tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Feb 8, 2024 20:50:32 GMT 10
I can definitely taste that flour isn’t as good when it’s past its listed date. It gets a weird flavour. That’s when stored in sealed plastic tubs in the original bag, but not in Mylar.
With beans, when they start to get old it’s hard to cook them enough that they’re soft. I’ve increased the cook time and they are a bit soft, so you can eat them if you want to, but they aren’t as good. I assume cooking for even longer they’d eventually get soft, but I haven’t ever cooked them that long.
I wonder if old rice is the same as old beans.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Apr 17, 2023 12:13:34 GMT 10
Just adding to the date info on Heinz products:
Code as above is correct for almost all their products (ie first 3 numbers = day of year and 4th number = year)
Their small cans - 130g - are different
1st number = year, next 3 numbers are day of year
And also, when talking about the year, they said you’d know if it was the earlier decade (eg deciding if the 2 means 2022 or 2012) not just because of taste and nutrient deterioration, but that the actual cans aren’t made to last that long - they will start to break down from the inside out and then will start to bulge, etc.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Feb 6, 2023 9:06:57 GMT 10
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Feb 5, 2023 11:45:13 GMT 10
I remember a link to an article posted in these forums that included a table/graph showing that Australians have one of the highest number of people expecting war this year (or maybe it was within 5 years or similar). I can’t find the link/article now. Does anyone recall it? Anyone have that link saved or remember where it was?
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 13, 2023 22:58:00 GMT 10
Thanks for all the suggestions
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 13, 2023 0:21:02 GMT 10
…. In my shadehouse I used a weedmat that landscapers use. I don't know the name of it, but its like a pink felt and very effective. It was available from Mitre 10. The reason that weedmat under gravel doesn't work so well is that the stones put holes in the weedmat. Also weeds can sprout nearly anywhere, even on top of weedmat. Look at the weeds between pavers. You'd never get a decent vegetable to grow there. Are you saying that this pink weed at manages to keep grass away?
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 10, 2023 10:27:31 GMT 10
I’m about to set up 4 large raised garden beds and I’m hoping for some wisdom from those who have done this before.
When I’ve done raised beds before (at a previous property) the grass grew up through the bed very quickly. I know it will need weeding, but I want to do what I can to minimise the chance that the beds will be overrun with grass - particularly grass that comes up from the bottom meaning when I try to pull it out it’s either impossible or it rips up all the soil around it.
The beds will sit on an area that currently has grass. If I think we’ll dig up the grass underneath it before setting the beds in place, I’m not sure it would ever happen - the current “to do” list is way too long, and the beds have been in their boxes waiting to be set up for over 6 months (a fence had to be built first, which is finally done).
I have a lot of old cardboard boxes waiting to go to the tip. I could put a layer of them on the grass under the beds. Or I could buy some weed mat. Would these work?
Whenever I’ve used weedmat under stones for a pathway, it only takes a short time before weeds are breaking through. But these beds would have a much deeper layer of soil over the top, blocking a lot more light.
If cardboard would be effective I’d rather use that, as not only is it free, but I need to get rid of it. I just have a very vague memory of something toxic in cardboard that would get into the soil as it breaks down. Does anyone have knowledge of that?
So what are your experiences of raised beds, weedmat and cardboard?
I’d be happy to read if any other tips too. Our beds are quite deep (high) so they’ll take a lot to fill!!
And if possible my preference is to get rid of the grass between and around the beds too, so I’m interested in options for covering the pathways.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Nov 12, 2022 14:01:06 GMT 10
Not sure it would be any good, I am looking at going to Central Coast on Sat to check out off grid tiny homes and other technologies on display. tinyhomesexpo.com.au/Have you ended up at the expo?
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 23, 2022 18:25:23 GMT 10
That is a very large area! Thank you.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 22, 2022 18:25:05 GMT 10
Thank you.
It sounds like a need to find space for two more devoted garden beds - one for asparagus and one for strawberries.
