Laura Trovillion

Nicole and Christopher

Thank you so much for this information. You both have given me lots to think about going forward!!!

I have a few questions about your project! How much paint did your listed quantities end up making? I will be attempting to make a significant quantity later this spring, and I am trying to figure out quantities. I am only adding Kaolin clay as a filler and as a "white" pigment for ceilings. The price of pigments is forcing me to be judicious in my color choices! Did you roll it, brush it or both? I was wondering about how it might work in a paint sprayer, any thoughts?  You mentioned both vinegar and citric acid to make curds, was one significantly better than the other? Any suggestions on what you would do differently next time?
Thank you in advance for any advice. The thought of creating a 5 gal bucket of paint is very intimidating and yours is the only recipe for making more than a quart at a time!!!

While I am definitely in favor of wind and solar technology, I think homeowners should be encouraged to explore low or no cost avenues for decreasing dependence on electricity first.

Ok, so I don't use a blender, I use a food processor with a plastic dough blade. This way the seeds stay mostly intact. After the food processor I put the whole mess thru a large sieve. Seeds are large enough to remain blocked and the puree can be pushed thru. I reuse small random plastic containers that will hold at least a cup of puree. Freeze everybody solid and then pop out the pawpaw pucks into a ziplock type bag thus freeing up the other containers.

Hope this helps!

I am resurrecting this thread for a number of reasons: it's very valuable information to have in light of the possibility of rural hospitals closing thus greater distance to emergency care, greater danger from severe weather, and the possibility of losing health insurance coverage leading to a need to self diagnose and/or treat.

I guess the big thing that was alluded to several times, but I don't think was called out specifically is Knowledge. Taking the advanced first aid/ wilderness first aid classes ( if you are lucky enough to have them offered near you), read, study, practice, because the very best kit doesn't do anyone any good if you don't know how to use it.

Thank you to everyone who has previously posted to this thread. There is a true wealth of information shared here!

Central IL is feeling more fall than summer at the moment so tonight I am making beef stew: carrots, onions and potatoes from our garden. Beef from a friend's farm and bacon fat for braising from the same friends bacon. Dessert is roasted sungold tomato ice cream: roasted sungolds from our garden, honey from a friend, and milk/ cream from Jersey cows at Kilgus farm dairy. All local

Thank you all who responded!
I appreciate your suggestions and advice!

Thank you both for the advice. I am finding that sentimentality is going to be my downfall, both indoors and out. So many
Of my plants were either started from seed or have come down thru family ( peonies and Iris). The other tricky bit is that
Our realtor is fairly certain that our 150 year old farm house will be purchased to flip and everything outdoors will be leveled. It somehow feels wrong to leave them behind. The other tricky bit is having somewhere for everything to go, even if it's just to store until spring and of course where the coop and cat houses will be, even before we have gotten to live there.....It will all be good, but right now it's freaking me out
Lists....I can do lists and lists of lists!

After more than 30 years in the first and only house we ever owned, my hubby and I are moving from Illinois to Kansas. We need to be closer to family and have a house that we can truly age in place in. However, this was never in the cards til recently. Now in addition to a huge downsize and move of house stuff, I need to figure out how to move all of my perennial flowers and veg, berry and nut bushes, garden art, chickens, ducks, koi, 2 outdoor cats and an outbuilding full of tools, wood and various and sundry stuff.  We are 6-8 months out from the construction being done. Downsizing is daunting enough, but when adding in all of the other, its pretty much overwhelming. I am looking for suggestions and advice from anyone who has survived such an ordeal!