Looking for the best method to cool and dry a small food storage room
jaono
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
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Austin Air Companie
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agolive_wire_oak
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoRelated Discussions
Apples, sun/drying/slicing for pet/animal food?
Comments (23)Konrad, I am trying to mainly use my apples for people-type animals, but then I don't have the amounts you are dealing with. I have about 30 trees, but most are not yet bearing, so this year I guess I have maybe a total of 15 bushels or so. I did give the pommace from my last squeezing to a friend with horses and he said they enjoyed the new food. I forwarded that washing machine link to a couple of friends who are also making cider this year. I bet my top-loading high efficiency machine would do a number on apples, with its very high spin speed, but I do bet SWMBO would veto that idea. I also have seen those apple scratter plans and have lined up a friend who does wood turning to help with the cylinder if I can come up with suitable wood. I guess I am a bit old fashioned and would prefer to pulp the apples and press them rather than send them through the washer! So, Kondar, what animals are you planning to give that guormet feast to?? Chuck...See MoreStorage methods
Comments (17)I see 2 separate questions here. One is your subject line of storage, but the other is your question about your petunia seeds. On the petunia seeds, you could be harvesting these all summer, so something that will allow you to put little pods or even seeds in on a daily basis would be nice. (Or if not daily, then weekly) I doubt many people on here take seeds and put them straight into plastic -- they should dry a few days first. Longer if you pick the pods and want them to split open on their own. I'm not saying this is the best idea on the planet, but I got some #2 and #4 cone coffee filters and I have a cardboard shoebox where each size fits nicely. I write the name of the seed on the filter itself and then drop the pods into them as I collect. They are open already, so it's a simple matter of dropping the seeds in. I also can label them "really tall orange zinnia" or "Sunset orange snapdragon" for plants that I especially want to keep the seed of. If I end up with too many, I can trade away packs of seed that might say "Seed from gorgeous sunset orange snapdragon". Not saying the seedlings will be orange, just that the mother was. After the pods split, the seed has dried and it's time to package away, you can use coin envelopes. But if you're going to trade them away, the cheap plastic ziploc-style baggies are a LOT cheaper -- maybe 25% the cost? You buy them from WalMart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's and they are stocked on the shelves near the beads 100 bags for about $1.00. I am always on the look out for new and better seed drying methods! Right now, I have a lot of seeds on a lot of horizontal surfaces and it's a mess! My new idea is to make a miniature drying rack with screen sides, bottom and top to allow air movement. Not sure how to do it, but I'm thinking about it. :)) Lime...See MoreWhat is your seed drying method?
Comments (38)Oh yes! As soon as I saw Netta's nice stack I could see Miss Kitty belly diving into those! I love the idea of using the attic once we get it sprayed with insulation, but we don't have a place to have stairs that have a pull down opening. We have to use a ladder, in the bedroom. Nix on the attic drying!! During our renovation, the contractor has been very carefully helping us to create a kitchen with a seed office off to the side - and getting temps just right in there. Not to dry, not too humid, not to warm or cold...perfect for seed storage. GGG...See MoreHome Food Storage
Comments (18)caavonldy- That's a great plan... It took me 18-months to get a full year of food in storage on a $200/month food budget, plus I have 3-years worth of the "Seven Survival Foods". Now my food budget is $125/month, so that's one of the benefits from having home food storage (this amount is for two adults). I talked with my best friend about this very subject just last night because she's diabetic and very carb sensitive and can't eat soy either. These are sources of protein I have in storage. You probably already have many of them. 1. Protein powders, especially whey protein. Whey has the highest BV (Biological Value) and you will assimilate more protein from whey than any other source of protein. The next highest are eggs, then beef, chicken, fish and legumes - on down the scale. 2. Powdered whole eggs. I get mine from Honeyville Grain in #10 cans. When powdered eggs are less expensive per egg than shell eggs I use powdered eggs. About the only shell eggs I use these days are when the store sends me a coupon for a dozen eggs - free. There are approximately 80-90 eggs per #10 can. I love powdered eggs when I want to make 6-muffins and I need 1/2 an egg. Many foods we make don't need a whole egg, so using 1/2 an egg in pancakes, for instance, it also saves some money. 3. If you have a pressure canner you can home-can all kinds of meat. (see link below) 4. Canned meat from the store. When I was a child back in the mid-50's we had a refrigerator that had a freezer about 12-inches square, and for a family of 6 who only got groceries once-a-month, there wasn't enough room for much meat in it, so mom served all kinds of canned salmon, tuna, Chicken A la King, Spam, Ham Spread, Chunk Ham, Roast Beef, Chicken, Dried Beef for you-know-what on a shingle....;-) I remember whole stewed chickens coming in cans and made wonderful chicken noodle soup. Now I make White Chili with a 10-oz. can of chicken, can of white beans (or home-cooked beans), cup of water and some McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix - all are pantry foods. I have many of those same foods in storage and most of them have very long storage times. When you start looking at the store you'll find a good assortment of meat in cans. I even have Yoder Bacon in cans. 5. Most expensive... Freeze-dried meats which reconstitute in a few minutes in hot water. I have freeze-dried ground beef, sausage crumbles, white turkey, chicken, beef roast, and diced ham (I've also noticed freeze-dried shrimp and pork chops recently...). Check Mountain House, Emergency Essentials, Honeyville Grain, Nitro-Pak, Augason Farms. There is freeze-dried cheese and cheese powder in storage. Shredded Colby or Mozzarella will rehydrate in a few minutes in warm water and will feel, taste, and melt just like freshly-grated cheese. 6. I also keep Vital Wheat Gluten in #10 cans in storage to use as a meat extender or meat substitute and make "wheat meat" (aka fake meat, seitan or gluten) with it. There is nearly as much protein in ground "wheat meat" as there is in ground beef. I mix it 50/50 with any kind of ground meat I'm using to get more protein for my money - I also cut fat and cholesterol. I can make this from whole wheat flour, but it's easier to make it from Vital Wheat Gluten. Ground gluten can also be used as a high-protein granola-like "cereal". For more information: "The Amazing Wheat Book" by LeArta Moulton or http://www.livingwithbasics.com/documents/awb-recipes/pdf/wheatgluten.pdf 7. Lesser amounts of protein from powdered milk, peanut butter, beans/seeds/grains/nuts. The bulk of the milk in storage is a whey-based milk substitute - Morning Moo's - www.augasonfarms.com. And I also use another non-fat dry milk product - Country Cream - http://www.grandmascountryfoods.com/ Morning Moo's is less expensive and makes 22-quarts per #10 can while Country Cream makes 20-quarts. Both of these milk products come in bulk amounts for a real savings on milk if you are going to use it on a regular basis, or for storage - #10 cans. Both taste as good as regular store bought milk. We only use powdered milk. Good luck. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: National Center for Home Food Preservation...See MoreSammy
4 years agoSeabornman
4 years agojaono
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoAustin Air Companie
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
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