Knowledge Weighs Nothing

How To Can Pretty Much All Fresh Beans

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If you grow your own beans, once they have been cropping for a while, it doesn’t take too long before you feel you have had enough of a good thing, and your mind switches to thinking about preserving the beans for future use. Some beans dehydrate well, others freeze well, but all are suitable for canning.  If you want know more about canning Green & Yellow beans and also Lima beans, Broadbeans, Snap beans, Pole beans, Runner beans, etc, today is your lucky day!

If you check out the link below, ‘Pick Your Own’ have created an awesome, detailed photo tutorial on how to can fresh beans. If you are growing beans, I highly recommend you check it out!

How To Can Pretty Much All Fresh Beans

(Photo from: Pick Your Own)

Originally posted 2013-07-25 11:46:47.

Self-Sufficient Goat Keeping 101

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When folks first start off with homesteading and self-sufficiency, they usually start off growing their own fruit and vegetables.  Once they start growing, they soon realize that to be fully self-sufficient, they need to learn about preserving their produce. When they feel they have a handle on growing their own food, their attention usually turns to keeping chickens for eggs and meat.  I think this is a fairly natural progression. But the thing is, most folks stop there, but I am here to encourage you to consider keeping some goats!

If you have the space, and you actually probably need a lot less space than you might think, I highly recommend getting some goats. Goats are hardy, low maintenance and if you have breeding goats, you can have a constant supply of milk, cheese, yoghurt and of course a protein rich, healthy meat. Check out the great goat keeping resources below.

Self-Sufficient Goat Keeping 101  & more here

(Photo from:  avlxyz)

Originally posted 2013-07-15 17:17:02.

How To Grow Spirulina At Home

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A while back I was watching Doomsday Preppers and there was this guy, I think his name was Ryan Croft, who was growing spirulina in some tanks at home.  Ryan believed that as spirulina is so nutritionally dense and a complete food, he could all but feed his family with it, with a few additions (earth worms were one I believe…).

For those that don’t know – spirulina is a green algae that is incredibly high in protein and other nutrients.  It is a full protein in that it provides the full range of essential amino acids required. It is also very high in iron and B vitamins. Many people suggest it is a complete food, and you could survive on just spirulina and one or two other foods to meet your nutritional needs.

I think growing spirulina is a good idea for preppers and folks that want to be more self-sufficient. Whilst it looks complicated, it’s not really.  Also you can grow a huge amount (enough to feed a family) in very little space.  You could grow it in an apartment. Anyway, check out the article below, do some Google searches and you decide.

How To Grow Spirulina At Home

(Photo from: Algae Industry Magazine)

Originally posted 2013-07-08 17:33:02.

Combat Tomato Blight With Copper Coins

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I refuse to use pesticide, insecticide and anti-fungal spray on my fruit and vegetables. If I want to eat foods containing these, I’ll just get them from the supermarket…

The problem is – my reluctance to use chemicals has cost me my entire tomato crop for the last two years! I also lost most of my potatoes last year as well. I lost both crops due to blight.  Most people don’t realize, but potato blight and tomato blight are exactly the same. The blight is the same fungus called: Phytophthora infestans.

Many people think that the coin/blight trick is a myth; I can tell you it is not. It works, but only if you use coins produced before 1982 as these have more copper in them and it is the copper that stops the blight. The copper/coin tip might not completely stop the blight, but it may slow it down long enough for your affected tomatoes to ripen. See the post below for more details ( read the comments too!).

Fighting tomato blight with pennies?

Related Book: All New Square Foot Gardening

(Photo from: The Walden Effect)

Originally posted 2013-07-01 19:25:52.

13 Uses for Cucumbers That Will Amaze You

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The Simple cucumber–it sits patiently in the crisper drawer while its flashier cousins are being scooped up and devoured for dinner. The cucumber just waits and waits in all of it’s watery, melon-tinged mild manner.

Maybe someone will make some pickles, maybe Mom will slice off a few rounds for her tired eyes…but really, aside from pickles and eye treatments, what is a cucumber’s claim to fame? See 13 amazing uses for cucumbers below

13 Uses for Cucumbers That Will Amaze You

(Picture Credit: La Grande Farmers’ Market)

Originally posted 2013-06-19 23:39:18.

The 7-Step Soil Improvement Plan

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In order to have a lush green lawn, a beautiful flower garden, or a productive vegetable garden, you need to have good soil, and sadly, it is getting harder and harder to find good soil.

If the topsoil in your yard hasn’t been stripped by developers, it may have been neglected or abused by previous residents, or it may just never have been that good to begin with. See the 7 point The 7-Step Soil Improvement Plan below

The 7-Step Soil Improvement Plan

(Picture Credit: willismonroe)

Originally posted 2013-06-17 18:43:55.