Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
I’ve included a pdf of 14 DIY salves for healing.
Calendula Salve for rashes, sunburn, chapped skin
Plantain Salve for bites, slivers, boils, draws out infections
Yarrow Salve for bleeding, cuts, scratches, abrasions, puncture wounds
Pine Salve for boils, joint pain, inflammation, bug bites, stiffness
St. John’s Wort Salve for sciatica, joint pain, tingling, shooting pains
Comfrey Salve for old injuries, swellings, bruises. (This is what my doctor recommended for my “frozen shoulder”)
It’s a good time to fill all your propane tanks.
GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
According to my calendar for 2025, here is what I planted in January
Jan 18: plant celery and parsley inside
Jan 25: plant tomatoes and basil inside
(my gardener friend says he plants his onions outside in January)
Feb 1: plant peas outside, plant peppers, calendula, and thyme inside
Feb 8: plant oregano, chamomile, and callendula seeds inside
Feb 15: plant mint inside
Feb 20: plant potatoes, carrots outside
Feb 22: plant cucumbers inside and parsley outside
March 1: plant squash inside
I haven’t ordered any seeds this year. I’ll have to get on that right after Christmas.
LONG TERM PURCHASE: hot chocolate, cocoa
Chocolate milk and hot chocolate are comfort drinks for sure. But they are easy to store and relatively inexpensive. Shelf life is about 2 years.
SHORT TERM PURCHASE: butter, mayonnaise
No, I haven’t made any mayonnaise yet. It’s on my list to do.
I’m also planning on canning butter after the holidays.
MISC. PURCHASE: garden seeds
My favorite seed stores:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds | Supporting Farms & Gardens Since 1973
True Leaf Market | True Leaf Market Seed Company
Organic Seed Packets – Organic Vegetable Seeds Online – Pinetree Garden Seeds
Be careful when ordering very inexpensive seed packets. I bought a packet of seeds once for $1.50 and thought I was getting a real bargain, until I opened it and found only 4-5 seeds inside.
Also keep in mind that seeds sold locally are usually chosen for your climate. However, many places do not offer seeds until late January or February at the earliest. For Southern CA, that’s late to get started.
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
Today’s recipes from a recipe booklet “The Stockpile Cafe” by Daisy Luther.
5-Can Chili
1 can of chili without beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can corn
2 TB chili powder
1 TB onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
3 TB cheese powder
Add all the cans of food without draining into a large pot.
Stir in all the spices except the cheese powder
Stir everything and simmer without a lid for 30 min.
Stir in the cheese powder and simmer for 5 more minutes.
Chili Pie
2 c. cooked rice
left over chili
Mix and spread into a seasoned cast iron skillet
1 can green chili
3 TB dehydrated onions – rehydrated
Add to the skillet and stir
1 box of cornbread mix – prepared as directed
Spread batter of the chili mix. Bake 35- for 30 min. If using an open fire, tent the skillet with tin foil, leaving room for the batter to rise. Cook until the batter on top is fully cooked.
Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
3 c. dehydrated potato slices
Grease a baking dish and put the dried potatoes in it.
1 slice of vacuum packed, shelf stable country ham. (okay I searched on the internet for this and couldn’t find anything. I’m thinking you can substitute SPAM.)
Chop the ham into bite-sized pieces and mix with the potato slices in the baking dish.
Then whisk together
2 1/2 c. water
1/4 c. powdered milk
2 TB flour or cornstarch
1 TB onion powder
2 TB freeze dried chives
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
Mix and pour over the contents of the baking dish.
Bake 350 for 45 min. Let it rest for 5 minutes
Marti Shelley
