Marti’s Corner – 09

Hi Everyone,

NOTES: * If you are planning on buying and transplanting anything, here are a few tips.

• After you transplant, you only have about 10 minutes to water. Once the roots have been exposed to air, they need to be replanted and then watered to remove the air around them. 10 minutes!!!
• Keep them in shade for 3 days. This allows the plant to rest and recover from the shock of the move. If you can’t “move” the plant to the shade, cover it with a sheet, or towel, or something to simulate shade. I use something like this: Vensovo 50% Sunblock Shade Cloth Net Black Resistant – 8×12 Ft Garden Shade Mesh Tarp for Plant Cover They come in varying shade degrees. Mine are 50% shade. They really work! Once it gets to be 90 degrees or so, I start covering my plants. It really is cooler under the shade cloth.

  

• Try to keep the part above the ground shorter than the roots. We bought a beautiful flowering plant on Saturday for $45 (I almost NEVER pay that much!!!), and when we went to repot it, the root system broke off and only about 1/2 of the roots came out with the plant. After replanting and watering, I immediately pruned the top WAY back. It was hard to cut off all the flowers and buds, but I wanted the plant to survive, not struggle. I also covered it with shade, and talked to it nicely, praised it, and encouraged it along. BTW, Alma says you can pray over your fields, so I do. LOL
• You may want to add a little food to your new container to help the plant along. I like this: Kellogg Garden Organics 11.5 lb. Fruit Tree Fertilizer. You can get a 3 lb bag at Lowe’s for about $7, so this 11-pound bag for $22 is about the same. There are no salts, and lots of good micro bacterias for the soil. I like this one too: FoxFarm FX14060 Happy Frog Fruit and Flower Fertilizer, but it’s $20 for 4 pounds and has the same ingredients. I’m also a big proponent of worm castings and compost. My neighbor has a ton of charcoal from his fire pit that he is giving me. Add charcoal to create rich, quality garden soil | Cape Gazette.

LONG TERM FOCUS: Rice

Rice is a grain, so it can take the place of your wheat, or add to the variety of grains you have stored. Plus, rice is very versatile. You can use rice in main dishes, mixed with other stored foods (rice and beans), and even used in desserts (rice pudding). I remember in college, I was invited to spend the night at a friend’s house in Idaho. For breakfast, she got out leftover rice from the night before, sprinkled sugar on it, and added milk. I was skeptical, to say the least; but it was surprisingly good! Who knew? My grandson has celiac disease, so rice and potatoes have taken the place of pasta for him.

* “Long grain rice cooks up dry and fluffy and is good in curries, pilafs, and casseroles. Short grain rice is more tender and sticky and is good for breakfast cereals, puddings, Oriental dishes, and casseroles too. Basically, all rice can be used interchangeably.” (Preparedness Principles, Barbara Salsbury, p.59)

According to “An Approach to Long-Term Food Storage“, it is recommended to have about 60 pounds per person for a year’s supply. Never fear, I did the math for you. LOL 60 lbs = 120 cups dry rice = 350 c. cooked rice. In other words, 60 lbs of rice will give you 1 cup of rice a day for nearly a year. Not bad.

I look for rice that is about $20 for 8 pounds. That’s a pretty good price.

SHORT TERM FOCUS: Canned Meat

Just about any kind of meat can be purchased in a can. DON’T BUY TUNA IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO EAT TUNA!!! Canned meat is pricey. That’s why I’m ALWAYS telling you to can your own.

In the meantime, think about what you usually make for dinner. Canned chicken is about $2 for 10 oz. Maybe pick up 10 cans and put it away. Get tuna if you think your kids will eat tuna casserole. Get salmon or even roast.

Can you survive without canned meat? Yes. But do you want to??? LOL

72-HOUR KIT FOCUS: First Aid

This week, get a quart-size baggie and stick some bandaids in it. Maybe buy a small tube of Neosporin or some other cream. We will add to this “kit” throughout the month. Each of my 72-hour kits has a small FAK (first aid kit). I have different sizes of bandaids, and maybe 2 knuckle bandages, and 2 fingertip bandaids, and 2 very large bandaids. This is not a large “family” FAK, but a small personal kit that I can carry around. If you want a family kit, then it should be something easy to grab and carry. In fact, you should probably have something in each car, just in case. Start with bandaids.

MISC. FOCUS: Sun Screen

It’s time for sunscreen and sunburn lotion to go on sale soon. Get some for your family FAK. If you have to evacuate, you may end up being in the sun for extended periods. Be prepared.

Sunscreen DOES expire and should not be used after 3 years. When you buy it, write the date on the container, then toss it after 3 years. Does Sunscreen Expire? Experts Share Signs of Spoiled SPF | Allure

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES

Rice Pudding There are dozens of rice pudding recipes.  This one is by Christin Mahrlig.  Posted to spicysouthernkitchen.com

Makes 4 servings. In a saucepan, combine: 5 1/2 c. whole milk 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in: (heaping) 1/2 c. long grain white rice and reduce heat to low. It should be at a gentle simmer. Cook for 50-60 minutes. Mixture should thicken up to the consistency of yogurt. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in: 2 tsp vanilla extract. Let cool, then refrigerate. An additional 1/2 c. milk is stirred in just before serving. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

Chili with Rice From Taste of Home (I’m wondering if you could just open a can of chili and serve it over the rice? I’ve never done this. Anyone???)

1 lb ground beef (or 1 pint “canned” ground beef) 1 medium onion chopped (or 1 TB dehydrated onion rehydrated in 1/4 c. water for 20 min.) 1/2 c. chopped green pepper (or 1 TB chopped green pepper rehydrated in the same water as onion) 1 clove garlic, minced Brown together until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Add: 2-3 c. tomato juice (or 16 oz. tomato sauce and 2 c. water) 1/2 c. uncooked long grain rice 1 TB chili powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp dried oregano Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 min. or until rice is tender. Stir in: 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 c. frozen corn (or 1 can corn drained) 1 can sliced ripe olives, drained Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey jack cheese. Sprinkle and cook 5 min longer or until cheese melts.

Check out this link that shows you how to substitute tomato sauce for ketchup, chili sauce, tomato juice, and tomato soup.

Marti