2009 - What have you done to Prepare this week?

[Sailor]

Originally Posted by El Cazador

Fruit trees need a lot of sunlight to really produce. Otherwise you'll get stunted fruit that's susceptible to a number of diseases and blights, plus the fruit is usually smaller and has less sugar content. There are hardy hybrid peaches that are supposed to grow here, but I've always thought the few I've eaten weren't all that good. I opted for apricots. Huge producer of fruit; the fruit is super sweet, easy to prep and can/freeze, and the trees are fairly easy to maintain.

Are they self pollinating? What hybrid/type did you get?

[Sailor]

Originally Posted by hornadylnl

Here's my next question for gardners. I'm not a huge fan of vegetables but I like corn, green beans, peas, potatos, etc. I'm looking at rareseeds.com and they have so many different variety of beans and other plants. What variety do I want if I want just plain jane vegetables like you would buy in a can at grocery stores? I want plane jane green beans, wax beans, beans like you would make ham and beans with, pinto beans, and peas.

Do you guys have any luck planting potatos here? I've heard yes and no. I'll be planting tomatoes as well. That website has some seed collections of 300 packets for $375 but I don't think I'd eat over half of the stuff that's in the collection. I'm mostly wanting to plant stuff that will can. Also, I want them to be heirloom seeds so I can save seeds every year and replant.

I did potatoes for the first time last year. got a bunch of different kinds, cut them up and let them dry out for a few days and planted in troughs. You need a lot drainage sand straw etc. the ones that got to wet rotted. They are really fun for the kids to dig up. Do yourself a favor and dig them up when there is still some plant left on top. Much easier to find them.

[hornadylnl]

Yes, I got a 23 qt. presto pressure canner. My f-in-l gardens so I'll have to ask him as well. One of the reasons I bought a new one is it is supposed to have some instructions on how to can.

[Dr Falken]

Well I did some USPSA shooting to work on the skills, and I'm getting some shelves for storage today. Wife agreed to wood stove, so we will be getting an estimate in next week or so. Ordered 20 AR mags from Brownells Saturday.

[Sailor]

Originally Posted by hornadylnl

Yes, I got a 23 qt. presto pressure canner. My f-in-l gardens so I'll have to ask him as well. One of the reasons I bought a new one is it is supposed to have some instructions on how to can.

It is pretty easy. Keep things sterile and make sure you follow the time needed. Water bath canning salsa is a good easy start. Applesauce is good to try also.

I pressure can Venison, just jam it in throw a beef bullion cube on top and can pints at 10lbs for 75 min. Green beans have to be pressure canned as well.

Good luck.

[Richard]

I just added three new 9 LED mini-flashlights to our packs, this completes our transition from incandescent to LED, which means now all of our flashlights (about a dozen of various shapes, sizes and power) are all LED now, well except my spotlight, that's got a halogen bulb but I have yet to see an LED that can put out 2+ million candlepower.

[tyler34]

I'm all led as well except for my spotlight which is H.I.D. I'm pretty sure I can call batman with the thing.

[jennybird]

Originally Posted by hornadylnl

Here's my next question for gardners. I'm not a huge fan of vegetables but I like corn, green beans, peas, potatos, etc. I'm looking at rareseeds.com and they have so many different variety of beans and other plants. What variety do I want if I want just plain jane vegetables like you would buy in a can at grocery stores? I want plane jane green beans, wax beans, beans like you would make ham and beans with, pinto beans, and peas.

Do you guys have any luck planting potatos here? I've heard yes and no. I'll be planting tomatoes as well. That website has some seed collections of 300 packets for $375 but I don't think I'd eat over half of the stuff that's in the collection. I'm mostly wanting to plant stuff that will can. Also, I want them to be heirloom seeds so I can save seeds every year and replant.

Go to Wally World, Lowe's, Rural King, TSC, just about anywhere and go through their seed packets (Rural King and TSC have the best selection I think). There will be several varieties of each veggie. Best thing to do is read the description on the back of the packets. Corn, for instance... some varieties are much sweeter than others. It's a crapshoot.

Potatoes? Absolutely they can be grown here! You have to make long hills about 12" high to plant them on... that's the key. Tomatoes... piece of cake. Keep in mind that Tom's are actually vines (heavy vines too!) so you have to keep them staked up very well. You can grow any veggies you want here so long as you have decent soil conditions and plenty of sun.

[smokingman]

Started my seed trays Also of note seed potatos are for sale at wally world(first time).The difference between seed potatos and the ones off the grocery shelf is that the seed ones have an anti fungal treatment so they will not rot when you plant them(all commercial potatos you buy are grown from these seed potatos).In my opinion well worth buying a bag at 6 dollars

[WETSU]

I'll jump in here:

This past week, I worked out a bunch, ran and swam.

I did one H2H/combative session w/ sparring etc.

I only got in one dryfire session, G19 and AK

Got to the range for some team drills, two man bounding forward and back, retrieving a wounded team mate. Shot my primary AK and a USP.45 to switch it up. Ran it all with a loaded plate carrier and drop leg in the mud. Good fun.

Worked on and nearly finished my AMD65 build. Boogerd up one long rivet which shut down the next step. Damn. Fabricating the side sling swivel took some time to do right.

Watched a DVD on "Inside the Mind of a Suicide Bomber"

Finished the book "Making a killing" about British PSDs in Iraq c. 2003-2004.