ReLocavore: Redefining "local"

Back to Wisconsin, my cheesehead friends

Who is the Saint for canning and preserving?

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I may need some prayers and good thoughts tonight. Who is the patron saint of canning and preserving? Saint Christopher?

My first canning load of the season and the very first jar I put into the boiling water blew up in the hot water bath canner. 

I guess there’s one last jar of spicy rhubarb compote. Darn.


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Protecting my (fruit) investmentĀ 

I planted 3-year blueberry bushes in my garden. The third year is when the bush starts to produce fruit. The plants cost more (about triple the cost of a 2-year plant) but you get blueberries right away. My lovely bushes are two varieties: “bluecrop,” and “northland.” 

They set fruit, which now means I am in a never ending battle against the birds and other critters that want to eat my fruits. 

My first line of defense was to put the garden fence around the bushes. That will keep the deer out. Next was to build bird netting cages to keep the birds at bay. I finished them this evening to good success. I recycled leftover garden fence into two cyllinders. Then I covered them with bird netting. Here is hoping I get a few cups of berries from my bushes.