Vintage Knocks

Fodder

So , we wanted to try feeding our chickens and rabbits fodder to cut the cost of store bought feed and keep it fresh.

My husband made me this simple cart and I just purchased baskets from the dollar store.

I drilled holes for drainage.

I started with a little bag each of, barley, alfalfa and oats $16.00 for all.

soaked the seeds over night and changed the water until water ran clean and clear.

Spread the seeds out in the baskets and watered from top , the drip system took care of the rest. All I had to do was wait and make sure they don't dry out. So, to make a long story short. Every day you start a new batch and that way everyday you have some ready to harvest . Takes 7 days to harvest. Some grew better than others. I stuck with the barley. You get the most out of it and it's the fastest growing of the 3. Chickens and rabbits both like it .T.

Micro greens

Shopping the Discount Grocery Outlet

Well I had stumbled across this store and decided to go in and see just what it was they were calling a discount grocery store outlet. Turns out it is owned and operated by the Amish and it is stocked with foods from trucks that for what ever reasons won't be able to reach there destination. The owners of the store had contracted with the insurance company and they are called if a truck breaks down and they go retrieve the contents so the truck can be towed for repairs. Any way this is what I bought, A salt cured ham that weighed at least 25 lbs. I looked up the maker when I got home and called them to ask how to cook a salt cured ham. They where very helpful and explained that the hams are special ordered and come out of Tennessee , and that the ham I was referring to was at least $89.00 salt cured ham. I was delicious, I even canned some. Cost of ham $ 19.99.

we bought summer sausages for $1.29 each and pkgs of Mrs. fields cookies (6 pk) .50 cents pk.

Now , you can't expect to be able to do your every day grocery here. How ever , you can expect to be surprised with a gook deal or two. T.

Winter photos

From our back yard.

Another Cake

This was a cake done for a friends son.

Hope he enjoyed his day and cake.

MAKING WINE

I decided to try making my own wine.

I started out with a cheep verson using grape concentrate, just to see if it worked befor I spent the $ and time on fruit.

I got a glass carboy and the rest of my equipment at the hobby store in Lancaster, Ohio.

The sugar I used.

I'll keep you up dated as per how it is going. It takes a while. T.

CATCHING UP 2015

We have been so bizzy with chickens, rabbits, pens, coops, and a few new additions. My husband started a new job and I became a volunteer. 1st off I would like to say that We challenged our selves last winter to lower out heating bills and boy of boy did we. Don't think we knew just how wasteful we where. We where able to almost cut our bill in half. Here's what we did . We 1st covered all the windows with the plastic for windows(from Menards , during the summer they where on sale $1.00 pack.) then you use a hair dryer to shrink it tight. After that I, covered the windows with Heavy drapes and lots of them" don't skimp on the drapes" you want them to go beyond the window frames. Layering is best. Keep drapes closed early evening and open during warm daytime, this helps to heat. Then we replaced the door gaskets , to keep out the cold. and covered vents in rooms not used. We were very satisfied with the results, and plan on doing the same this winter coming. We also were able to install 2 wall units for heating, these are propane. One being installed at the back and one at the front of the house . 100 lb. Propane tanks are a lot cheaper than filling our 330gal tank all at once " and waiting for them to show " year before we where with out for 3 days because they were behind in deliveries a week. this way we keep our furnace down to 60 and heat with the wall mounts, that way as long as we keep it warm upstairs the furnace never kicks on. We now always have a back up on hand if need be and if we don't make it home in time and it gets cold the furnace will kick on, keeping our pipes from freezing. We saved a substantial amount. T.

Cardboard Christmas

As you can tell, I am waaaaay behind this year with my blog. But I promises We'll catch up- fast. Ok, 1st things 1st. This past Christmas my challenge was to do Christmas with cardboard. And guess what ? It turned out pretty good for a bunch of discarded corrugated cardboard. Here , see for yourself. Here I am cutting out parts for my manger. I used wire to attach pcs. I taped the wire down.