Today at 7 am I got bitten by a scorpion on my left index finger – OUCH! With the pain, the rest and recovery, I was basically out of action today, or anything I did was one handed. But it got me thinking about this homestead life – we love our homemade bread, goats milk, chickens eggs etc, but having those involves activities that require my health and strength. If I am incapacitated, as I was today, I cannot make and knead homemade bread, and as we are essentially off grid, there are no frozen loaves to pull out of the freezer. Or, having separated the kid from the mother goat overnight, but then injuring my left hand this morning, I had to get a friend to help me with milking – her first quick milking lesson! And on the list goes, food, animals, everything is affected. So, I am wondering, what tips do you have for ensuring life goes on at the homestead if you are out of action? And secondly, what basic ready made foods (homemade) can people suggest to keep on hand for emergencies?
Thanks for any tips!
Katharine
Replies
Katharine, I usually make no-knead bread because I find that it is so much easier and quicker when I'm busy with three little ones. I have altered this recipe to suit my needs, but rather than type out all my instructions you can just take the original and give it a try: http://chefmichaelsmith.com/recipe/country-bread-city-bread/ You can make it white, or multi-grain (I increase the ratio of whole wheat and add a 1/2 cup of oats plus whatever seeds or "bits" I have on hand). As long as you have one hand that can stir the dough, you should be ok. :)
I'm so glad you're better! I do think about those issues all the time. I live alone, and it would be very difficult if I became incapacitated. My view has changed from wanting to be entirely self-sufficient to having to accept that there is no such thing - we need to create communities. Luckily, I live in one. When both of my snowblowers conked out this winter, a neighbor came with his tractor and did my snow removal. Several neighbors have offered to help with the animals if I ever need it. I need to teach a few of them how to milk.
As for bread, Ricki Carroll has a great recipe for whey bread. I think it's called English Muffin Bread, and it requires no kneading. It may be on her website. I have a copy that came with some cheesemaking supplies I ordered from her company, New England Cheesemaking. If you have some leftover whey, you can make this bread with a bowl and a spoon. It's yummy! You could probably make it with milk, or water, or eggs, too.
Glad your hand is better Katherine. And thanks for the idea of the tiny house Deborah. Never though of that.
Need to talk to hubby and think about something along that line. It is sure nice to have all of you to "talk" to.
Katharine,
No, unfortunately it's not considered to be okay to can any meat or low acid foods (like dried beans) in a water bath canner. I wish it was okay, since it's a lot easier than watching the pressure on a pressure canner.
I'll get that rusk recipe typed up soon. I'm glad you're feeling better. :)
Thanks so much everyone, my hand is doing much better, just has that slightly dull achey feeling like you get the day after a vaccination! Am slightly more cautious around my sink now in case there's another scorpion there.......I'm a bit jumpy!
Patty, thanks for the tortilla recipe, I'll give those a go! I'd love your trail bread recipe too, that would be so great.
I'm just getting into canning - I've done it once - chicken - and we did it 10 pint jars at a time in a pressure canner. Is it possible to can just 2 or three jars at a time in a smaller saucepan, water bath style? That would be easy to do with leftovers, rather than a big canning all day session...........
Bev, I totally love the idea of having someone live on your land in a tiny house/trailer - as a mum with a young family who loves the country, that would be a dream offer! I'd really encourage you to go for that, may it be a great blessing to both you and whoever comes.
With tiny houses getting to be so popular, it might be easier than you think to find someone to live on your property. And the tiny house people are generally looking for a place in the country. We've recently been talking to someone about doing that here. It's a couple with two small children. The dad is going to start volunteering here a couple of days a week first to see what he thinks of it. They currently live an hour away. I haven't looked, but I imagine there is a tiny house Facebook group where you could post.
Bev, we're on the same wave length. I can my old hens as well. That is some delicious fast food! I also can venison, another tender and delicious fast food. :) My husband often takes a jar of that to work and eats it for his lunch. And the beans are another great canned fast food. All healthy and natural with nothing nasty added. This is inspiring me to get out my pressure canner and do some bean and chili canning.
Hope your hand is doing better. When we chose these life styles it is really a problem from time to time. I have had that several times. Fractured my hip last year with a fall - had a knee replacement about 5 years ago. My hubby had to do my animal chores. I have no one else that I can call on -my daughter lives too far away.
I have wondered about trying to find someone that could live here -in their own trailer - and help out for free rent. I am getting older, in my seventies now, and it worries me a lot about the care of all my critters if I can't do it. Fortunately I stay healthy and can keep up. But there is always that "but".
Canning beans is the best. I do it all the time as it is easier than doing a small amount. I am busy outside and beans take awhile to prepare but canning gets a lot of meals done with the same amount of time. I like to can pinto beans with onions, peppers and tomato already in them. Makes great fast food -bit of hamburger and seasoning -instant chili.
If I make soup I like to make a big pot and can it also. Makes great instant dinner. Some biscuits and homemade soup - making me hungry. I have also canned meat. Culling out chickens -canning the old hens makes a tender, really tasty chicken. Other than canning I can never cook them that they are worth much. Canned - they are great. Make a great chicken stew - cook up the veggies and add a jar of canned chicken - season and thicken gravy. Like you spent hours doing it.
If you still want a bread-like thing, to go with those beans Deborah suggested, you could make tortillas. I will share my recipe . This is a very thin batter you make like a crepe. It's my grandmother's recipe. She grew up in Arizona and ate these regularly.
1 1/2 c. water
1 c. flour (You can use 1/2 whole wheat. Maybe more, but I haven't tried that.)
1/2 c. corn meal
1/4 t. salt
1 egg
Cook by 1/4 cup fulls, using ladle to spread. Start in the center and circle out until batter is thin. For a cast iron skillet, only a very slight oiling is needed. It's easier to spread the batter if the pan isn't greased much. When it's starting to look dry on top it's ready to flip.
I have 6 people in my family, and I have to double this for us. I love these! They fall apart easier that something store bought or a roll out dough, but the taste is so good and they're so easy to make! You could fill them with beans. :) Or do what my kids to and put peanut butter and jelly in it. Enjoy!
I also make crackers and something called a rusk that we used to make for a trail bread when I worked in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. They're like a thick, dense cracker or flat bread, very sturdy and hearty. They last a long time. That should be something you could keep in stock and rotate through, in case anything comes up that prevents you from making a meal. We like to eat them with sausage and cheese. I'll gladly supply you with the recipes if you'd like. I've gotta run for now, but let me know if you want them and I'll provide them for you.
I hope you're all healed up by now! :)
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