Queen's Edge Farm

Friday, December 18, 2009

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Wretha's by the way and thought I would steal the questions someone asked her and post here with my answers....

What would you have done differently if you were starting out now? I would not have bought the shipping container, but invested the money in one of those shed like cabins, and placed it under the trees for shade. The shipping container was never originally meant for us to live in but as storage for our furniture while we sold our main home. Didn't quite work out how I planned it, but life has lots of little (and big) road bumps.

What 3-5 things do you need right now?
Hmm, this one is difficult. I think right now I need a 220 plug so that I can use my dryer. While I used the clothesline exclusively in the spring and summer, line drying is not conducive to having dried clothes and diapers in the fall/winter, especially during a prolonged rainy/cold spell. I need a better housing arrangement as the container is too difficult to heat/cool, though it can be done, it is frustrating and overwhelming at times. Another thing that I need right now is my truck on the road. It runs great, just the tail lights need to be fixed. So, I will be dragging it to the shop, praying it is something simple, and then praying for the funds to get it fixed, tagged and back on the road. I really need the truck to help with income possibilities and hauling fire wood/grain/hay to the house. I need about 50 bales of old hay to insulate the bedroom portion of the container, the side that faces North (on the outside of course).

What would you buy if money were no object? It'd be great to hit the lottery, but since I don't play that isn't going to happen. But if money weren't an object I would have a storm cellar put in (I am scared of tornadoes), a small log cabin built, solar and wind power installed (and get of grid electricity). I'd also have several small cabin/sheds placed towards the front of the property to rent out for camping purposes, etc.
I'd like a bigger barn (a red one), filled with enough grain/hay for my animals. I'd get horses again, as well as, more goats, and ideally I'd love some fiber goats/sheep, and the money to pay a ranch/farm hand to help me with the heavy work. I'd also build a small chapel on the property, dredge out the pond, build a gazebo by the pond and maybe buy a new truck, a Suburban and a Jeep. And I'd buy a Berkey so I could answer the next question.

How is the Berkey System working? Well, I don't have a Berkey, but a local friend does, and it appears to be working great for her. Waters tastes good too.

How many solar panels do you have now? I only have one small solar panel that runs a set of lights. I'd love to get a small solar RV set up, but haven't the spare cash lying around. It's on the "the list" though...right behind getting a better house for my kids.

What do I miss the most? I miss my entire family being together. I miss total PEACE. I miss my blue house. I miss my dad. I miss not having to worry so much about my kids.

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Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.