The bed is been thinking of is very close to the house and needs to look pretty so I might make that edible flowers (which I need to have growing for various reasons), climbing peas, etc, and maybe some greens. I’ll have edible flowers in the main veg bed too to mix things up and deter pests, but they’ll be very suitable in this spot.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 21, 2022 23:31:20 GMT 10
Thank you. That information was all very helpful.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 20, 2022 15:08:34 GMT 10
Thanks for the reply.
Am I correct in thinking that in the off season (winter?) the asparagus bed looks bare?
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 19, 2022 19:54:43 GMT 10
I have a spot that I could plant some asparagus, but I haven’t grown it before and have a few questions. Hoping someone has some relevant experience and can fill me in.
I know that you need to dedicate an ongoing space, and the spears just pop up each year - I’ve seen someone’s very small asparagus patch with new season spears growing. What I’m wondering is what happens to the patch of ground the rest of the time? When it isn’t asparagus season, does the ground look bare? Can something else be grown with asparagus to keep the earth covered and deter weeds? I’m wondering about something else that can be left there like strawberries, or maybe something easy to just plant in the off season like lettuce. Or do I just need to keep that area of garden empty apart from the asparagus?
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 16, 2022 12:00:40 GMT 10
Asparagus peas look interesting. I might get some of those.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 14, 2022 23:39:02 GMT 10
Thanks
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 13, 2022 19:16:34 GMT 10
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 6, 2022 9:44:17 GMT 10
I’m copying my answer that I put in another thread here because it’s more relevant.
I do agree with stockpiling some disposables for barter, but for family and friends -
As far as multipurpose products, get a couple of rolls of hemp/cotton blend (or just hemp) fleece fabric - smooth on one side and soft on the other. Have a few metres (or more) of nylon PUL (polyurethane laminate fabric - waterproof and breathable). If you want, you could also have some microfleece. And have a hand crank or treadle sewing machine.
Hemp fabric is super absorbent, naturally antibacterial and versatile. It’s perfect for making menstrual pads, but will also give you a supply of nappies (diapers) and if you don’t need it for that, will be good to make tracky pants, pjs, jumpers, etc. The pul can be added for a no-leak layer (nappies or pads). The microfleece is if you want stay dry next to your skin.
You can also just use flannelette (recycled pjs and sheets), but if you’re storing fabric those three are very useful to include and will make a much better produce for pads and nappies. (Flannelette us cheap and useful - worth storing a bolt or two of as well.)
I know the sewing stuff takes up space but obviously you aren’t just storing it for that one purpose.
Apart from that, have a menstrual cup for every female in your group - these can last 10 yrs, and are much smaller to store than 10 years worth of pads. In fact, you could store 10 of them (for 10 people) in a large ziplock.
The important thing for your own group is to switch from disposables now and you won’t need to worry about storing as many disposables for yourselves - as well as menstrual cups, each female of the right age should have a set of period undies and a few reusable pads.
Then you only need a few packets of disposable pads on hand, and that’s as much for a visitor emergency as anything else.
So for barter - disposables will be useful and a definitely agree with keeping a decent stash, but if the SHTF and I see there is a need for the products, you can bet I’ll be churning out extra reusables.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 6, 2022 8:56:16 GMT 10
Roughly where are you located? And what angle do you estimate the slope to be? Rainfall intensity and time of year rainfall occurs is a factor in what options can work. Especially species selection for grasses and groundcover. The slope is about 20-30 degrees. I’m nearish to Sydney. The area we need to cover is about 1500sq metres.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 6, 2022 8:50:19 GMT 10
Hmmm... Have you considered growing some bush tucker local to your area? Obviously not knowing where you live I can't make too many recommendations, but your local council might have some contacts to the closest mob to you and they might be able to give you some ideas on what would grow happily around gums. We will plant Aus native fruit trees in this area. But that will take longer and we need to get it covered in something with the next couple of weeks.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Aug 5, 2022 12:49:44 GMT 10
Has anyone used the “good bug mix” that green harvest sells? Wondering if it ends up just looking like weeds within a year or if it would look quite nice.
This is a very visible part of our block and I don’t want neighbours complaining about weed seeds. I also would like it to look nice.
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