Subsistence thread

I start lump charcoal by starting a small kindling fire. Once the fire gets going set the grate with charcoal right on top. Starts in no time. Briquets last longer but I can cook corn and then meat on lump before it burns down. Nothing says summer like charcoal.
 
Our raspberry bush has been produced a few quarts so far, not bad for being planted last year. Looks like a good crop of apples this year. First sizable crop of cortland apples this year, Braeburn are plentiful.
 
Wow those rakes look money!

Speaking of apples, aint it crazy how some years they produce heavily and many others not so much? And it is a town wide thing, not just on particular properties.
 
Wow those rakes look money!

Speaking of apples, aint it crazy how some years they produce heavily and many others not so much? And it is a town wide thing, not just on particular properties.
Cold or really rainy springs that ground the bees and pollinators for our cortland tree will definitely make for zero fruit. If it’s cold enough during that window that they need to pollinate sometimes the flowers won’t really grow much or open up, so again poor pollination.

There’s some apples that don’t bloom until summer, so we usually still get honey crisps and others in September.
And cider. I’m looking forward to that.
 
@stig Any idea why meat doesn't work?

Heard of anyone else like that?

I met a french woman, who would also cross the street to avoid passing a butcher shop, since the smell made her puke.

Only one with the affliction I've come across.

I did the first batch of tomato sauce for the freezer today.
Small one, only about 6 quarts.

It is like a burst of summer, when I use it in mid winter.
 
Here is a picture:

P1090224.JPG

The round ones are Berner rosen, a Swiss tomato.
The others are Amish paste, my favourite sauce tomato.
It is like a San Marzano on steroids.
Great taste, huge yield and no diseases.
I love it.

Seeds I get from https://www.rareseeds.com/
Unfortunately they finally figured out that shipping seeds to the EU is illegal, so a friend in California orders for me, then packs them with some gummy bears to hide the sound of rattling seeds and sends them on.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #68
I picked some red huckleberries tonight after dinner. The biomass is good this year... this is only from a couple of bushes 20 feet from my back door. I use the sled to separate the leaves from berries by rolling them down the ramp. It doesn't get them all but helps. IMG_20220818_202619_HDR.jpg IMG_20220818_203741_HDR.jpg
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #70
Yeah, I would never try to cultivate mushrooms... there are so many just around the area to pick.
 
We've been picking blueberries from our own bushes, and the rampant Himalayan blackberries. Those darn blackberries are very tasty, but you sure do have to put in some blood and tears to get at them. A good year for them, so it's worth it.
 
Last edited:
Interesting. What's the texture like? Seems like it could be like sushi ginger, and that would be pretty good.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #75
It's mostly from the stalk rather than from the fronds so it's pretty firm. Herring roe on kelp fronds is a whole nother deal and not so common around here.
 
Back
Top