Food Diaries

[Shadows]

Honesty, I only count calories and protein. And drink at least 72ounces of water a day.

I just make sure I don't add salt or anything stupid to whatever it is I eat.

I try and aim for 2000-5000 calories.

140-210g of protein

and sleep about 6-8 hrs a night. Sometimes, only 3-5 if i got a date or whatever.

 

[Joshuanuh]

Im trying to cut my food budget to the bare minimum, without actually eating Ramen for every meal.
Ive already pretty much cut meat to once a week or less, and Im eating a lot of tomato soup and PB&J.
Any ideas or tips?
Thanks

 

[I like to bore people]

Only tip I have for you is to stop eating instant ramen and pb&j, especially on store bought bread.

Some of the ideas I have is to study your local flora for consumption. You can find tasty mushrooms and such even in urban settings.
Start a permaculture and experiment with regrowing vegetables.

 

[I like to bore people]

For when shit hits the fan

In his book, Nuclear War Survival Skills, Cresson Kearny provides a list of basic foods that will get a person through the difficult times. He provides the following basic survival ration for multi-year storage.

Amount Per day

Whole kernel hard wheat – 16oz.
Beans – 5oz.
Non-fat milk powder – 2oz.
Vegetable oil – 1oz.
Sugar – 2oz.
Salt (iodized) – 1/3oz.
Multi vitamin pills – 1 per day

This ration will provide you with about 2600 calories a day and is nutritionally balanced. The two disadvantages of this ration are that it requires cooking and most people are not accustomed to such a diet.

He also provides an emergency ration for infants.

Amount Per Day

Instant non-fat dry milk – 1 cup + 2 tablespoons ( 2 3/4 oz.)
Vegetable cooking oil – 3 tablespoons (1 oz.)
Sugar – 2 tablespoons (0.7 0z.)
Standard daily multi vitamin – 1/3 pill
Safe water – 4 cups

The items listed can be bought in bulk and are relatively cheap at this time so there is no excuse not having even these few items in storage. The need to rely on a basic ration with little variety may result in taste fatigue over time but the ability to eat daily and supply your body with sufficient calories to deal with the crisis will enable you to get through it.

http://www.alt-market.com/articles/2631-an-american-civil-war-means-food-riots-and-starvation

 

[I like to bore people]

Here in America, we have not only one but two television networks (that I know of) dedicated to FOOD - like, you know, people sit down and watch other people eat. I know food is the next best thing after sex that television producers use to get better numbers. So, naturally, amongst orthodox settings where a woman cooks a nice meal while showing the viewers a few tricks, we have a show where a guy travels around the US eating a bunch of lard soaked carbohydrates. Or my favorite, the show where a guy takes a Bill Nye-esque scientific approach to showing various cooking methods and the tools to be used. But those are not enough because we have about 20 hours of slot left to fill, so they came up with more 'entertaining' ways to watch somebody eat something. There's of course the reality-TV format, all scripted I'm sure, where some expert finds problems at a failing restaurant and the television show finds the solution. Throw in a few tears and some yelling and you got yourself a half an hour of cheap drama. The food shows that makes me lose my appetite the most has to be the kinds that follow the gameshow formula where cooking is turned into a competition, and a competition isn't a competition without judgement, so the competitors kitchen creations are presented to the pretentious experts who in turn gives the viewers their opinion about that particular combination of sodium, glucose, protein, amino acid, fat and carbohydrates. Watching them shift through with their forks and speak about as though they are critiquing Da Vinci's work is enough for me to want to strangle their privileged fat necks.

It's fine for people to watch it, after all, there are lot more worse things on television like that one game show where fat people compete to lose weight - must be inspirational to the over 70% of the American population living today who are obese. But even in a country like the USA, where something like 4% of the worlds population uses 25% of the resources, we have children who go hungry.

With that said, and taking other posts I've made into consideration, I doubt anybody will be posting their food fashion again so I'm going to totally hijack this dead thread and attempt to give it some prospect of life.

I'll post it later but not on weekends.

