Stocking a Pantry

One of the first things I have attempted for this new year is to make my own apple cider vinegar. I have never done this before so I looked up various videos and articles on how to do it.  It was important to me to use organic apples, so I used the peels and cores from the bag I purchased a few days ago.  They were actually quite beat up, so I was able to fill up two jars.  I put the apple wedges into some water mixed with citric acid to prevent browning, then put them in a bag for eating.  I then topped up each jar with water and covered the jars with cloth and a rubber band.  Finally, I placed the jars in the pantry to sit for a while.  I forgot to let my peels and cores brown first.  I am hoping this doesn't affect the outcome too much.  The recipe also says to add scraps for the next couple days, but I don't have any more organic apples.  So, I don't plan to add any more.

I have also started making kefir again.  I had my grains in the refrigerator because I thought I was doing it wrong.  That is - until I researched it and found I was doing it right.  Who knew?  I found out kefir was supposed to be tangy and effervescent.  I also found out how it is supposed to smell when it's ready to put in the refrigerator.  It's been quite easy now that I know what I am doing.

I also:

-started a batch of vanilla extract

-finished a batch of immune booster tincture for kids

-finished a batch of natural bug spray concentrate

Stocking the Pantry

We recently bought 100 pounds of organic wheat.  I ordered some rice, oats, popcorn, yeast, baking powder, and beans for the pantry and signed up for automatic shipment of more after a few months.  I also ordered some herbs for the medicine cabinet in order to make a pregnancy tea and treat various ailments including UTI.  I have been working on getting the pantry stocked in case we have a snow in or get stuck at home for any other reason.

I plan to order or purchase some powdered milk or evaporated milk, sugar, honey, maple syrup, salt, pepper, sunflower oil, and anything else I can think of.  We try to purchase eggs when we get to town because we consume a lot of them.  We also drink a lot of milk which is why we buy milk nearly every time we go to town.

Other items we are working on storing are toilet paper, tissue paper, and paper towels.  It seems like it's always a great idea to keep those on hand.

There are also a few things I would like to accomplish in the next few months.

1. get some food grade storage buckets from the grocery store
2. learn to use my new pressure canner
3. cook and can some ground beef for the pantry
4. cook and can some chicken for the pantry
5. make more broth and can it
6. plan the garden so I know when to start what (I'm new to this.)
7. get a greenhouse 
8. plot where my fruit trees will be planted when they arrive

Our pullets are about 14 weeks old now and we are constantly watching to see if one of them is a rooster.  Every day that goes by, we see something else that makes "her" so much different than the other hens.  One thing I noticed yesterday was the beginning of spurs.  Yep, spurs.  However, after looking on line,  I discovered it is common for hens to have spurs.  So, I am telling the kids we won't know until we hear her crow.  

Recently, I have started hanging the feeder at night when the light goes off.  This way they are quicker to leave the coop in the morning to forage.  It's pretty funny to go out in the morning and find them longingly looking up at the feeder.  I grab a handful of grain from the feeder and sprinkle a bit of grain on the ground outside the coop and they seem content.  Guitar Hero hooked up a hose to reach the coop, so I won't need to lug 3 gallons of water up and down the hill when the hens need it. 

As you can see, there is a lot going on around here.  I have plenty to keep me occupied.  What are some things you do to keep up the pantry stocked?