Freezing Vegetables

Here are some simple guidelines for freezing a variety of vegetables commonly grown in home gardens.

This is a great no frills site, check it out.

http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/vegetables/freezing.asp

Just about everyone, is trying to figure out ways to do with less, to live greener and to end our dependence on foreign oil.

How many of you stopped buying spinach last winter, or round tomatoes this spring or hamburger last fall because people were getting sick? How many of you wonder about pesticides or herbicides and every other "cide" you can think of when you put food on the table? How many of you have checked the ever-rising price above those fruits and vegetables at the grocery store?If you can grow flowers, you can grow herbs, vegetables and fruit.I am not talking about a huge garden that takes every minute of your time and energy. I am talking about a few pots on the deck or front steps, a few bushes planted behind the roses, some herbs mixed into the perennial border - and you can supply yourself with some nice and safe products.
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31 ways to SAVE, Ideas help cope with tough times

ATLANTA — Feeding the family is getting costlier than ever, with the price of a fill-up on milk rivaling a fill-up on gasoline, and eggs so expensive voters can't afford to throw them at our political rivals.
Readers have offered their ideas on how to save money at the grocery store. HERE are some of them.

So The Garden Did Great This Year, Now what?

Gardens are starting to produce those lovely, fresh vegetables. A pressure canner is needed to ensure safe low-acid canned foods. There are no safe boiling water canning options for vegetables, meats and seafood, soups and some other mixtures of foods.
It is tempting to want to preserve your canned specialties in fancy jars and bottles. But the two-piece lid system and canning jars that take them are what we recommend for the home. When applied correctly, they are a good system for venting trapped air out of your jars during the canning process and can visually show that you have a vacuum seal when the jar cools. Read more about jars and lids.
If you have spent precious time and effort preparing your garden’s harvest for freezer storage, you do not want to lose it with power outages during summer storms. Read about preparing for power outages and also see our recommendations for what to do if the freezer stops.

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http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/index.html

Wood pellet stoves are Hot Sellers

Wood pellet stoves have become very popular this year, due to the fact that heating oil costs have risen 31% and natural gas is up 46%. Pellet stoves are small electric stoves that burn small pieces of recycled sawdust, that have been compressed into pellets. There are a number of advantages to using wood pellet stoves: they are extremely efficient, produce very little waste, and use inexpensive fuel. A 40-pound bag of pellets sells for less than five dollars, with discounts available for those who buy in bulk.......................................

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http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/wood_pellet_sto.php

First Aid Help

First aid is the assistance given to an injured or sick person in need of urgent medical assistance. First aid applies to a broad range of medical situations and consists both of specific knowledge and skills (e.g., what to do for each type of injury or illness) and the ability to assess a situation and make appropriate decisions (such as when to call for emergency medical assistance).
Preparedness is a key element of first aid. While every home, auto, and boat should be equipped with a basic emergency kit that includes first aid supplies and a first aid manual,,,,,,

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http://www.medicinenet.com/first_aid/article.htm

Relish summer's harvest with pickling recipes

Where have all the pickles gone?
It wasn't so long ago that every well-dressed American dinner table was bejeweled with an assortment of them -- emerald green tomatoes, ruby red beets and opalescent pearl onions, as well as less glamorous (though certainly no less delicious) okra, mushrooms and watermelon rind. The pickle tray was a standard part of a Sunday supper.
Nowadays, almost the only pickle you'll find is cucumber. And while there's nothing wrong with your basic bread-and-butter, half-sour or dill, there are so many other possibilities to explore.

Rest Of Article Here;
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/fooddrink/s_581684.html/