 

[I like to bore people]

It's the weekend but fuck it

Shelter

Natural rocks for heat retention when relying on fire for heating
Avoid concrete blocks and bricks.. heated air bubbles inside can cause a dangerous explosion

Tarp, as much as you can get (not only for shelter but can be used as water collection. Putting out couple of buckets even in a severe rain storm won’t amount to much. Collection method covering a large area (tarp) is required for sufficient rainfall collection)

Gallons Of Rainwater Collection From 1/10 Inch Rain
(2) 5×7 Tarp
(3) 6×8 Tarp
(7) 9×12 Tarp
(9) 10×14 Tarp
(12) 12×16 Tarp
(17) 14×20 Tarp

Gallons Of Rainwater Collection From 1/4 Inch Rain
(5) 5×7 Tarp
(7) 6×8 Tarp
(17) 9×12 Tarp
(22) 10×14 Tarp
(30) 12×16 Tarp
(44) 14×20 Tarp

Gallons Of Rainwater Collection From 1 Inch Rain
(22) 5×7 Tarp
(30) 6×8 Tarp
(67) 9×12 Tarp
(87) 10×14 Tarp
(120) 12×16 Tarp
(175) 14×20 Tarp

Soaps (primary concern is to get rid of oil and grease off of eating utensils)
To clean your dirty camping utensils without soap:
1. Place your ashes into whatever needs cleaning.
2. Add some water, and mix the ashes into a paste.
3. Scrub your dishes well with the ash paste.
4. Rinse with boiled or treated water

Toilet Paper (start saving newspapers and anything else that could be used)

Bleach

Bandages (look for dirt cheap Walmart clearance of bed sheets and table cloths, all you really need is boiled cloth. In worst case use Duct Tape)

First Aid Kit The American Red Cross recommends that all First Aid Kits (for a family of four) include the following items:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (‘space blanket’)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• 1 Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• 1 Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• 1 Tweezers
• 1 First aid instruction booklet

Sun distillation

Cooking with sun

UPDATE TO FOLLOW

 

[I like to bore people]

Food/Water

Don’t forget the comfort foods. Maintaining a positive mental attitude during a stressful survival situation is an extremely important aspect of survival. Don’t discount the need for stocking up on foods that will help you pick up your spirits during tough times.

Stock up on flavor enhancers like salt, sugar, honey and long-term spices that store well. Without these flavor enhancers you severely limit what you can cook, and almost guarantee your family will quickly get sick of eating the same foods over and over again.

Your calorie burning will increase in a survival situation.

Bottled Water (This should be PLAN C for hydration)

• 2 adults for 4 weeks will require about 56 gallons of water for consumption alone (1gal per person per day)
• Storing drinking water is to filter and purify it first, so that the water itself won’t be conducive for ‘growing’ contamination over time.
• Mix 1/8-teaspoon, or about 8 drops of regular unscented bleach to each gallon of water for purification (WHO and CDC)

Salt

• boil the roots of a Hickory tree until everything evaporates; you will be left with salt crystals

Sugar

Raw Honey

• Honey is holy, unfortunately we face increasing risk of pesticide contamination; Maple Syrup FTW

Yeast

Nuts

• Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Hazel nuts, and Brazil nuts all contain Vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant.

Cocoa powder (luxury item lol)

• Dilates arteries and improves blood flow
• Reduced tendency to form damaging clots
• Lowers blood pressure
• Helps detoxify the liver
• Promotes positive feelings and fights depression
• Promotes mental alertness
• Appetite-suppressant properties

Coffee

Cacao Powder In ancient Mayan culture cacao was revered as the drink of the gods. Only the elite of Mayan society could afford to drink it as the seeds were used as currency. Only rich people can afford to drink their money

Alcohol

• relaxation, pain killer, antibacterial, preservative, full and flavor enhancer. Can be produced from various ingredients when mixed with sugar and yeast.

Hard grains with shelf life of about 10 years

• Buckwheat
• Dry Corn
• Kamut
• Hard Red Wheat - 33lbs in 5gal / 1424cal per lbs / 25 loaves of bread / approx. 23 survival days
• Soft White Wheat
• Millet
• Durum wheat
• Spelt

Soft grain with shelf life of about 8 years in vacuum sealed and stored at 70F

• Barley
• Oat Groats
• Quinoa
• Rye

Beans; 8-10 years vacuum sealed. Avg. 30lbs in 5gal / 650cal per lbs / approx. 24 survival days

• Pinto Beans
• Kidney Beans
• Lentils
• Lima Beans
• Adzuki Beans
• Garbanzo Beans
• Mung Beans
• Black Turtle Beans
• Blackeye Beans

