How To Make Blueberry Juice: Blueberry Weekend

What's a gramma to do with all these blueberries? I have dehydrated blueberries, I have pressured canned them with simple syrup...my girlfriend at Gold Hill Blueberry Farm recently made blueberry juice so I decided why not learn a new skill! She has a fancy juicer, which I now have on my wish list to purchase. Piecing together how to make blueberry juice wasn't too hard and the process wasn't difficult, but after making three fairly large batches of juice, it definitely seems worth the money.

I only found one place that gave details on how to make blueberry juice, but I modified half the steps so here goes.
1. Rinse and clean the berries. These needed complete cleaning, removing the unripe berries, leaves and twigs. Plus they were frozen. The berries then went into a pot with enough water to just cover the berries. Bring to a slow boil, mash the berries, then bring back to a boil and remove the pot from the heat. I used a small strainer to catch an occasional twig or unripe berry I missed as it boiled to the top of the pot. Cool the juice down. This was very helpful for the next step.

             

2. Pour the juice and berries into a jelly bag. Collect the juice in another container. Since I was doing multiple batches, I actually used my canner for the juice. I had a lot of juice! When it is cool enough to handle squeeze the bag to get all the juice out of the berries. You might consider wearing gloves, as I did after my first batch. As you know blueberries stain. LOL. What is left in the bag (mushy pulp) put in your compost container.

                   

 

3. These blueberries are sweet (not acidic), so I felt it was important to use caution and I decided to pressure can my jars.I also decided to not add additional sweeteners at this point. I added the juice quart jars. I pressure canned them at 10# of pressure for 10 mins.

                             

While I personally haven't made jelly, I find my jelly strainer bag indispensable. I have used it when separating my milk kefir and today for juicing.. I also have spare bags, which is great. After today my first bag is stained blue. Also, the Presto 23 quart pressure canner is a good deal if you are just starting out canning. If you like learning vintage skills like this blueberry juice, we would lov to have you join our community t Perky Prepping Gramma on Facebook.


I have an online Amazon Associate/store called Perky Prepping Gramma's Store. This allows me to show you the products I have personally used and endorse, while monetizing my work. What I found early on was people would ask me where I got such & such an item and I would simply share a link. 
Even on regular Amazon (not prime), on specific items, when your order reaches a certain point, I believe it's $35 the shipping to home is free. So, i created a store of these items I use frequently or recommend. It doesn't cost you anything extra, but I do receive a small percentage as an advertising bonus, if you purchase from my store. You are even able to just link in and do any of your regular Amazon shopping.

Swatting (true story)

He was driving home from work one evening and when he pulled onto his lazy suburban street he saw at least a dozen local police department and Swat tactical vehicles parked haphazardly surrounding his home. The house lights were blazing and the front door was bashed wide open. Officers were crawling everywhere.

His mind immediately tracked where his three children would be at that moment...

When he pulled up the officers immediately started questioning him. After some time everything was beginning to sort out.

Someone had called in a 911 call stating that that there had been shots fired and someone was laying on the floor bleeding at his home.

It’s called “swatting”—making a hoax call to 9-1-1 to draw a response from law enforcement, usually a SWAT team.

He started making phone calls to insure his children were safely at their mother's house & found everyone there was in turmoil since the neighbors had already contacted them about the craziness that was happening at his home.

It was a harrowing night and the aftermath took months to work through.

The person that perpetrated the hoax, did wind up in psychiatric care & there is now a restraining order in place protecting him and all his extended family.

While this happened a couple of years ago, this man is an average Joe. Nice neighborhood. This incident changed his (our) world. He is my younger brother. What made me think about this again? This week he & his family got caught in the middle of yet another harrowing experience. which I will share next week. We are still processing everything.

We talk about situational awareness, but there is no way we can even begin to imagine all the possibilities of “what if”.

The most we are able to do and work through the scenarios we can think of. It's the same with preparing. We try to think through the most likely situations.

