The garden is growing fast. The tallest and light green are peas. The rows are green beans, there are tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, zucchini.
I have volunteer pumpkin, radishes, lettuce and green onions in the turtle, out front spaghetti squash, acorn and butternut squash, muskmelon and watermelon. Cucumbers and dill too. I do hope they all grow!
"We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasiblly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard." (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 171; or Ensign, May 1976, 124)
April we should be putting the finishing touches on our gardening plans.
http://www.cultivateiowa.org/garden/ - some ideas for saving with a garden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=q1YvMd1ZVJw - good to watch to get you started on your garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKIAoKHkss0 - shows you how to start your garden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQ1G4hTS1w - she shows how to build a raised garden bed for under fifteen dollars.
http://homemadeiowalife.blogspot.com/2013/07/container-vegetable-gardening-tips.html - (ignore the naughty gnome) the link has some great ideas for container gardening. I know that some areas have covenants that won’t let them garden but perhaps container gardening could help.
http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/make-fresh-homemade-pasta-scratch/ this is a great way to get fresh pasta.
http://iowasue.blogspot.com/search?q=measuring+dry+pasta - this is a good thing to print and put in your binder.
I store pasta in five-gallon buckets. I have bought pasta on sale and then I dump out into the buckets. I put three bay leaves on top then put on the lid, label and date it.
Never set food storage buckets or any storage directly on a concrete floor.
I go to bakeries to ask if they have buckets since I know that the buckets are food grade. Make sure you wash them well and that they set and dry overnight, then fill them up!
I keep seeing gold wheat at the Walmart stores, buy it and put in a bucket. Put three bay leaves on top of wheat, put on the lid, label and date. It is in comparison with wheat from church now that you can only get cans shipped to you, so use this time to get your wheat in storage. Ask Walmart to get in however many you want.
So get your hands dirty and put seed into Iowa soil! If you can’t, perhaps share a garden with someone who can.
Knowing how to garden is up there with other skills that are important.
Mother’s day is coming up. I don’t have a problem getting flowers but I would rather get something like asparagus that I could then plant and get year after year. I always asked for fruit trees and we planted raspberries who joined forces with our neighbors' to make a nice patch for both of us. I always wanted to plant what would feed us. I have two peach trees, a plum tree and two apple trees.
So when they want to get something for Mother's Day ask for something like a fruit tree and involve the kids in planting with you. Years from now you will still have food to eat... just some food for thought :)
Apple Pudding Pie
1/2 c. margarine or butter
2 c. sugar
cream this together real good and add:
2 eggs mix till lite and fluffy
then add:
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. b. soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
mix well and add:
4 c. raw unpeeled chopped apple (Johnathan are best)
1 c. chopped walnuts
beat well and put in a greased 9x13 pan
bake 325 degrees 45-60 min.
test with a tooth pick
serve with butter sauce and whipped cream
Butter sauce= melt 1/2 c. butter in double boiler, stir in 1 c. sugar and 1 tbsp. cornstarch and 3/4 c. heavy cream (whipping) cook in double boiler until thick serve a spoon full on cake piece and dab of whip cream.
So your assignment is to ask for a berry bush or tree, to look for vacuum sealers with canisters, look for bread pans and used bread machines, sale items on food storage items. Share with others. Keep your eyes out for dehydrators and steamer canners and water bath canners and pressure canners. It is as important to you as getting food in.
Keep working on skill building and keep your eyes out for these items for you and others. Let's all help as we are all sisters and brothers!
Keep actively working on your storage.
Work together to help each other.
Provident Living: April 8th at the Shook's at 9:30 a.m. The class will be on convenience in the kitchen.
There is a wise old saying " Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because of the absence of expense. They have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew, and they save money. They avoid installment buying, and make purchases only after saving enough to pay cash, thus avoiding interest charges.
~~~~ President James E. Faust
http://themicrogardener.com/5-step-guide-to-growing-gorgeous-garlic/ I have grown garlic and it is quite easy to do.
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/03/31-days-to-yumminess-grocery-shopping.html she has good ideas on cutting your grocery expenses in half.
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/p/how-to-start-saving.html great recipes and ideas!
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/03/31-days-to-yuminess-apple-cinnamon.html to try with your oats
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/07/breakfast-and-lunch-meal-planning-and.html more of her recipes
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/p/photobucket.html this is so helpful for cooking food storage items in a pressure cooker!
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/07/fresh-produce-on-budget.html this will help you to save on the fruits and veggies. Along this line, I will mention that if I have produce celery or carrots or apples left over at the end of the month I go ahead and dry them. This is before they go bad and then I have celery if one month I am unable to get it. Also, this goes for potatoes. It seems they turn so fast so save them! You can dry them but keep in mind you need to blanch for three minutes the slices before you put either on the dehydrator tray or in the freezer. You have to blanch the carrots as well, celery and mushrooms can just be sliced and dried or frozen apples you need to slice in water with two tablespoons of lemon juice before drying.
It is a bit of work to do this but the savings adds up and is a way you can build your storage too.
http://www.blissfulanddomesticmenuplans.com/ she has lots of ideas on menu planning and tells how she makes spaghetti sauce and takes out one cup to use on pizzas - great idea!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/cut-fat-and-save-money-make-your-own-cooking-spray.html this is a great savings as spray generic is like $1.79. This is a huge savings when you think of it for very little effort.
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/07/diy-mason-jar-herb-garden.html great idea for fresh herbs and cute at the same time plus when it is time to plant the garden you can take a few and plant them outside.
????When do we plant here in Iowa????????? Answer = AFTER May 15.
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/06/make-your-own-gardeners-hand-scrub-best-of-jillee.html this could also be used as a gift so keep it in mind. Another tip for you, if you know you are going out to work in the dirt, scratch a bar of soap and then you are able to wash and not get the dirt stuck under your nails.
How to create a family budget... http://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2011/01/how-to-create-a-family-budget/ at the end is a link to part two.
http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/gluten-free-flour-mix/ for those in our ward who need gluten free this seems like something that would be most helpful
http://natural-nester.blogspot.com/2012/01/swiffer-sweeper.html a good way to use old towels
http://www.myfamily-essentials.com/category/grocery-savings/ if you think you do not have room for storage this will change your mind and give you great ideas!
Summer is coming! The kids may have gotten taller but still fit in their pants, cut them off for long shorts and that will save on summer wardrobes. Also consider trading with friends different sizes of clothing for children works well too.
When stocking your storage remember things like dish soap and such often overlooked in the storage. Toilet paper is a huge thing not to overlook in my book. To estimate how much you use when you put a roll on the hanger, write the date inside on the cardboard. When it is gone, check the date. If you do this for all your bathrooms you will know what it takes and then I would add on more just for not coming up short.
Keep working on your, storage keep working on being frugal. There are many things we can do to save if we did not have an income we would be glad we knew how to do them....
Keep working on things, I am proud of you all and, yes, that means all of you who are getting this beyond our ward as well.