Flour/etc; 5-8 years shelf life

• All Purpose Flour
• White Flour
• Whole Wheat Flour
• Cornmeal
• Pasta
• White Rice (up to 10 years) - 30lbs in 5gal / 590cal per lbs / approx. 25 survival days

To make 1 cup of self rising flour, add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt. Stir/mix until well blended together

Baking powder

Powdered milk (preferable along with yeast if you want to have bread. Start baking your own bread!!!! It's easy and tastes soon much better)

Apple Cider Vinegar (good for you, herbs salads taste better, can be used for cleaning as well as antibiotic purposes)

Baking Soda (Cleaning, brushing teeth, cooking and odor control)

Coconut oil - shelf life of up to 2 years.

 

[I like to bore people]

Vitamins

Pine needles are packed with Vitamin C
The process of making Pine Needle Tea is extremely simple.

• Grab a handful of pine needles and wash them thoroughly.
• Chop the brown ends off and then ruff up the needles in your hand to let out the oils.
• Place them in a cup of hot water, and let it steep for 10-15 minutes.

Safety note: Yew, Norfolk Island Pine, and Ponderous Pine Needles should be avoided, since they are considered unsafe for human consumption.

Ginger

Garlic is effective against at least 30 types of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. It has anti-inflammatory properties. Use lots of it in your meal planning. Onion is a mild immune booster too.

Turmeric has long been lauded for its healthful properties. Turmeric contains curcumin and special compounds that help support many of your body systems including your immune system.

• Antiseptic Properties - Mix turmeric powder with honey to make a paste, and apply over freshly-washed cuts and scrapes to prevent infection. Turmeric has antibacterial and antiseptic effects; it can also be used to control bleeding from fresh cuts.

• Home Remedy for Arthritis - People suffering with arthritis can turn to turmeric to treat their symptoms of painful, stiff joints. A paste made by mixing a teaspoonful of turmeric with extract of ginger is applied to affected areas. According to the National Library of Medicine website, curcumin in turmeric lowers levels of inflammatory enzymes.

• Cold and Respiratory Infections - To combat colds and respiratory infections, mix 1 tsp. of turmeric powder and 1/4 tsp. of crushed black pepper into a cup of milk. According to the National Library of Medicine, turmeric may have antiviral properties.

• Migraine headaches - Take one half teaspoon turmeric with 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper and swig it down with some liquid. Within 15 minutes it’s working to alleviate your pain. Also works wonders on joints and muscle pain in this way.

• Antidepressant - Baylor University Medical Center held clinical trials to show that curcumin (curcumin is extracted from turmeric) is nearly as powerful as Prozac, when it comes to easing depression symptoms.

Aloe Vera plant (very hardy plant; benefits include

• Dental health
• Improves the health of the digestive system; aiding in protein absorption and bacteria reduction
• Immune system support
• Collagen and Elastin repair
• Contains; Calcium, sodium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, Folic Acid, Niacin and amino acids
• Anti-inflammatory

Medicines


Natural Medicine

American Basswood

• Native Americans and settlers used the fibrous inner bark ("bast") as a source of fiber for rope, mats, fish nets, and baskets. And fresh basswood sap, which contains moderate amounts of sugar, as a watery drink or boiled it into syrup. They also ate young basswood leaves and used the cambium for soups and breads. Various medicinal uses were made of leaf and bark extracts, and Iroquois used freshly cut bark as an emergency bandage for wounds.

American Elm

• An infusion made from the bark has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds, influenza, dysentery, eye infections, cramps and diarrhea. A decoction of the inner bark has been taken in the treatment of severe coughs, colds, menstrual cramps. An infusion of the root bark has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and excessive menstruation. A decoction has been used as an eye wash in the treatment of sore eyes. The inner bark has been used as an emollient on tumors.
• Leaves can be consumed raw or cooked. The red inner bark has been used to make a coffee-like drink.
• A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper. The stems are harvested in spring, the leaves are removed and the stems steamed until the fibers can be stripped. The outer bark is removed from the inner bark by scraping or peeling. The fibers are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then beaten with mallets. The paper is beige in color. The inner bark is very fibrous and is used in making string and strong ropes. The bark has been used to make various containers, including those used for gathering maple syrup.