But the reality is we don't really know. We can only be as prepared as we possibly can be. Whether it is economic collapse, a pandemic, EMP or vampires we do the best we can.

More on “swatting” from the F.B.I. "The Crime of Swatting Has RealConsequences”

What you see here on my blog and on facebook is original work (and pictures) that I (Perky Prepping Gramma) actually do myself. I simply share my journey on preparing. If you liked this article, please feel free to like me (Perky Prepping Gramma) on facebook & keep up to date on things I post. I appreciate the support. Thank you.

Can't afford (fill in the blank)?

Are you serious about preparing? What things do you think you really would find helpful for your preparations? What are you willing to do to accomplish your goals?

It is too easy to simply say "we don't have enough money." Trust me, everyone who has paid off their credit cards, home or whatever a one point probably would have thought they didn't have enough money to accomplish that feat.

                                

I challenge you to take that next step & we will cheer you on. Please don't say why you can't do it. Just silently take the chance to try...

Read how I got started: Financial Stability & Money then try, just try...

Chances are you CAN do it.
The reason I didn't share a lot of links over the holidays for items to buy, is that I didn't want you doing something I wouldn't do. I am serious about not being in debt. Have you figured that out yet? LOL.

At the very least, if there is a bigger ticket item you want, start saving. See what you are able to accomplish. I promise you it will be worth every penny pinched. Right gang?

Resolutions Requires Responsibility

Accepting Responsibility

I don't really do New Years Resolutions. Instead years ago, I determined my life vision and mission statement.

Love God, love others, it's simple...

Entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm & ignite passion in the believer

Pretty much everything I do in life is measured against these call to actions in my life. I never expected to be in this place when I started prepping. I started my Perky Prepping Gramma persona to be able to share my journey and people started following. It still makes me laugh. But, there came point when I realized that I had a job to do here. I accepted the resolute responsibility of what I am currently doing.

I also realized that what I do here falls right in line with my mission statement. Crazy? Maybe...
I write and share, challenge you to grow and share.

I get excited to entice another person to take the step of starting the journey to prepare.

You keep me motivated. Honestly if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be sharing much anymore. I would still be doing the work, but not sharing. I still remember how hard it was to find the information I didn't even know I needed to know.

So, no New Years Resolutions. But, I will keep sharing...

An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. (Proverbs 17: 24 GNT)

Happy Water Kefir (part 3)

Since I have ordered my second batch of water Kefir grains, production has really picked up. Now this is a happy routine. There are many health benefits to the various kefirs, the one that has been the most beneficial to me is it stops my acid reflux in it's tracks. BIG bonus, now I don't have to take OTC's any more.
Here is my set up. Currently I am using 1/2 gallon containers.

Start with organic water kefir grains. you may have a friend who will share, since the grains will grow. I personally ordered mine from Amazon. I started with a smaller size and added more later as our needs grew.
To maintain the health of your kefir grains use non-chlorinated water. While I started with bottled water, I quickly just started a half gallon jar set out with water on the counter, so the chlorine is able to dissipate.  
The second is a jar with the water kefir grains, water and 1/2 cup of organic raw sugar.
The third is one that has the grains strained out & whatever fruit added to it.

Each day I sample the water kefir and when it gets to the effervescent level I like, then I set out all my jars and start by draining the fruit out of jar 3 into storage bottles. This is what I keep in the fridge. If I reach a point that I have a lot of completed Kefir, I have a gallon dispenser that I use.

Next, strain out the water kefir grains out, placing the first fermented water into another 1/2 gallon jar. Put the grains back into the first jar and add the correct amount of sugar and the new water to start the fermentation process again.

Add your fruit at this point. The nice thing, the grains come with directions, it is pretty simple to do and you learn to experiment and find what works for you.

