Maine Grains - Food economy
agmss15
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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Lars
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoannie1992
3 years agoRelated Discussions
The Economy - Your Thoughts
Comments (23)I usually have lettuce growing this time of the year, but didn't get it in. I'll have to look for transplants. My peppers are abundant this fall. I had a few tomatoes over the summer and also tried growing strawberries, but I think I got them in too late last spring. When we built out house 12 years ago, I purposely left an area in the backyard as a designated vegetable garden. I have herbs growing there and also have grown seasonal vegetables. One year I grew the most beautiful and delicious eggplant. They were very easy and I liked them, but couldn't get anyone else in my family to eat it. They thought it was gross, so I haven't grown it again. Green beans do well in the summer - I prefer the Kentucky wonder pole beans. They taste better than bush beans. One year in late winter I grew sugar snap peas and got a decent harvest. I also grew carrots a couple years in a row and they were good, especially if we picked them when they were still small. I tried sweet corn for the first time last spring, but didn't have very good luck with it. I may have planted it too late and it could be it needed more water than what it received even though I tried to keep up with it. I do have to amend the soil a couple times a year with compost to keep the soil soft and easy to work. Some seasons, I don't have enough time, but I sure do give it a good try and sometimes with plenty of success. One year I planted too many cucumbers and made so many pickles that I got sick of them. I did give quite a few jars away. Another thing I have grown with a lot of success is blackberries and have experience with canning blackberry preserves. I think once a gardener starts to learn what grows well and how to grow it, a hot water canning pot comes in real handy. I always keep some new canning jars and lids on hand too. I really do think it helps growing your own vegetables and fruits if you have the room and the time to dedicate to caring for the garden. It does help cut down on your grocery bill and the savings can add up if you are frugal with your gardening space. Don't forget that as long as you garden organically, you can mix in a few vegetable plants with your ornamentals. I know people who grow vegetables in the beds in their front yard as well as their backyard....See MoreCanned grain-free cat food w/o veggies
Comments (28)I buy Merrick 96% meat canned food to add to the dried food my dogs eat, so seeing your need for a mostly meat food for cats caught my eye. I pay $2 a can for 13 oz or so at our bargain-basement independent pet food store. It is 9 % crude protein, 7 % crude fat, 1.2 % crude fiber, 78% moisture. It does not have the added taurine that cats need, though their cat food does have it. I have no idea what the cat food costs. You might want to look into it, though. I see it does have Guar and carrageenan, though. Merrick Before Grain Salmon Canned Cat Food Ingredients Salmon, Water for Processing, Whitefish, Dried Egg, Yeast Extract, Glycine, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Carageenan, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Lecithin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Glucoheptanate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite Guaranteed Analysis Crude Protein (min.) 10.00% Crude Fat (min.) 4.50% Crude Fiber (max.) 1.40% Moisture (max.) 78.00% Here is a link that might be useful: Merrick...See Morewhat are you doing to help the economy
Comments (21)I've always tried to buy from local merchants. Windsor is surrounded by agriculture. I try to buy my produce locally and also my meat. Nothing is better tasting than fresh chicken that isn't bought in a store. We have an abundance of fruit and veggie stands in the summer and we have the Heinz store where local tomato products can be purchased. I try to go the the farmer's market as often as I can. Recently many of the farmers around here are getting together and producing a map to show where we can purchase locally grown food products. One farmer will even sell his beef 2 steaks at a time. We have turkey farms around here too. When I want sausage I purchase sausage that is local. Same for my bbq sauces and bottled salad dressing if I decided not to make my own. Every season I pick my own strawberries, blueberries and cherries and apples. I freeze enough blueberries to last until I pick them again. I buy and freeze rhubarb from a local man who has a big patch near the airport. He always throws in some apples. I won't buy squash in stores when I can buy it locally in the fall for much less money and store it for the winter. I believe in supporting my neighourhood businesses and restaurants and always have. Same for services. Most of my family members buy North American built vehicles and some that were made here in Windsor. I like to support my local economy as best as I can even when money is tight. I'm not saying that I don't shop some of the big box stores because I do now and again. I do prefer to buy at Canadian stores though. I don't like to go into Wal-Mart but I have done so fewer than 10 times. LOL I have also joined a group on Facebook for the purpose of buying locally grown food in Essex County. Anne...See MoreSelling when economy turns down ?
Comments (14)It depends on your market as to what is the most profitable. Of the things that I grow that are very profitable are zucchini and little pickling cucumbers. Both of these are parthenocopic meaning they set fruit without the need of pollination. We transplant in both crops into my movable buildings. I started picking zucchini about May 8th and little cucumbers around May 20th. We sell the zucchini for $1 a piece and cucumbers for $2.50-3.00 a pound. Since these are in movable buildings, this is actually the second crop under the building, the first was onions. It also won't be the last, as the building is moved over late tomatoes and early fall green and both finish up over winter carrots. Early and late greens are always good too, but you have to have the market for them. Cucumber beetles and squash bugs, I spray for them with Bug-b-gone or other products with Bifenthrin. It really works. Also planting early I don't have to spray (usually)....See Morebbstx
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agol pinkmountain
3 years agoannie1992
3 years agol pinkmountain
3 years agosleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
3 years agol pinkmountain
3 years ago
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