February 1st and winter holds on. It has been a typical Ohio winter as I remember winters. My kids in Alaska are having a warmer winter than Ohio; days reaching 45F with sun. Here on the shores of Lake Erie it's been overcast much of the last three months and temperatures dipping into the -30's with the windchills coming off a very frozen lake. Nose hair numbing to be sure!
But isn't winter beautiful? The solitude, the snow muffles the harshness of city life, it is a blessing in the wee hours of the morning when I poke my head out the back door to see a herd of deer dancing around the bird feeder.
January is a month for planning. Every January is kicked off by planting onion seeds on the new moon. On the menu this year; Sedona, Talon, Patterson, Blush and Redwing. I made the mistake of using two year old seed and I will not do that again; as germination has been less than stellar. I know onions and leeks do much better with fresh seed! But it just kills me to toss seed so I planted a flat to see if this was really true and yes it is.
So spotty......
Another flat has been replanted and we will cross our fingers!
Ursula is looking good and I am snacking a couple times a week off lettuce and other greens. Not enough to make a salad but the tasting has been delish!
January, also known as the hungry gap and has me down the hydroponic rabbit hole!
I have a nice lettuce mix and broccoli micro-greens growing at present. I've had fun trying out clay pellets for the first time and learning about hydroponic fertilizers and PH balance etc. It's keeping my mind off the country and world at the moment. I really needed a break.
I'm back to canning a few things (beans), stocking up my grains, quinoa and barley. Canadian, non-bromated, no glycosphate, organic hard winter, high protein flour. (Read your labels! If your flour is not labeled UNBLEACHED, it is bleached. Bleached flours have had all their germ & bran removed. The flour is artificially aged through the use of BLEACH. Last time I looked, bleach is toxic so why TF is it ok to be in flour? Add bromate, why? Well here is an article on the carcinogenic properties of bromate and why they add it to flour: BROMATE
All in 50 pound bags. A case of soba noodles, the chicken that was on sale (no it isn't free range, organic chicken, its chicken) I saw eggs for $8 a dozen in the store today so I am eyeing those fluffy butts at Tractor Supply. Avian Bird Flu has hit NE Ohio in a big way! On the January planning map; ways to insulate the chickens from wild birds. So more labor intensive projects ahead.
But on the days there is sun you can find me in the hoop house soaking up the smell of moist earth and humid warmth. A good cup of tea and audiobooks for a quick lunch break is heaven!
I've had time to drop into technology too. Both computers are working, both printers are working (one wirelessly), I hooked up a camera to my monitor so I can Facetime or join zoom meetings again. I am plugging along getting my 13 year old camera to shoot video with a remote. My brain is still in old technology and I have not kept up with the latest and greatest as technology is so expensive! But I am muddling my way through on a very small budget.
Apertures, ISO's, shudder speeds .... it is a bit daunting.
I have uploaded a video on my youtube channel if you're interested in installing a paper bag floor: Paper bag floors
Hoping to upload a few more on winter pruning, starting seeds, micro-greens and pottery. Maybe a few from kitchen central too. Goal for 2025, get my youtube channel up and running!
I feel like the times are precarious at best. I am not a "prepper" or a doomsday-er or flat earth-er, it's just time to hunker down in lieu of the political climate, the climate in general, oh those wild weather patterns. The last time our government shut down I remember the lines at the Cleveland Food Bank and it was staggering. People in brand new trucks and SUV's with the trunks open, waiting for a box or two of food. Some in designer clothes clutching their pearls. This time around it could be so much worse but honestly, we just don't know. Inventory your freezer, your storage shelves, don't forget your pets. Put a few jugs of water aside. I am watching and taking notes on North Carolina, California, Tennessee and other hard hit places. What are the take aways? Have a "go bag" ready but if you don't need to go it would be good to have some things put aside to get you through some tough times. I have been waiting 3 weeks for a quart of hydroponic liquid fertilizer that should have been here two and half weeks ago but due to inclement weather it's held up somewhere in the midwest and who knows when it will get here. Ya, a first world problem for sure. I am now looking for local hydroponic suppliers and happy to say I have found 3 in our area.
As I sit her pounding away on my keyboard it has just been announced that 25% tariffs will be put in place for Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on China. Hmmmm what will be immediately impacted? Since Mexico supplies 63% of the US imported veggies and 47% of the imported fruit & nuts, buckle up for your next trip to produce section.
- Avocados
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Bananas
- Pineapple
- Snacks
- Cooking oil
- Nuts
- Tea
But wait there's more!
The US imported $69 billion worth of vehicles from Mexico and $37 billion from Canada in 2023.
Tariffs could add about $3,000 to the price of some vehicles. Even if you only need repairs, tariffs on parts will be going up.
The US imports 75% of its smartphones from China. Tariffs could raise the price of smartphones by 26%.
Canada provides 85% of imported lumber to the US. I can't wait to go to Home Depot and price lumber! And you think the new house market is stagnant now, 😂
Appliances....... I'll be down at the river beating my clothes on a rock.
Wonder if farmers will suffer due to retaliatory tariffs? It's happened before.
Canada and Mexico are major buyers of US farm exports.
Canada supplies 60% of US crude oil imports. If tariffs include oil, gas prices could rise by 30-75 cents per gallon, TD Economics figures warn. That electric bike is looking pretty good.
and all this from a guy who campaigned on lower prices on groceries, housing, etc..... Ya I can't wait to see all those free eggs, there will be so many eggs were gonna be throwing them at the White House. And gas, gas would be so cheap we'll be taking a bath in that stuff.... drill baby drill. For all those who drank the orange kool-aid; buckle up buttercup it's gonna be long 4 years.
Ya, it's all fake news.......
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