Ok, we have the water situation taken care of, chickens ordered, seeds ordered, and fruit trees ordered. Now I am thinking about canning. (I have to keep putting the thought of spray drift again, out of my head because it is driving me insane!
My hubby has already said if they kill it again this year, he will not be as understanding and nice about it.
) So I am moving on in my plans for putting up lots of food this year. It is kind of embarrassing to admit this, but I have not used my canner in over 7 years.
Jonny was home and he has been gone from home for 7 years.
Today I checked it out. It is a Presto brand bought at least 25 years ago if not more. I have never replaced anything on it. So I know about everything will need replaced. I figured it up and it will cost about $40 to replace everything. Yikes. I can buy a new one at Walmart for a bit over $60. Not sure about this. I would love an American canner, but they cost from $177 up to almost $400. Can't do that right now. So what should I do? Replace my canner with another Presto or just repair my old one? The canner has been stored in the bottom of one of my cabinets at the old house. It has seen better days, but might clean up pretty good. Even if I don't replace the rubber stuff and gauge, I could still use it as a water bath canner.
I have also been looking into jar lids. Walmart carries Ball regular lids for $1.78 per dozen. They had some cheaper ones, but they are made in China and do not say BPA free. No thanks. I have checked on Amazon and other sites and even in bulk they cost more than this per dozen. I think I will start budgeting my grocery money to buy 5-10 boxes each pay period. I will also have to replace the rings, but they can be reused many times. The wide mouth lids were $2.48 per dozen. I will need some of them, but most of my jars are the regular.
This is also embarrassing to admit, but I have not been in to my cellar in over 5 years.
It is scary and creepy down there. I always had kids to go with me. LOL Kevin said fixing up the cellar and maybe even running electricity to it so I can have a light is a high priority this year.
I hope my jars are still in good shape.
You know I have been thinking....(Kevin says that is always dangerous. LOL) If I do all this work this summer....gardening, canning, raising and butchering chickens, I should have a reward, right? Maybe I will ask for another cat or a big dog for outside. Hmmm, probably not, just rambling tonight. LOL
Blessings,
Winona