From cayoung01@earthlink.net Fri Aug 03 05:59:09 2001 To: Subject: Fw: [misc_survivalism_moderated] Deseret News Archives.htm From: "Chris Young" Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 07:59:09 -0400 -------- >Deseret News ArchivesI was doing some reading into Salt Lake's Deseret News archive and found this article. It reaffirms my belief in the "pantry principle". It doesn't matter how SMALL your home is, you can always find space to store provisions. > > > Start new search + Search help + Web Edition front page > > > > Deseret News Archives, > > Sunday, October 8, 2000 > > > > > Harvest time > The whys and hows of storing your home-grown produce > > > > > By Larry A. Sagers Deseret News garden columnist > > > Storing garden produce is a time honored, provident part of our heritage. Only recently has fresh produce been available throughout the year from any number of retail outlets. Our pioneer ancestors routinely harvested, dried, canned or stored what they grew. > The art and science of "putting food by" is not lost on many of today's gardeners who are looking to store their own favorite kinds of produce. Storage in a convenient and available manner is a vital part of gardening and avoids the need for bottles, drying or other time-consuming processes. Some tips on the procedure make it easier and more successful. > Bob Droubay of Erda is a strong believer in putting food by and storing a year's supply. He is the third generation of Droubays to farm. > When asked why he grows and stores food he replies, "See that propane tank over there? It has a one-year supply of fuel. Why wouldn't I also try to have a one year supply of food -- especially when I can grow a lot of it myself?" > The Droubay farm was at one time a large, almost self-sufficient enterprise with a dairy farm, chickens, sheep, an orchard, a vineyard and extensive vegetable gardens. Although much of the property is now in homes and the dairy is long gone, it is hard to take the farm out of the farmer. The tradition of raising and storing food continues at the Droubay home on a smaller scale. > "I learned gardening from my Grandpa, Robert M. Shields," said Droubay. "He had a wonderful garden at his place in Tooele and (he) had a big garden here at our place in Erda. He cared for things meticulously and had his own way of making certain everything got done. > "He insisted, for example, that the garden spot be plowed with a mow board plow and that the plow be pulled only by our work horses. Of course, we no longer take care of the garden that way, but it is nice to think some of his skill trickled down to me." > Droubay's favorite vegetables are corn, tomatoes and potatoes. Potatoes and similar vegetables store well without other preservation techniques. > Adjacent to his garden is the garden shed with fertilizers, seed and other necessities. It is what is underneath that makes it even more useful. > "Our pit is a vital part of our storage. We can dig the potatoes now and then put them in sacks down in the pit. They stay cool but don't freeze. They will usually store until about the first of June the next year. By that time we > are not too far away from having new potatoes from the garden." > Storing garden produce takes some planning and care. The first part of successful storage is to harvest the vegetables correctly. Be careful not to break, nick or bruise them during harvest. The less vegetables are handled, the longer they last in storage. > Nothing improves in storage, so discard or use defective produce immediately so only the best quality, soundest products are put into storage. > Rotting produce spreads diseases to other stored fruits and vegetables. > Different produce needs different storage conditions. The main storage factors are temperature and humidity. > Most fruits and vegetables need one of these three combinations for long-term storage: > 1) Cool and dry (50-60 degrees F and 60% relative humidity). > 2) Cold and dry (32-40 degrees F and 65% relative humidity). > 3) Cold and moist (32-40 degrees F and 95% relative humidity). > For cold conditions, 32 degrees F is the optimal temperature, but it isn't easy to attain in most homes. Expect shortened shelf-lives for your vegetables as storage conditions deviate from the optimal. Apples and winter pears require cold, moist storage. These conditions are difficult to maintain. Use a second refrigerator and put the apples into perforated plastic bags to keep the fruit moist. Unperforated plastic bags often create too much humidity, leading to condensation and growth of mold or bacteria. Onions store best at near 32 degrees F with dry conditions but cannot be stored with other produce without affecting the taste. > Basements are usually cool and dry. When storing produce in basements, provide ventilation. Harvested produce is not dead, but "breathes" and requires circulation to prevent fungal decay. > Squash, pumpkins, and green tomatoes to ripen store well in these areas. If conditions are right, the produce will last several months. > Root cellars provide cool, moist conditions. Provide ventilation and protection from rodents when storing produce in cellars. Use straw or wood shavings for insulation. Potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets and turnips store well under these conditions. Fruit stores for a time but often picks up musty flavors from the cellar. > Leave root crops such as beets, carrots, rutabagas, parsnips and turnips in the garden into late fall and early winter. A heavy mulch of straw or leaves prevents the ground from freezing so they can be dug as needed. The mulch maintains produce quality by reducing freezing and thawing of the vegetables. Many people prefer the taste of these root crops after they have been frosted because the flavor is sweeter and milder. > Even if you have no historical reason to do so, putting food by provides a wonderful sense of satisfaction and independence. Best of all, the wonderful home-grown taste will add much to your meals throughout the winter. > > > > > > © 2000 Deseret News Publishing Co. > ----------------------------------------------------------------- Need some extra cash? 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