Carson Downing. Food Styling: Kelsey Moylan
24.07.2023 - 12:17 / hgic.clemson.edu
It is the time of year to start thinking about home food preservation projects for the spring and summer. If you plan to use a pressure canner for safely preserving low acid foods like vegetables or meats, consider scheduling a canner inspection soon. For dial gauge pressure canners, the gauge should be checked for accuracy annually. The gauge should also be checked if it has been dropped, soaked in water, or shows any other signs of damage. If the gauge is off more than 2 pounds at the pressure used for your altitude, replace it. Make pressure adjustments for the difference up to 2 pounds. Food Systems and Safety Agents commonly perform these tests in their office. At this time, our offices are closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Until we are able to see you in person, canner dial gauges can be tested by Presto®.
To have your gauge tested for accuracy, remove it from your canner lid, wrap it in bubble wrap or newspaper and securely place it in a shipping box. Be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address in the box with your gauge. Gauges can be sent to the Presto Customer Service Department at:
National Presto Industries, Inc. Consumer Service Department 3925 North Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703
Other safety checks to look for with pressure canners include inspection of the vent, safety valve, gasket and edges of the lid and canner. The vent should be clean and free from buildup. To clean the vent, draw a string, narrow strip of cloth, or pipe cleaner through the opening. The gasket is a rubber or rubber-like compound that helps seal the edges of the canner and lid to prevent the steam from escaping. Gaskets may be removable for cleaning or replacement. Check the
Carson Downing. Food Styling: Kelsey Moylan
Moving is an undertaking, no matter how you slice it. Navigating the renting or buying process, finding the funds to invest in a new place, and packing up all of your belongings takes a lot of time and effort. Often, overwhelmed by everything else, we forget about the money that goes into actually making the move. You'll need to finalize your budget and make sure you have what you need to move before getting started—but what does it really cost to move? Home services website Angi surveyed 1,000 people to find out just how much it takes, so you can be better equipped for the next big transition.
A cheap tip for members of the RHS is to borrow books from their libraries. I am reading the entertaining Techniques and Tips for Gardeners from the BBC Gardeners Question Time Team.
Thyme has over 350 varieties and can make an interesting collection. Thymus is claimed to have volatile oils that have anti-ageing properties and good anti-oxidants to aid health. It retains its flavour after drying and can be stored successfully.
Magnolias flower before or just as leaves are arriving. They pick their time and sometimes fall foul of the frost. Time and again I try protect the best of these flowering plants that are very hardy other than for the delicate flowers.
In 2008 a google search for sunflowers would have found gardeners tips in the top 3 results. Now it would be luck to be found in the top 3 million. We are number 115th for the more specific ‘sunflowers gardeners tips’ as Tips for Easy Sunflowers from 2015.
Yes it is well past time to look at geraniums again. Since this blog started there have been over 60 pages of tips about geraniums. The most popular have been about scented, regal and dwarf geraniums but zonals and bedding also retain much interest. (You can find these and more links by using our search button).
Where has all the rain gone? In winter there were floods aplenty so I was predicting water rationing by summer. Now it is mid May and the ground is parched and rock hard.
There are a lot of earwigs around this year or so it seems. Typical in a year when I had decided to grow more dahlias than usual but I guess the earwigs must have known that and got on with early breeding.
Many early spring flowering trees and shrubs begin to break out of dormancy in late February. However, gardeners often miss the beautiful tree or shrub flower show because they pruned too early. Early spring flowering plants develop blooms on old wood (that is, they formed flower bud initials during the previous year’s growing season) and pruning them in winter removes these flower buds. Therefore, to prevent removing flower buds too soon, wait to prune until AFTER all flowers have faded.
South Carolina’s thousands of dams are used to establish ponds, lakes, and reservoirs that provide flood management, hydropower, drinking or irrigation water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. For many of us, the dam that helps form our backyard fishing pond supports Saturday afternoon fishing with the kids. To protect the integrity of your dam and the benefits of your pond to you as the pond owner (like that trophy bass habitat!), you should plan to perform regular inspection and maintenance of your dam.
The Perennial Plant of the Year® for 2022 is a lovely native grass, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). The Perennial Plant Association designates a plant of the year annually. They choose perennials that are “suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest, and are relatively pest/disease-free.”