Peaches Archives

This year our garden was nearly a bust!

We started a little earlier with a backyard garden planted the end of April. We enjoyed some peas and lettuce and had hopes of carrots, onions, beets and potatoes. Only the potatoes materialized. (So far we have had 3 meals from our own potatoes and there are still lots in the ground that I haven’t dug up yet.) Sunflowers also took over the garden. (I think from the chickens’ feed as they wintered in this spot.) At least they are pretty and we can use them for feed for the chickens this winter.

In May we tilled a much bigger garden in the back pasture and had a wonderful time purchasing plants at the local nursery and planting seeds but our return was very sad. We tried to fence that garden to protect it from the cows but alas they found a weak spot and broke in. What they did not eat they trampled. All that remained were 2 patty pan squash plants, 1 green bean plant, 1 pumpkin plant, and 2 watermelon plants. Just before they closed for the summer I returned to the nursery and bought a few more tomato plants to try again. We planted them the next day. Not one but two storms raged across my garden uprooting all we had planted for the second time. But somehow a few tomato plants remained.

By August I completely gave up on working in the garden. The weeds have taken over and everything has been sadly neglected. But I just couldn’t justify pouring my time into it for so little return. We were able to harvest a few pounds of cherry tomatoes, some patty pan squash, 1 watermelon, enough peas for a couple meals, and a few salads. The potatoes are looking promising although we’ve only dug a few of them up so far.

Midway through August a cousin called me to ask if I’d like to buy some peaches they had trucked up from Colorado. Of course, I said, “Yes!” We went that evening to retrieve them and she gifted me with 28 pounds of cucumbers and 11 pounds of green beans from their garden. The next week she called again asking me to come get more cucumbers and beans. The following week another friend who had planted a one acre garden asked us to please come pick from their garden. She couldn’t deal with anymore produce and didn’t want it to go to waste. Then last week another friend called to ask us to please come pick peaches from her tree. (Who knew peach trees could produce fruit in Montana!) She just had too many and not enough time to deal with them all!

The Lord has provided above and beyond what I could have ever imagined even (and maybe because) my own efforts failed to produce fruit.

Praise the Lord!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
    studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111

It seems like everyone lately is talking about the increase in food prices. My husband & I have been discussing what we can do to maintain control over our budget when the prices keep rising on everything

Produce

Grow as much as you can yourself. Plant a fruit tree. Plant a garden. (I love Square Foot Gardening for gardening with less space.) Start with a salad garden which is so easy to grow. You don’t have to worry if its been contaminated or if you can’t get to the store.

Preserve as much as you can from your garden, gleaning from others and by purchasing produce by the case. I’ve been canning or freezing a lot more this year!

We also love Bountiful Baskets! It has now has locations in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Texas, South Carolina, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. They are adding new locations all the time. For $15 you get 2 laundry baskets of fruits and vegetables or for $25 you can get Organic. They also have lots of add-ons available such as cases of apples or peaches. Whatever is in season!

Meat

We are raising our own chickens. Although this hasn’t been very cost saving this year. We hope next year will be much better!

We purchased half of a hog. We paid approximately $2.05/lb for 180 pounds of meat plus fat that I rendered into 2 gallons of lard. That includes cured ham slices & bacon, ground pork, breakfast sausage, pork chops, ribs, a couple roasts, a couple steaks, and a tenderloin. I’m pretty sure I could not have gotten that meat from the store any where close to that price! (We haven’t been big pork eaters in the past mostly just bacon and a ham for Christmas but we were able to find this good source of meat before our stock of beef ran out.)

Last year we were gifted with venison from a friend who likes to hunt but not eat the meat. For $150 we have been able to enjoy delicious jerky, Italian sausages and ground venison for nearly a year.

We purchased a whole cow nearly a year ago. Although it was a big expenditure. We have been able to enjoy a variety of delicious cuts for about the same amount we would pay for just ground beef from Costco. Plus it was pasture raised beef which is healthier by far than conventional beef. Although my supply is dwindling I believe with the additions of the other meats we will be able to hold out until spring before we need to purchase another cow. Eventually we are hoping to raise our own beef cow.

We have about 50 layers. We have been getting 9-18 eggs a day. What a wonderful source of protein we are able to get from them! As a bonus we are able to sell our extras which helps pay for their feed.

Dairy

We have chosen to pay more for our milk by getting fresh milk from a farmer. To compensate for the extra expense I do my best to make as many of our own dairy products as I can although I frequently wish I had more time to do more. Currently we make our own yogurt and occasionally mozzarella cheese. I also turn some of the yogurt into yogurt cheese which has the consistency of cream cheese and then use the whey for fermenting and soaking grains, vegetables and other things that I am learning from GNOWFLINS.

We buy cheese in bulk from Costco. When we bring it home we shred the block with my salad shooter and freeze it in quart size baggies. We also by a blend we call “pizza cheese.” It has mozzarella, provolone & cheddar. We divide it into baggies as well and then freeze it. This does two things: 1) it preserves it for longer and 2) it gives us some portion control since we all like cheese so much!

Grains

I purchase my grains, beans and several other bulk products from Azure Standard and Wheat Montana through our local co-op. I buy them in 50 pound bags and keep them in food grade buckets with Gamma lids.

I make almost all of our bread from scratch as well as other baked goods. I make 6 loaves at a time for a cost of less than $5 for the batch.

By purchasing in bulk it keeps us out of the store which always saves money, it makes it easier to pull together meals when everything you need is already at home and it is cheaper in the long run.

Joining 4 Moms, 35 Kids: http://www.smockityfrocks.com/2011/10/tips-on-keeping-the-food-budget.html

God Provides

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 111

Food Budget