Canning Chicken-My Way

It has been such an amazing week on the farm with SO much research and prepping plans that I'm tuckered out!

I have been waiting for 4th of July to come along so I can stock up on chicken. First thing this morning, I ventured down the hill to my only supermarket in town and purchased a lot of boneless/skinless breasts for cheap, cheap, cheap!!! I brought them home, packaged them, and into the freezer. Although, all the while, I had a little voice in my head telling me to go get more and pressure can it. Some people get obsessed with sports- I get obsessed about food storage. I'm sure there is no cure!!!

I am not one to be nervous or question my ability, but I have never been comfortable at the thought of processing chicken. Mostly due to safety and...well...texture. BUT...I convinced myself to not be "such a chicken" and I went back to the store, purchased 20 pounds of jumbo thighs and 2 entire split chickens for $30.00 and brought them home. No turning back then!

So, I had to make the decision as to which method I was going to try for the first time. I decided skin off, bone out, raw pack with no liquid added and no additional salt.  There are lots of different schools of thought out there  about the "best" way... (as there always seems to be regarding prepping) but they are all safe and effective ways to get the desired results. So let's take a look.

Before you attempt any preservation of foods:Know your ingredients and your equipment and be prepared to spend hours in the kitchen. You can not walk away from a pressure cooker. I am not responsible for anything!

1st-  I took all skin and bones off and out of my chicken pieces. This took a long time (3 hours) but the meat was inexpensive, so it was worth it. Remember you can leave the bone in and the skin on if you want to.

 

Next- I packed the meat tightly into pint jars (of course you can use quarts). Make sure there are no air pockets and leave a 1 inch head space. Wipe the tops of your jars thoroughly. They will be greasy and you will not get a seal if you skip this step. 

Process jars in a pressure cooker: 10 pounds of pressure

pints-bone in- 1 hour and 5 minutes
pints- bone out-1 hour and 15 minutes

quarts-bone in-1 hour and 15 minutes
quarts-bone out-1 hour  and 30 minutes

Use your chicken for soups, stews, enchiladas, casseroles and absolutely everything you use cooked chicken in. 

I did it! You can, too!!!

Unplugged... (I dare you!)

Could you do it? Could you unplug from this constant information overload for an hour? A day? A week? How long could you go without that psychological contact and safety that being plugged in gives you?

I was cruising the internet trying to decide my next step in this huge process of becoming self-reliant. I was confronted with a scenario of where we are in full disaster mode (you decide the scene) and the public is nervous, confused, cracking. Then add losing our modes of communication (tv, cell phones, computer). Civilized society is going to break down. Quickly. In a very bad way. I really hadn't thought that through before.

Getting a ham radio license has been on my priority list to purchase and get used to BEFORE anything may happen, but I didn't realize that the ham radio outposts are also going to go down in a relatively short time. There are solar powered stations, but not enough.

So, what is left? How will this all play out? I have no idea, but there are a couple of things to think about.

***How addicted are you to your electronic devices? Envision a world where they are turned into paperweights and find out where your stress level is. 

***What is your plan to communicate with the people you love? Seeing that they are o.k. and to assure them that you are o.k. during a disaster is going to relieve that psychological tension. 

Before I began down this road to self-sufficiency, the first thing that had to be decided on (before one can of beans was purchased) was, "Am I a survivor?" The answer was a resounding, "YES!"

Ask yourself that question. Are YOU a survivor? Are you willing to be all alone? To refuse government help (that won't be there anyway)? To be in a position of power and not pity? To protect what is yours at all cost? Well, if you answered, No" to any of the above questions, you are unfortunately going to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

Let's spend some days, weeks, months getting our brain in the game. I want that for you. I really do!

Catching Up and A Few Questions For You!

School is out and I am starting to feel like my ship is righting itself~finally. I'm spending the majority of my time outside and I am VERY thankful I am able to do that.

Below are some pictures taken today on Hidden Acres Farm. As I was snapping pictures I came up with a few questions for you, Faithful Reader. My first is, "Do you plant heirloom seeds? If so, do they grow way slower than regular ones?" I have thrown myself (almost) completely into heirlooms and those little darlings are growing at a much slower rate.

Next question, "Have you ever straw bale gardened?" Again, I have planted heirloom eggplant in the straw bales, and I don't know if it is technique or seed???

Can you help a girl out?

So here goes the tour...I hope you enjoy it~

3 Sister's Garden. Squash, corn, beans

Exploded tire full of lettuce.

Grandmother's old wash bin overflowing with lettuce.

Rhubarb and potatoes

Tomatoes and herbs

Tomatoes

Cukes, beets, beans

Broccoli, cauliflower, assorted greens

Red Russian garlic

Banana pepper-hot stuff!

Straw bales with eggplant. Other boxes have tomatoes and eggplant

Peas. Planted at the same time. Heirloom so much smaller.

Radishes just poked through. Planted 4 days ago. Container is an upside down vent top. Cool, huh?

Yeah! Growing my own calendula this year for my soap!