Stocking up on tinned stuff?

[Little John]

I wonder how the numbers numbers stack up regarding a comparison of buying cheap veg and canning oneself, to buying cheap veg already canned?

[RenewableCandy]

re the tinned toms, yes. Acid + metal = salt + H iirc...

ergot can be useful in tiny quantities. Ask me next time my head explodes.

[Little John]

re the tinned toms, yes. Acid + metal = salt + H iirc...

ergot can be useful in tiny quantities. Ask me next time my head explodes.

I'm thinking of things like green beans etc which can be grown in huge quantities in the back garden, but which can't always be consumed in such quantities. Would it be cheaper to invest in canning equipment and then can all surplus production as compared to simply buying cheap commercially canned veg of this type? Obviously, we can assume home-canned will taste better, but I am wondering about a direct financial comparison.

[RenewableCandy]

You could grow instead the types of beans that can be dried, and rely on apples (which keep for months in a cool dark place) for your vit C.

[vtsnowedin]

re the tinned toms, yes. Acid + metal = salt + H iirc...

ergot can be useful in tiny quantities. Ask me next time my head explodes.

I'm thinking of things like green beans etc which can be grown in huge quantities in the back garden, but which can't always be consumed in such quantities. Would it be cheaper to invest in canning equipment and then can all surplus production as compared to simply buying cheap commercially canned veg of this type? Obviously, we can assume home-canned will taste better, but I am wondering about a direct financial comparison.

I've eaten a good quantity of home canned produce over the years. My mother would put up a minimum of 200 quarts each summer to have at least one jar a day through the winter. You will be hard pressed to equal the quality and flavor of a good store brand of canned goods as most canning instructions err on the side of safety and over cook most vegetables especially those prone to botulism. I prefer frozen veggies both home grown or store bought but would dust off the canner if the power grid became unreliable. We used to can on the wood stove with the kitchen door wide open in August so the only cost was the jar lid seals.

[tpals]

Dehydrating is also an option for preserving home produce.

[emordnilap]

You could grow instead the types of beans that can be dried, and rely on apples (which keep for months in a cool dark place) for your vit C.

Not forgetting Biff's excellent suggestion for preserving apples - in a dead freezer or a dead fridge lying on its back. To remind people: apparently, the apples will give off gas which will preserve them without even wrapping the apples or keeping them from touching each other.

And the other suggestion prompted by mike_pepler: using excess solar-generated electricity to dehydrate summer and autumn crops.

[Catweazle]

There are some good designs for Solar powered dehydrators on the web. Very simple to build, I'll be making one this year so will post my experiences.

[emordnilap]

There are some good designs for Solar powered dehydrators on the web. Very simple to build, I'll be making one this year so will post my experiences.

I made one, which was partially successful. Our sunshine is too unpredictable to be very productive for long: food may sit in cloudy conditions for days, resulting in mould but, when the sun's shining, it's a brilliant idea.

Have you a particular design you intend looking at, Cat?

I like this one.

[Tarrel]

re the tinned toms, yes. Acid + metal = salt + H iirc...

ergot can be useful in tiny quantities. Ask me next time my head explodes.

I'm thinking of things like green beans etc which can be grown in huge quantities in the back garden, but which can't always be consumed in such quantities. Would it be cheaper to invest in canning equipment and then can all surplus production as compared to simply buying cheap commercially canned veg of this type? Obviously, we can assume home-canned will taste better, but I am wondering about a direct financial comparison.

If you're looking purely on cost grounds, I imagine supermarket "basics" stuff will be cheaper. But...

- Doing it yourself denies the mega-supermarkets the business
- Doing it yourself ensures you have the equipment and know-how to be able to preserve your home-grown stuff should the SHTF
- Doing it yourself, you know the source of the veg, and what they've been grown in!

[Catweazle]

There are some good designs for Solar powered dehydrators on the web. Very simple to build, I'll be making one this year so will post my experiences.

I made one, which was partially successful. Our sunshine is too unpredictable to be very productive for long: food may sit in cloudy conditions for days, resulting in mould but, when the sun's shining, it's a brilliant idea.

Have you a particular design you intend looking at, Cat?

I like this one.

Here are some useful quidelines:

Original design:

http://appropriatetec.appstate.edu/site ... rticle.pdf

Fine tuning:

http://appropriatetec.appstate.edu/site ... Dryers.pdf

[biffvernon]

Does this count as tinned stuff:
http://www.viralnova.com/fallout-shelters/

[Tarrel]

Does this count as tinned stuff:
http://www.viralnova.com/fallout-shelters/

A baby sardine saw a big submarine
It was scared, and looked through the peep-hole
"Come come, come come" said the sardine's Mum,
"It's only a tin full of people!"