If you need to slow down production, put the jar with the grains in the fridge. Just remember, it still needs to fed some sugar & it will take extra time (days) to warm up the grains again.
I have made raspberry, mango, ginger, kiwi & blueberry Kefir water. Blueberry is Mr. Perky's favorite so far. You may use fresh fruit, dehydrated or freeze dried fruit. My preference is for dehydrated, it seems to concentrate the taste in my opinion. I am going to have to break out my blueberries in simple syrup soon, since we are quickly going through our dehydrated blueberry stock.
As always I enjoy people sharing the progress. Join me on facebook & share a picture. We are on this journey together.
P.S. Just a cool side note: This is what the dehydrated blueberries look like after fermentation. They bloat up and there is NOTHING left inside. 

Water Kefir (part one)

Raspberry Gobmacking Delicious Water Kefir (part one)

No Piggy for Perky...

I wanted a pot bellied pig for years. So long ago, I even forgot. Then the other day Mr. Perky reminded me with our new place I could have one.
Oh, the delight. This was to be a pet pig. 

Being responsible, I started doing my research on pigs.

* Zoning, yippy I now am going to be zoned agricultural! 

* They root. Oh, well, so my dogs dig.

* Expect your potbellied pig to mature about the size of a large canine, between 120 and 150 pounds. None will stay that cute little size often posted in ads (40-50 lbs). I can deal with that, just a little more to love.

* Wait, pigs & dogs don't mix? I read more (and more) on that topic. 

Generally it said never, ever leave dogs and pigs alone together. Pigs are omnivores and dogs carnivores. That won't do. We are gone too much. So, sadly my dream of a piggie will have to wait, when we are able to be home more to monitor them & have a safe place for each to hang out when we are gone.

Two is One, One is None...

One of the basics principles you will hear over and over is "Two is one, one is none". I even think that should be "Three is two, two is one...". I expand that myself into the more I use an item, the more I store. Also, as we are cleaning out the house it is so much easier to organize what I have.  More specifically I try to insure that I have items that don't use electricity. While this is prudent in a time without electricity, I also simply prefer hand tools.

While I only have one rolling pin (I am apt to use a bottle just as quickly), I have three sets of measuring spoons. 
I have a lot of scissors, (these shown here were a more recent purchase) really good ones and mediocre ones I have accumulated over the years. I also have four Kevlar gloves. All that took was slicing a part of my finger off to make sure I have several.

                  

 

I have multiple can openers, plus P-38's. I have both the newer type of can openers that take the rim of the top & the older type (of these) that leaves the rim on the can. Which is important if you are opening large containers of say freeze dried items in a #10 can. You need to leave the rim on so you are able to place a lid on the can. Plus, I keep a stock of P-38's (and emergency blankets), since they are so inexpensive.

 

Though only two are shown here, I have three sets of canning tools. Two are kept in this bag, the other in my second canner. Yep, I have two pressure canners also. 

Potato peelers, thermometers, cheese graters and more. I even have two percolators, They were free! This list goes on and on and this is just some of my kitchen gadgets. 

I often encourage you to simply think so...as you are going through the next couple of days, be aware of what you are using and how often you use it. Then consider if you need to have a back up in your supplies. Let me know what you come up with. Yes, a hairbrush can break, or we lose toenail clippers often. 

While I am a fan of the Dollar Store, when it is something important buy something more substantial that will last. 

What you see here on my blog and on facebook is original work (and pictures) that I (Perky Prepping Gramma) actually do myself. I simply share my journey on preparing. If you liked this article, please feel free to like me (Perky Prepping Gramma) on facebook & keep up to date on things I post. I appreciate the support. Thank you.

 _________________________________

I have an online Amazon Associate/store called Perky Prepping Gramma's Store. This allows me to show you the products I have personally used and endorse, while monetizing my work. What I found early on was people would ask me where I got such & such an item and I would simply share a link. 

Even on regular Amazon (not prime), on specific items, when your order reaches a certain point, I believe it's $35 the shipping to home is free. So, i created a store of these items I use frequently or recommend. It doesn't cost you anything extra, but I do receive a small percentage as an advertising bonus, if you purchase from my store. You are even able to just link in and do any of your regular Amazon shopping. I really appreciate your support!