American Mountain Ash

• The inner bark has astringent and antiseptic properties. It is also used as a blood purifier and appetite stimulant. An infusion is used (sometimes with the terminal buds added) in the treatment of colds, debility, diarrhea etc. When mixed with sweet flag (Acorus calamus) it is used as a tonic. A poultice of the burnt bark has been used in the treatment of boils. The fruit is antiscorbutic, diuretic, mildly laxative, astringent and digestive. It is an ideal accompaniment for foods that are hard to digest. A tea from the berries is antiscorbutic and astringent.
• Fruit - raw or cooked. Rich in iron and vitamin C. The fruit is used mainly in making pies, preserves etc, but it can also be eaten raw after a frost because it turns sweeter then. The fruit has a high tannin content and so should only be used in moderation if eaten raw. It can also be dried and ground into a meal.
• The inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.
• An extract of the shoots can be used as a rooting hormone for all types of cuttings. It is extracted by soaking the chopped up shoots in cold water for a day. The resin obtained from the buds was used by various native North American Indian tribes to waterproof the seams on their canoes. The resin on the buds has been used as an insect repellent. The bark has been burnt to repel mosquitoes.

Big-toothed Aspen (Canadian Aspen)

• The bark of most, if not all members of the genus contain salicin, a glycoside that probably decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin) in the body. The bark is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge and tonic. It is used especially in treating rheumatism and fevers, and also to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps. An infusion of the bark has been used to ease and lessen menstrual flow.
• Inner bark can be boiled and consumed. Also dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.

 

[I like to bore people]

Bitternut Hickory

• The oil from the seeds has been used in the treatment of rheumatism. The bark is diuretic and laxative.
• An oil expressed from the seeds has been used as an illuminant in oil lamps

Black Ash

• The leaves are diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative
• A blue dye can be obtained from the bark
• The wood is not strong, rather soft, durable, heavy, tough, coarse-grained, easily separated into thin layers, these layers can then be cut into strips and woven into baskets

Black Cherry (Rum Cherry)

• The medicinal properties of this plant are destroyed by boiling, so the plant should only be allowed to steep in warm water
• The bark of the root, trunk and branches is antitussive, astringent, pectoral, sedative, stomachic, tonic
• The root bark and the aromatic inner bark have expectorant and mild sedative properties and a tea made from either of them has been used to ease pain in the early stages of labour
• The tea is also used in the treatment of fevers, colds, sore throats, diarrhea etc
• Young thin bark is preferred. A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of laryngitis
• The root bark has been used as a wash on old sores and ulcers. The bark contains the glycoside prunasin, which is converted in the digestive tract to the highly toxic hydrocyanic acid. Prunasin is at its highest level in the bark in the autumn so the bark is harvested at this time and can be dried for later use. In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being
• The fruit is astringent and has been used in the treatment of dysentery
• A green dye can be obtained from the leaves
• A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit

Black Maple

• A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of diarrhea
• The sap contains reasonable quantities of sugar and can be used as a drink or concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water
• The sap can be harvested in late winter or early spring, the flow is best on a warm sunny day after a frost
• Inner bark - cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread.

Tools

Notebooks and pencils

Buckets/Containers

Washboard

Sewing Kits

Solar chargers

Fishing line/hooks

Light footwear/spare laces

Full winter gear

Full head protection

Gloves, gloves, gloves, and gloves

Shovels, shovels and shovels

Axes

Pry Bars

Clamps

Basic construction tools as well as abundance of nails and screws

Multiple metallic canteens/thermos (can be heated for boiling water)

Cast iron cooking tools - aluminum camping pots and pans will degrade quickly

Compass with magnifying glass

Bic Lighters/Matches (should not be the primary method for fire starting! PLAN B)

• Regular matches can be waterproofed by dipping the tip in hot candle wax, or coating it with nail polish or turpentine

Fire starter stick

• If you want to go full Rambo and use PLAN Y and Z;

https://youtu.be/frksQmPaX7U
https://youtu.be/k-Nnqlxel2c

Lighter fluid

Charcoal

Duct Tape!!! Handyman’s Secret Weapon

Rope, lots of it (550 Paracord is often recommended by survivalists)

Strong window screens and other netted material

Mylar thermal blankets (besides the obvious, the method of reflecting and concentrating sun light to use as an energy source might depend on reflective materials like Mylar.

