It's been a while since I've had time to post. Life on the "homestead" combined with real life at work shall be blamed!
Despite a lousy growing year weather-wise, there is still to to process out of the garden and orchard. The last 2 weekends have been dedicated to canning and dehydrating our fresh crop. I can't explain of different the food taste coming out from a garden, even after being through a dehydrator for hours.
Just today, we finished a couple dozen 1/2 pints of apple jelly (first time trying this, hope it sets) and several batches of dehydrated apple "chips". shelves are full of pickles, pickled carrots and beans, zucchini relish (which actually tastes amazing!) and chutneys.
This is my 4th fall at this residence and I have to say it's a lot of work to garden and preserve - yet so rewarding - and there is so much to learn. I've resorted to Mr Google more than once and made a point of printing some information; in the event the Internet is not accessible for a reason or another.
To anyone thinking they'll just start gardening out of the blue in their post-apocalyptic world, I wish them best of luck. I prefer learning now and enjoy reaping the reward that comes from it.
Well your garden pics looked awesome!
Side note that should be in gardening but your reference to just starting is important. Half mine failed. AND my nice old heritage apple tree, has only a few tiny green apples instead of usual bounty. After huge rain and cold spring, we had Bone dry July and August. Guessing the tree simply aborted the apples to save precious water. Will check on a few other smaller trees I have along fence lines to see what if anything they produced.
Stocking up the firewood by the back door. I have metal frames I use to keep the wood off the ground, once spring comes I just slide the empty frames away from the house. This stack in 7 feet high.
thumbnail_Resized_20190906_154525_260.jpgthumbnail_Resized_20190906_155032_1246.jpgTheses racks were for logs but they work fine with lumber.
thumbnail_Resized_20190906_155917_4876.jpg
Question. Full cord or face cord?
What temperature are ground and second floor kept at?
Full cord 4x4x8, as for temperature, short sleeve temp downstairs all winter, short sleeve temp upstairs until about -20 if colder than -20 and I still want short sleeve temp upstairs I would have to light the upstairs wood stove.
Two cord put into long term storage.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Stocking up the firewood by the back door. I have metal frames I use to keep the wood off the ground, once spring comes I just slide the empty frames away from the house. This stack in 7 feet high.
thumbnail_Resized_20190906_154525_260.jpgthumbnail_Resized_20190906_155032_1246.jpgTheses racks were for logs but they work fine with lumber.
thumbnail_Resized_20190906_155917_4876.jpg
Question. Full cord or face cord?
What temperature are ground and second floor kept at?
Full cord 4x4x8, as for temperature, short sleeve temp downstairs all winter, short sleeve temp upstairs until about -20 if colder than -20 and I still want short sleeve temp upstairs I would have to light the upstairs wood stove.
Two cord put into long term storage.
Resized_20190909_185316_4600.jpg
That’s impressive!
Picked up 4 beer brewing kits. I used to brew my own beer back in the 90s but havnt done so since then. I think I will get back into it again.
Three cheap kits from super store 14.99each, and one premium one from a brewers supply house.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Question. Full cord or face cord?
What temperature are ground and second floor kept at?
Full cord 4x4x8, as for temperature, short sleeve temp downstairs all winter, short sleeve temp upstairs until about -20 if colder than -20 and I still want short sleeve temp upstairs I would have to light the upstairs wood stove.
Two cord put into long term storage.
Resized_20190909_185316_4600.jpgThat’s impressive!
The house was built for conservation, below grade the cement basement has r20 around the outside, the upstairs has 1 foot thick walls (north,east, west) I cant remember for sure but I think r 32 outside walls (no closer to r35 I was a little short of r 40), when I framed the inside walls I also insulated them all with r 12. I did it for sound dampening but it still helps to keep heat in. I also insulated the floor joists with r12 before I put in the suspended ceiling in the basement. So this house holds the heat big time. No one ever complains about being cold in my home.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Would be R35 in 12 inch wall. I personally go with foam for endjoist. Mainly do to it will seal any air flow 100% where with batt and poly you cant. But with your basement as are 20 insulation and concrete your looking at R 32 on basement and up stairs looks like R35 and R12 for R47. You should see if its batts or blow in the attic. If blow in you might want to add a bit. It does settle a bit over time
Would be R35 in 12 inch wall. I personally go with foam for endjoist. Mainly do to it will seal any air flow 100% where with batt and poly you cant. But with your basement as are 20 insulation and concrete your looking at R 32 on basement and up stairs looks like R35 and R12 for R47. You should see if its batts or blow in the attic. If blow in you might want to add a bit. It does settle a bit over time
Its batts in the attic, I remember clearly as I carried and placed each one up there myself.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Relatively inexpensive camper prestone type treatment for camper or boat water/ toilet and sink lines is pretty good to get.
Use for temp power outage and desire to protect water lines traps or for more permanent protection. Picked up a good number of them last fall but believe I forgot to mention.
I have all my wood stacked by the back door now.
I am ready for winter. Its not lost on me how crazy it is to be burning kiln dried, planed, dimensional wood for heat. If a medieval king would have specified such wood for heating his castle the peasants would have revolted at the decatence.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
What do ya know...Princess Auto finally comes to Quebec!
First store opened at 7AM today in St-Jerome and you bet I was in line for it!
Picked up a 20l gas can, a tow bar with the 3 sized balls on it, a steel bucket, a new light kit for my utility trailer, a hitch step for the truck, and a magnetic parts tray.
The free coffee and flashlight at the door were also quite welcome!
Also got in some new tupperware...laugh if you want but it keeps food items fresher longer!
Bulk barn was also hit last week and I stocked up on bean soup mix, assorted flours, and some interesting spices.
With a 25% discount for bringing your own containers, the new tupperware came in handy!
Picked up a set of ratcheting tie down straps and a plastic 50 cal ammo box (both on sale at Princess Auto as of today).
Filled a metal garbage can with birch bark...enough to last the season I'm sure!
Also hauled home a good sized birch stump to use as a chopping block.
Also picked up another splitting maul...'cause it was on sale!
Completed the build on a copper pipe J-Pole antenna. Tuned to 1.18:1 and mounted temporarily until the new mast goes up in spring
Got a sweet deal on fire extinguishers. Found some listed on Kijiji for $10 each, still in boxes, temper tags on and everything, the guy is selling them at a lower cost because they are 3 years old (stamped as made in 2016) and wouldn’t meet industry standards.
So, $10 each for Kidde 9lbs ABC extinguishers. Bought 4 and at that price point, can put them in out buildings where I store gas powered machinery and equipment, as well as the chicken coop.
Got a sweet deal on fire extinguishers. Found some listed on Kijiji for $10 each, still in boxes, temper tags on and everything, the guy is selling them at a lower cost because they are 3 years old (stamped as made in 2016) and wouldn’t meet industry standards.
So, $10 each for Kidde 9lbs ABC extinguishers. Bought 4 and at that price point, can put them in out buildings where I store gas powered machinery and equipment, as well as the chicken coop.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Nothing new, but due to ice storm, it made me think of a purchase last year so figured I would toss in.
Ice cleats to attach to boots... aggressive grip and good solid rubber frame. Slip on easy and decent when removing. I put them on an old pair of construction boots and leave them on.
Seeing as we get tired during storms.. the last thing one needs to do is slip and injure oneself, especially when your full assistance is required. No one is slipping with these suckers on your feet!!! HIGHLY recommend people get and use them.
Cheers
