Wednesday, January 13, 2010

More Things I Learned Last Week

-Just because pressure canning was easier than it seems, it does not mean that one should get all lackadaisical on the second canning attempt and forget to put the screw lids on the cans before processing.   That was 8 pints of delicious chicken broth that I wasted.

-When you make your first batch of cheese, you probably want to make sure that you pick up a pot from a second hand store to be your "waxing pot" so you don't ruin a good pot that you will want to cook with later.  I did not ruin any of my pots, but I did not get to wax the cheese. Which is now not edible.  I don't even want to discuss it anymore.

-Make sure you are reading the right recipe when you make a new loaf of bread for the first time. Do not start flipping through your book while you are in the middle of making said bread.  Total bread failure. Total.  I did find out that the dog will happily eat dough.

other news
I hooked up with my local WAPF chapter. Yes, I did read "Nourishing Traditions".  Yes, I have some serious problems with the research that Sally Fallon used and the pseudoscience that is filled in its pages.  I personally don't think the diet as it is written is for me.   But I do agree with a lot of her and the WAPF ideas.   

Better than that, they have food buying coops.  I'm picking up 25 lbs. of hard spring red wheat from Bluebird Grains for a whopping $15.  (I was too chicken to actually pick up 50 lbs).  If I only make 1 loaf of whole wheat bread a week, that's about 6 months worth of bread. Not bad. 

They have group buying a lot and it is all local, so I'm totally thrilled.  I may actually be able to source out most of my stuff locally and not feel so hindered by the prices at the farmer's markets.

Speaking of eating locally, I told Awesome Husband that I wanted to one day write a book called, "How to Eat Locally and Sustainably Without Being A Total Jackass About It".  Or maybe, "How to Promote Your Local Farmer Without Sounding Like  Your Head is Shoved Up Your Hiney".  More and more, I roll my eyes at people about this stuff. I'm into it.  I am excited to be buying more directly with farmers and starting to buy from farmers who aren't even large enough to be at the farmer's market.  I really am. For years I've wanted to live in a small, self-contained community and since I can't move to one--I finally figured out I can build it here.  But gads, how self-righteous it can all come streaming out sometimes.

I certainly hope someone slaps me upside my head if I seem like I'm enjoying the smell of my farts too much.  Just sayin'.

2 comments:

  1. that is funny - I usually organize the Bluebird buys but someone else did it this time. One other person and I have started the wholesale buying clubs in Seattle and there is a TON of stuff. I even organized a bulk root & tuber buy last fall from a farmer in Methow who filled my garage up with potatoes, carrots, squash that we had all ordered for crazy cheap prices.

    We will be doing lots more of this when summer hits, especially tomatoes for canning. I left you my email address on your cheese post in case you want to get on the larger wholesale buying club list.

    It's been fun meeting all the farmers. I know everyone who grew food for us. That is pretty friggin cool.

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  2. Great! I'll email you this evening! You have suddenly become a god-send to me! I am so grateful that I don't have to try to re-invent the wheel on trying to find buying clubs and the sort. I remember reading on your blog about the potato order.

    I'm quite envious that you've gotten to know a lot of the local farmers. I'm basically just starting out and very excited to get to know who is providing me food (and that I get to put money directly into their hands)

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