Merry Beltane! Just wanted to give a quick overall update.
Sourdough – My first, ever, attempt at making a sourdough starter did start but I hadn’t kept an eye on it and it died. RIP Mr. Starter.
Zucchini- The zucchini either isn’t getting pollenated or needs nutrients. I’ve has many blossoms, both male and some female, but none have started to produce fruit yet. I’m leaning toward not getting pollenated. I have some flowers but with my garden backing up to a major street and a city bus stop right behind my house I wouldn’t be surprised if the pollenators don’t want to come near here. Maybe I should get some more flowers and put the hummingbird feeder back up.
Canner – After getting all of the Costco and Walmart returns done I had enough money to get more canning supplies. $80 of jars and lids are coming home with me. Now all I need is something to can. I think I’ll do some taco sauce and pico de gallo. Doing a couple of small batches of recipes using the same base ingredients should be a good way to start. Living alone I don’t need 10 quarts of taco sauce for the year. Next purchase will be a good pressure canner but for now I’ll use the inexpensive Presto canner I got from Walmart to learn and practice. I’ll get an All American canner later.
Dehydrator – The additional racks and accessories for the dehydrator should arrive today and the dehydrator itself should arrrive tomorrow. I’m so excited to start making healthy snacks. I remember mom making fruit roll ups when I was a kid and they always tasted so good. With all the extra stuff they put in most store bought foods this will be a great next step to not only eating healthy but also to preserving foods. I’m really excited to also use it to dry my own herbs as well as the various medicinal herbs I can collect when forraging.
Garden – I’m already trying to think of ways to expand the garden so I can grow more of my own foods and herbs. I had no clue how many of the herbs we use in cooking actually have health benefits and medicinal qualities. It makes me happy that little pieces of my homesteading dream are coming together.