annaraven - more random update stuph

[moolie]

I'm no expert, and I'm sure there are better methods, but I managed to sprout and grow tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, peas, and beans that are up to 5 years old this year!

I keep my flowers and veggie separate, in two Tupperware brand "square #2" containers (meant for organizing pantry items in the kitchen). Mine are opaque bright pink plastic, they were originally some kind of file box for Tupperware consultants and I got them from a friend who sold Tupperware, so they have recipe card dividers.

I keep purchased seeds in their original envelopes, folded over at the top and taped shut with masking tape.

I keep saved seeds in regular paper envelopes (for mailing letters) taped shut the same way.

 

[AnnaRaven]

Well, I just asked DS for a filing box he hadn't been using. I put all the seeds in there for now. I need to add labelled dividers. So I can see what I've got. Like, I know I have a bunch of beans and peppers and tomatoes, but not sure what else.

ETA: I'd still like to hear about how others sort/organize/store their seeds.

 

[savingdogs]

I just have all of mine in a plastic container. I'd love to have a better organizing method as well. Especially for those saved myself.

 

[AnnaRaven]

I just got a 5-liter Harsch Fermenting/Pickling Crock off Craigslist. Time to start some sauerkraut.

How long do you usually let yours ferment before you start eating it?

 

[TanksHill]

Great find on the crock. I hope it was a bargain.

I used to have a plastic shoe box type thing for all my seeds. I often found I was ordering things I didn't need because I didn't know what I had. I was at GoodWill a while back and found a really neat metal office box. I bought it with no idea what I was going to use it for.

But now it holds my seeds. In alphabetic order divided up. I would have loved the box to be a bit bigger but it works well.


G

 

[abifae]

I just got a 5-liter Harsch Fermenting/Pickling Crock off Craigslist. Time to start some sauerkraut.

How long do you usually let yours ferment before you start eating it?

With whey, about 5-7 days. Without, a couple weeks.

 

[AnnaRaven]

I just got a 5-liter Harsch Fermenting/Pickling Crock off Craigslist. Time to start some sauerkraut.

How long do you usually let yours ferment before you start eating it?

With whey, about 5-7 days. Without, a couple weeks.

Well, I just started a pot of kraut today. So we'll see how it goes.

And, I also canned 7 pints of ratatouille today. Woot!

 

[AnnaRaven]

Just saw that Bank of America is going to start charging $5 for using your debit card in stores, starting January. Tomorrow, DH gets paid and I'm going to take the grocery money out in cash and start using the envelope method of budgeting. I used to use the debit card, just because it allowed me to track my purchases online. Now - I guess I'll be doing it differently.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I have slowly been going over to cash only for the past year. When I have no cash, I don't buy I also buy the big ticket items that are really needed first, when I do have the money. And I plan a big shopping trip every 3 months or so. We have been living fairly selfreliant for about 5 years, so we are getting better and better at it.
We haven't used credit cards or debit cards for over a year. I note our purchases on the calendar, for budgeting purposes

We save our seeds in envelopes, ziplock baggies and various containers, depending on the type and quantity of seeds. If the seed fits in an envelope, it goes in one of two filing boxes. I have one that seals nicely a holds hanging files. that is my favorite one, since it is easy to keep track of the seeds. each hanging folder holds one type of seed, I.e. lettuces, I keep all the lettuce seed in their individual envelopes in one large ziplock bag, Sometimes I will put an envelope in a sandwhich bag as well, or if I have several packets of the exact same seed, I'll put them all in one baggy, then put it in the big ziplock with the rest. If there is spillage, the seed is still contained in the ziplock bag and it gives additional protection from moisture. This particular filing box has a nice tight fitting lid.
A lot f our seed wouldn't fit in an envelope. those often go in a ziplock bag and then in a larde rubermade container. I try and use 1 gallon ziplock bag, because if they are all the same size, it is easier to store them. I also save larger seeds in jars. I find the most important thing to do is labeling and dating the seed. We have somany pumpkin and sunflower seeds, that they are stored in gallon plastic jars and popcorn tins. We do misplace seeds on occasion. While cleaning out the back porch (it is huge) a week ago, SO found a 5 gallon bucket filled with sunflower seeds. Since it was properly labeled with the date, we know the seeds were from last year. We will save some and feed the rest to the critters.

 

[AnnaRaven]

Well, today DH got paid. So I started the envelope method today. Got out half the month's cash for groceries and picked up a few groceries.