Finally got the Big Berkey this week from Directive21. Will have it set up this weekend. Built a chicken run and bought 6 hens from a good friend. Worked on debt budget (financial preparedness!), Missed 3 days of work outs, but will be back on it tomorrow.
On that first day, I went out as it got dark and two birds were already in there, and the rest proceeded to fly up in a matter of 5min! So, yes they found their roost. I need to get the setting boxes set up, but they seemed to have settled in quite nicely. Thanks again!Ha! Hope the birds have been giving you lots of entertainment. Did they find the roost on their own yesterday?
ObThisWeekInPrep: Several gallons of maple syrup have been bottled. Several more to go. Not really prep I suppose since we do it every year
Today I tested an old, previously opened jar of "Red Star Active Dry Yeast" that I found lurking in the door of my fridge.
Expiration date was July, 2009.
Worked wonderfully (see photo of Cinnamon Bread)!
So, I guess one could theoretically buy a new jar & bury it in-ground or in water (with appropriate waterproof coverings, etc) to keep it "refrigerated" for a couple years, in the
bug-out location or wherever, and be able to use it just fine.
The "SAF-Instant" yeast stores for many, many years if frozen, I'm told, but I'm thinking about non-electric options.
I don't normally post in this thread because our preps are part of our normal cycle since I've been doing it since I was 11 , but I got to thinking about it and on Sunday we had a forest products day. We were boiling down maple sap for syrup as we do every year this time, I milled some lumber, one of the girls was splitting firewood for next year's heating, and the other was planing down some oak cut from our property that had been air drying for a couple of years for trim for her room. So that day was devoted to using and processing forest products from our 150 acres
You're living my dream, especially the part where the kids help out.