Vickey McDonald

I love sourdough and will definitely be backing if the timing is right for my social security check. I have to pay bills first. Nice to see the loaves are not the dark brown burnt looking bread so many are proud of because the crust is so crispy. I have never liked the look of those.

Would love to see a golden brown sandwich loaf. Something to show it doesn't "have" to be the dark, crispy crusted round loaves and that you don't need a big cast iron dutch oven to bake good sourdough bread.

Liv Smith wrote:

Luetta Robinson wrote:Hi Paul,

Since you're coming this direction, how about visiting Alaska?? We'd love to have you here! Rocket Mass Stove Heaters would be a great topic.

Luetta

Alaska, as good as it sounds, is a little far. Paul is willing to drive 7 or 8 hours from his Montana home.

Let’s see what he has to say about it, though!

Liv- I agree. Would love to have him come to Alaska. Not sure what area your in but there are plenty of us here who would love some time with his knowledge. I bet just out here in the upper valley we could come up with at least a dozen.

Bumped mine up. I'm sure the kickstarter will at least meet its goal. Hope it does more than that.  

For everyone who has not donated or upper their donation... I have a challenge, If an old lady living on Social Security in an expensive place like Alaska can donate and increase my donation, knowing I will likely never build one of these. I challenge you all to pledge at least a dollar, more if you can. That's  not much, probably less than a cup of coffee even where you are.  Let's make this happen.

Got an email about increasing our pledge. How do we go about doing that?

Cécile Stelzer Johnson wrote:Cutting elderberries does encourage suckering. My biggest elderberry bush made a couple of stalks that were the size of those jumbo permanent markers [Like 1.5" in caliper]... and then it died. I can use those 2 stalks for biomass but I suspect that elderberry bushes do not have very long lives. Instead, they can sucker profusely, so I can't see raising them for biomass, at least not where I am. I make terrific jelly from the berries, however.
Perhaps I have the wrong cultivars for biomass?
Once the stalk dies, then I will cut it and put in on the brush pile or grind it for mulch.

Depending on when it "died" I would wait a bit before you decide to do anything with it. I had two "Ranch" elderberry cutting that started off great, then we had a day that got very hot while they were still pretty small and had not been transplanted out yet. They wilted badly, I went ahead and transplanted them into large containers outside, then the leaves all turned brown and dried up. I was sure they were dead. I'm in South Central Alaska, formerly zone 3b and now it's been changed to 4a.

I figured they died and I Ignored them for a couple weeks.  Had some time and needed the containers somewhere else. Went out to get them and to my surprise they had about three inches of new growth at the base. I quickly moved them to a new location where it would not get so hot and was easier to water.

It's possible yours could come back if it hasn't been a long time.

[quote=paul wheaton

You coldest colds are about 5 degrees colder than our coldest colds.  So I would say "yes"


When I read this to my husband he said that the problem is that we can reach those lows for weeks at a time, so it is unlikely to work here. Any suggestions?

I know this is an old thread, but can anyone tell me if this would work in a zone 3b Alaska location? Our Winter lows get down to -25 to -30F. Summers can range from 50 to 90F. Though 70-75F is more common for high temps.

jeff Swart wrote:

- Amazon.com: Johnny Apple Sauce Maker, Tomato Sauce Maker, Remove Skins & Seeds From Produce, Model 250 Clamp Based Food Strainer (Basic Strainer): Apple Sauce Maker: Home & Kitchen
https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Strainer-Sauce-VICTORIO-VKP250/dp/B001I7FP54?th=1

I have this model, and absolutely LOVE it. Do yourself a favor if you get one and go ahead and get the accessories pack with it. You won't regret it. I have been using mine for several years and wouldn't go back to trying to crush and strain in the old metal mill style again.

Found these as well while searching for a hand crank, or manual or non-electric blender.
https://www.bevrev.com/
https://cottagecraftworks.com/off-grid-non-electric-high-speed-blender-food-processor

Have never tried using one. Though I do use a manual food processor. I find this is one of the best for chopping, even meats.
https://www.amazon.com/Cambom-Manual-Chopper-Smoothie-Blender/dp/B09NZKCQFV/ref=sr_1_25_sspa?crid=37RAEUIVIOOMU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P0-bNWRE7rY7khjnsQSQKW3u0Unu-0yoblCNmesiTg_Um3Q54N2S8cNWr_rBL2d7qWXWLL9_WFTVj307nvhnqIzDCcgdpn2LAk_z_Hawrto.pB2yyWnhJXT5MtI_5-98_tWm_szZPMbAu-sf7L8mQAI&dib_tag=se&keywords=manual%2Bfood%2Bchopper&qid=1745554770&s=home-garden&sprefix=Manual%2BFood%2BChopper%2BVegetable%2BCutter%2Cgarden%2C235&sr=1-25-spons&xpid=O-MQBj8h8iscl&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dA&th=1

When we had some that were used to dish waterers we started throwing them raisins for treats near the new water dish (keeping some water in the old ones at first. Then started pushing raisins onto the nipples. It took them about 15 seconds to realize the raisins were there and grab at them releasing water at the same time. That was all it took to teach them.  I guess you could catch a few chickens and tip their beaks into them to release water the way you would dip a chicks beak to show them but the raisins were easy and they loved them.

Sarah Joubert wrote:

Matt McSpadden wrote:
The way I went was with with poultry nipples. I attached them to a PVC pipe which was gravity fed from a bucket. This way, the water never got dirty unless I forgot the lid. You can see my first revision in the bottom of the picture. It was mounted to an old wheelbarrow frame so I could move it easily.

I bought a load of these nipples years back. I have never installed them as I worry the chickens, who are used to drinkers like Tomothy Nortons's, wont figure out where the water is. What's your experience been? Do you have to teach them or do they work it out?