the greenhouse out to.

Great idea on the jelly cup jars, I do a fruit in pints for hubby to take to work as well, but for sure the smaller jars would be just right for the kiddo's and I hear ya on the others, beets are good this year, lots to do, I have already put up about 60 pounds of the beans but the corn is a no go this year.. the corn in the gardens just didn't come this year and with local corn at 5 dollars a dozen.. its just not going to happen this year for us.

Congrats on the winter Greenhouse..