Tweezers, nail clippers and needles

 

[I like to bore people]

Skills/Other

Gardening

• Beneficial Insects - Assassin bugs, Damsel flies, Hover flies, Lady Bugs, Lacewing, Pirate Bugs, Praying Mantis, Spiders, Stink bugs

Spring-Flowering Beneficial Attracting Plants

• Sweet Alyssum
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Crimson clover
• Bugleweed

Early/Mid Summer-Flowering Plants

• Lavender
• Yarrow
• Mint
• Queen Anne’s Lace
• Roman chamomile

Late Summer/Fall-Flowering Plants

• Bee Balm
• Mullein
• Goldenrod
• Fennel
• Aster

Organic pesticide

• 1 peeled onion (small)
• 2 peeled garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper
• 3 cups water

Soap Pesticide

• Mix 1 quart water with 1 tablespoon liquid soap

Beneficial Companion Plants

• Potato - Horseradish / French Marigolds
• Tomatoes - Borage / French Marigolds / Basil / Carrots / Chives / Petunia

Compositing Strive for a balance of carbon (dead/brown/dry) and nitrogen (green) material. It is usually recommended that you add 60% carbon to 40% nitrogen. Remember that compost pile is living and breathing, keep it moist and circulated

Body language what message you might give off to people, vice versa as well as what wild animals, plants and the Earth is saying

Basic First Aid

Pain Relief

• Turmeric
• Capsaicin - active component of chile pepper temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors
• Vitamin D - 10 minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week
• Ginger
• Willow bark - The active ingredient in willow bark, salicin, is actually the compound that was first used in the 1800s to develop aspirin
• Skullcap - Used for more than 200 years to treat anxiety, nervous tension, convulsions, and pain

Food Allergies

• Vitamin B5 and vitamin E apparently prove effective in relieving the sufferer from an allergic reaction or symptom as they contain anti-allergic properties that can control a reaction.
• Carrot juice or a combination of carrot juice with beet or cucumber juices can help in curing allergic reaction from any foods.

Respiratory Allergies

• Chamomile tea. Drinking chamomile tea is supposed to be a big help in relieving hay fever symptoms. It is also beneficial to inhale the vapors from the tea.
• Honey added to boiled minced grapefruit and lemon. Have this solution three times a day. To stop irritation in your nose, apply little petroleum jelly inside your nose. Boil chamomile in water and inhale fumes from the water.
• Aroma therapy or steam inhalation is known to help. Mixing a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot warm and inhaling the steam is known to lessen the severity of the conditions.
• Garlic also helps clear congestion and is known to be effective against hay fever symptoms.
• Quercitin is another natural substance that you can purchase in a supplement form. If you include quercitin in your daily diet, your allergic reactions should lessen in severity. Quercitin is also found naturally in red onions, apples, broccoli, blueberries, red wine and green and black tea.

Contact Allergies

• Cold water compresses can help alleviate the itching.
• Hot water. A method that has worked for me has been to use HOT water on the affected area (only after the oils have initially been washed away with cold water and soap). The hot water method comes with a price (initial extreme itching), however it will result in hours of subsequent relief as described in the following article, Poison Ivy Itch Relief.
• Rhubarb. Break open the stalk and, like you do with aloe, rub the ooze that comes from the stem on the area.
• Table salt. Just wet the infected area and rub it with table salt for fast relief and to stop the spread.
• Salts ‘take-up’ grease from off the skin. The best is hand cleaner (degreaser) from automotive section of your store. Removes GREASE ‘poison’ completely. Immediately skin irritation relief.

Insect Sting Allergies

• Bee Stings. Pulling out the stinger and keeping the area iced and clean are your first steps.
• Epinephrine. If a person has a history of having severe allergic reactions to bee stings, they probably have a supply of epinephrine.
• Parsley are both supposed to be fast acting on bee stings. Rub either one of these on the bee sting immediately. the pain should go away and the poison should be neutralized in a few minutes.
• Paste of vinegar/baking soda/ Due to the acid/base interaction of the vinegar and baking soda, the concoction fizzes like an Alka Seltzer. The meat tenderizer contains papain, an enzyme found in papaya that supposedly breaks down the toxins in bee (and other) venom. (Though the meat tenderizer and vinegar makes you smell like an antipasto sampler.)

