I yam what I yam.....

I'm a gardener. I raise small livestock. I can. I sew. I do all things primitive, and I do it on a scant more than a tenth of an acre. Then someone comes along & tells me I can't anymore. OK, so I'm not not allowed to garden, raise small livestock, can, sew or do primitive things, but now someone wants me to rewrite MY history, rewrite my blogs, rewrite MY notes & call me something I am not.


Last week the urban gardening community was attacked. Attacked as only BigAg can do. Attacked in a way that SCREAMS Monsanto. No one knows why because the attackers were such an inspiration to the urban community. They forged a bond & relationship with so many other small scale homesteaders & then they turned on us.


These.... um *cough*..... people trademarked a commonly referred to phrase (among MANY others, most of which are also common phrases). Instead of trademarking it in reference to their property &/or works, they started out saying the phrase(s) couldn't be used anywhere, anytime, for any purpose unless the phrase was credited directly to them, yada yada. After the uproar, they started backpeddling. I sure hope they continue backpeddling.


I'm still reeling from the fact that this is like saying I can't call myself a Mom. I AM a Mom, damn it. It's like saying when I had my children that I couldn't say I was "Giving Birth." Telling me I can't call my lifestyle.... that I've lived for a few years now..... A lifestyle that has been around for DECADES..... maybe centuries.... An Urban Movement. A community of homesteaders working with what they've been given, which is little......


In case you can't read between the lines...... I AM AN URBAN HOMESTEADER, and the dervaes family can kiss my green thumb, my big fat pressure canner & my chicken's asses!


Visit some more of the blogging community to see what they have to say about URBAN HOMESTEADING!!!

Grow & Resist

Krista & Jess

Moo Said the Mama

Domaphile

Heather's Homemaking

There are so MANY other GREAT bloggy links, but as a homesteader (of any sort), we are always perpetually behind. And I am behind.

I am amazed at how quickly & tightly the URBAN HOMESTEAD community came together. I am blessed to be an Urban Homesteader!

LA Weekly says....

SF Weekly says....

And if you haven't already, show your support by joining us on facebook as we take back urban homesteading!!

Jar-aholics anonymous... A punny.....

So I was reading Laura's post on jars..... Which led me to Jodi's post on jars..... Which I showed Hubba..... Which led to a discussion between Hubba & I...... yup, on jars. And he said I didn't have that many jars yet..... (YET!!!)..... And I told him I didn't have room for that many jars (Oh Lord, how I wish I did). And he says "Oh, Honey, you'd be knocking out walls with that many jars. Who needs a bathroom? Bathroom? What's that?" And I said "Ooooo, for real? We only need ONE, right?" And he says "One jar? To use as a bathroom....."

I married a smart man.....

Now I'm off to find room for MORE jars!!!!

*gigglegigglesnarf*

Tuesday Twister (my first)

GNOWFGLINS hosts the Tuesday Twister each Tuesday. Visit for more information & a great blog overall!!



I don't know how often I'll do this as I'm bad about keeping up with blog memes, carnivals, etc. But I thought I'd do this this week as my kitchen has been hopping!

Aside from my typical ferments (kraut, water kefir, kombucha, etc) I've been canning a great deal!

The last couple of weeks I've been able to get my hands on organic peaches by the case & have been able to teach 3 ladies how to can with these. A few days ago I bought a case of semi-local, organic apples. Today I'm working on winter meals- beef stew, chicken stock & chicken soup (all natural chicken, organic veggies & herbs, etc); chili made with all natural beef & organic ingredients. I've been picking like a mad woman from my own organic garden (can't get more local than that!) & dried some zuke chips. Nice!!!!

The list is huge of what I've been able to stash in my canning pantry:

Peach jam, peach butter, peaches, peach puree, applesauce (cinnamon apples soon to come), chili, chicken soup, chicken stock, grape juice, turnips (locally grown & not by a mass-producer).

Unfortunately, we've been having issues with our computer..... still..... so I don't have many pics on the computer to share. I'll share a couple that I do I have!

Altitude Adjustments for Canning

Water Bath Canner Altitude Adjustments

Altitude in feet	Increase Processing time
1,001 to 3,000	5 minutes
3,001 to 6,000	10 minutes
6,001 to 8,000	15 minutes
8,001 to 10,000	20 minutes

Pressure Canner Altitude Adjustments

Altitude in feet	Weighted Gauge- added weight	Dial Gauge- added weight
0-1,000	10	11
1,001 to 3,000	15	11
3,001 to 6,000	15	12
6,001 to 8,000	15	13
8,001 to 10,000	15	14
1,001 to 3,000	15	15

Guide taken from the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving