[gardeners] Down to the Farm

Allen and Judy Merten (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 13 Oct 1998 07:34:19 -0500 

Hi George,
    I've been away from the computer for a couple of days again. Went down to
my Dad's farm. He is gettting rid of a lot of gardening stuff he isn't able to
use anymore. He is 69 and finally has admitted after shoulder, elbow, and wrist
surgery in the last couple of years that maybe the doctors are right that he
needs to slow down. He is not taking it well though. He's really mad about not
being able to garden like he used too. You have laughed about the amount that I
garden. He had about twice what I do. Used to give all the fresh produce they
could eat to some families that live near his farm that have had it hard for a
few years. Gave produce to the small nursing home in town(pop 89), and to a lot
of his relatives that gave up gardening before he did. So, he reminised while
sorting through all the implements and contraptions he has acquired over the
years. He gave me a couple of things like a small garden tractor that is about
40 yrs old and a walk behind powered cultivator about the same age. They both
come with the same type of implements that large tractors do. About the only
thing they don't have is a hay baler. I had to promise to do what ever minor
repairs they need and to use them. He told me that a fellow that buys antique
farm equipment offered him a pile of money for them, but he wouldn't sell.
Seems like antique powered garden equipment is the rage in some places.
The cultivator is not to be confused as a early roto-tiller. This monster has
14" tractor tread tires!!
    I sure have been enjoying the weather!! I can finally work outside all day
without fearing heat stroke or other meltdown. I have also resumed my 2 mile
walks in the mornings. I will finally end this missive so I can begin the trek.

    Good Gardening to All,
    Allen
    Bastrop Co.,Tx
    Zone 8

George Shirley wrote:

> U.S. Department of Agriculture strongly recommends pouring the boiling mix
> of vinegar/water over the beans in the jar, wiping the jar threads, sealing
> the jar, and then into a boiling water bath for at least 10 minutes for
> pints and 15 for quarts. With a 50:50 vinegar/water mix there shouldn't be
> any spoilage after the BWB.
>
> Folks, if you're into preserving your own food you need to surf the net for
> the USDA foodsafety page and maybe lurk on rec.food.preserving newsgroup
> for awhile. Recommended preserving methods have changed drastically in the
> last 30 years.
>
> George
>
> At 04:27 AM 10/11/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >Hi Penny,
> >    We usually use the hot pack method. Does the cold water make the
> >beans stay crisper?
> >Allen
> >
> >penny x stamm wrote:
> >
> >> Allen, just ran across the original of my recipe for Dilly Beans.
> >> It says that I used to place all the green beans in a jar, and
> >> would then bring all the other ingredients to a boil before
> >> filling the jar with the liquid. You may like that better..
> >>
> >> I currently use cold liquid.
> >>
> >> Penny, NY
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
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