Quiet Season

Things have been quiet around here. We're working on eating all the canned goodies I worked on last summer. And I should have been planning this years garden but I haven't. I have vague ideas of what I want to do, but nothing specifically planned out yet.

By the way, I figured out why my potatoes were getting all shrivelly and sprouty. I had to re-read my Root Cellaring book in depth to figure out what my problem was. Not enough moisture and people leaving the light on in my storage room. So next year should be better now that I know that!

I should have ordered seeds and now we're in the middle of February and if I was going the seed route I think I should be starting my spring crops but . . . . I've been super busy with some other things. So hang in there with me! I should hopefully be back in full force soon!

Potato Management

My current "root cellar" isn't totally perfected yet. My potatoes are starting to get a little soft and shrivel-ly, and some are even trying to sprout.

I don't think I got them into their nice "cool" spot soon enough after I got them. They stayed in my semi-heated basement {and not my cold storage room} through the end of fall while the temperatures outside were still warm, thus keeping my basement a little warmer too.

I borrowed my nephews outdoor thermometer he made at school to see how cold the basement is currently, and the cold storage room surrounded by cement walls read 32 degrees. I think it might be wrong. I mean, my pipes would be frozen if it was really that cold down there wouldn't they? Maybe the rest of my basement, which is larger and isn't completely surrounded by cement is warmer which is maybe why I don't have frozen pipes? I should test the other rooms maybe.

However, potatoes do like a nice cold 32-40 degrees. So maybe I'm good now. Maybe I've halted their demise.

But I feel like I need to do something with them. I'm trying to decide if I should dehydrate a bunch, or can a bunch of them in my new pressure canner. Probably both. I need to go get my pressure canner tested by my local extension agency first though.

Hmm, what to do, what to do . . . .

Wall Ideas

{via Gardeners Supply Co.}

I really like this! But it says "Great for flowers and succulents in bright light, or ferns and ivies in low light". Hmm, so are we sure I can't grow something edible in there? I mean, besides edible flowers? What about herbs?

And speaking of herbs...

{via R K Alliston}

How cute is this? I love it! And I know I could find a spot for that!

And let's not forget about this Flickr find!

Food Storage Resolutions

Safely Gathered In is doing Food Storage Resolutions {and a giveaway!} so I thought I should make some.

Let's see:

1. Build shelves in the root cellar
2. Get hand grain grinder
3. Cook more with my beans and oatmeal
4. Start my compost pile so my garden will be AWESOME!
5. Learn to use my new pressure canner I got for Christmas!
6. Put up LOTS more garden goodness than last year
7. Figure out a workable inventory system
8. Replace food and clothing in 72 hr kits
9. Finalize garden plans and get some fruit trees planted

How's that for starters?