Meditation sit, relax and reach the place between sleep and awake

• Survival, really being prepared to survive; means being able to control your fears, manage your emotions and put your ego in check. To truly be prepared to survive, you need to cultivate a mindset that goes far beyond just having the skills to survive.
• You can take someone with all the training in the world and give them every piece of survival gear every made, but without the will to survive that person is as good as dead. Having the knowledge of how to survive is important; having the will to survive is unquestionably the most significant factor in actual survival.
• Don’t pretend that you have no fears. Instead, truthfully analyze what things would cause the most anxiety should you be forced into a survival situation. By analyzing your fears, you can begin to train yourself in those areas of concern, and build confidence that can help you through those fearful situations.
• Your ancestors didn’t sleep the way you do - http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/your-ancestors-didnt-sleep-the-way-you-do/

 

[I like to bore people]

Sun drying your surplus harvest

• Small wood slats, bamboo, grill grates, and stainless steel screen mesh are all good material to use for the racks. You can also use cake racks or build small wooden frames covered with cheesecloth. Just remember that your racks cannot be solid, as you need air to circulate around the drying food.

• Avoid any grates coated with cadmium or zinc
• Fruits with pits should be halved and pitted
• Light-colored fruit like apples, pears and apricots should be soaked in lemon juice or an ascorbic acid wash to prevent browning. Soak the fruit in the solution for 3-5 minutes (salt water for non-tropical regions)
• Cutting your fruit into uniform pieces will help them dry more evenly, and at the same speed
• At night, make sure you bring your food indoors or cover it to prevent moisture from seeping back into the food
• Turn food once a day, or flip the racks if you have dual layer racks (having a boxed-in rack would prevent large insects from gaining access
• If possible, place a small fan near the drying tray to promote air circulation (using reflective material to nearly double the sun exposure would be an alternative to electric fan)
• To improve storage times and to ensure the safety of your food dried fruits should be conditioned before storage. Conditioning evenly distributes moisture present in the dried fruit to prevent mold growth
• Place cooled dried fruit in a plastic or glass container two-thirds full; seal and store for 7 days to 10 days
• Shake the containers daily to distribute moisture. If condensation occurs, place the fruit in the oven for more drying and then repeat the conditioning process
• To pasteurize, place the food in a single layer on a tray and heat to 160°F for 30 minutes.

Canning Supplies

Safety Rules Of Canning

• Don’t use jars larger than a quart. Home canning technology cannot guarantee that larger quantities will be sufficiently heated through for enough time. Rather, the food on the outside will overcook, while that on the inside won’t get hot enough for food safety.
• A water-bath canner may only be used for high acid foods such as tomatoes, fruits, rhubarb, sauerkraut, pickles, and jams/jellies. A pressure canner MUST be used for low acid foods including vegetables, meats, and stews.
• Use only modern canning recipes from reliable sources (especially when first starting out).
• Never reuse jar lids. Used lids aren’t reliable for sealing correctly. If a screw-on band is rusty or bent, it won’t work right and should be discarded and replaced. That said, you might consider purpose-designed reusable Tattler lids.
• Don’t use antique or ‘French’ -type canning jars. They aren’t as safe as the modern, regular ‘Ball, Kerr’ type.
• Check the jar rims carefully every year by running your finger over the top of the rim and checking for nicks. Even the tiniest nick makes the jar unusable for canning. A nicked jar rim won’t seal reliably.
• Raw pack is not safe for certain foods: beets, all kinds of greens (spinach, etc.), white potatoes, squash, okra, a tomato/okra combination, and stewed tomatoes.
• You must allow the correct amount of space (head-space) between your food, together with the liquid that covers it, and the jar lid (follow the recipe instructions).
• Do not begin counting the processing time until after the water in the canner comes to a rolling boil (if using the water-bath method), or until after steam has vented for 10 minutes AND until the pressure gauge has risen to the recommended pressure after placing the weight on the vent pipe (if using a pressure canner).
• Process the full recommended time (and at the recommended pressure if using pressure canner).
• Lift out each jar individually using a jar lifter; keep it upright and not tipped.
• If a jar did not seal, discard the lid, check to see if the jar rim is chipped (discard jar), check for food residue on the rim (clean), put on a new lid, and reprocess. Or consume the food and/or put in the refrigerator as you would any other leftover food for later consumption.

Making traps and netting for food

Coordinated planning with family