In the previous post, I mentioned canning water for emergencies. When I was growing up, most people had wells and when the electricity went out, so did the pump,so they would have a supply of "canned" water on hand to cook with and to drink. I do not know what the extension office says about this, but I assume that if food is safe after canning, water should be also. To be on the safe side, I would boil it for 10 minutes before using it, but at least it will be clean and handy. Here's how you do it:
Canning Water
Fill the sterilized jars with boiling water to the depth you are filling the other jars. It's important that the water is boiling, not only to kill the "bugs", but also because your jars will crack when you put them in the boiling water otherwise. Usually the headspace for the hot water bath method is 1/2 inch and for the pressure canner it's 1 inch. Since I only can water when there's extra space in my canner, I process it for the amount of time that I need to process whatever I'm making. For canning the hot water bath method, the jars need to boil for at least ten minutes so the seals can soften and seal properly.
Thank you for sharing this, Jane! This is a way of storing water that I have never heard of, but it makes sense! After hurricane Rita, going on 6 years ago, we had no water for 6 days, no power for even longer. We're always told to prepare for 3 days, but we learned the hard way that 3 days doesn't always cut it! Thanks for this tip!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Charlene! As I said, I'd still probably boil it to make certain it was good. Although really what would penetrate through the lid and glass? A good reminder that it's good to have a little camp stove on hand for emergencies. Like a dummy, we got rid of ours when we sold one of our homes, I could have used it when we had that ice storm! We have a generator, but it's so noisy!
ReplyDeleteYour two most recent posts have been good reminders to me to update our emergency supplies. I tend to go in spurts with my stockpiling. Sometimes I'm good about it and then I get careless and let it go. Going into summer and tornado season would be a good time to make sure we are set in case we should lose any of our modern conveniences. Thanks for the timely reminder, Jane.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I'm always well stocked in is Peanut Butter for Jim and Chocolate for me! (-:
Sandy, chocolates and peanut butter are necessary for coping (:
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, what a very interesting post, I have never heard of canning water, but what a good idea. It is always good to know how to do these things. Have you ever read any of Mary Jane Butter's books? She is the editor of Mary Jane Farm's magazine. She has one I bet you would really enjoy called "Mary Jane's Idea, Cook Book and Life Book." If I remember right, she was the first woman forest ranger and she has some incredible stories and great tips for how to do basic things from scratch, as well as directions for useful things like setting up a tent, cooking and living outdoors, or in emergency situations.
ReplyDeleteI might add one point about the cook stove idea, most use propane *always keep some in stock! I made this mistake. They announced a hurricane watch in our area a few years ago and I went out to get some and found that every store had been emptied. They announced they would have some at the local Walmart, I waited in line, and when they started unpacking it people got very aggressive. Thanks again for all the timely reminders! Delisa :)
Hi Delisa! Good reminder about keeping spare propane on hand. I used to have the Maryjane books, but I discovered that I already knew most of the information. I never realized what a wonderful education I had gotten living among the thrifty farmers and immigrants. I gave the books to our library for their book sale (I'm really trying to downsize in a major way!). I did buy last months magazine though. I want to make that apron on the cover. Isn't it lovely?
ReplyDeleteHi Jane! How are you this afternoon? That is a beautiful apron on the cover. Her magazine is one of my favorites. Having grown up in a big city, country living was something that always seemed like a very far away dream. Then one day we were offered a surprising opportunity and before I had time to take a breath we were here in Georgia, living on five acres cut out of the forest. I have found many of her tips very helpful. I don't know what we would have done without our sweet neighbors down the road. It is one of those things where we don't know, we don't know something...until suddenly, we don't know it! :) It was a bit of a culture shock at first, but a very good one. I had one of my stories published in her April/May 2010 edition, if you have a copy it's on page 26. Not that I remember! ha ha (I bought six copies and sent them out to all the family) . I hope you have a wonderful afternoon, until next time... Happy Trails...Delisa :)
ReplyDeleteHi Delisa! I sent you an e-mail, but I wanted to publicly state how happy I am for you to have a story published!
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
ReplyDeleteAnother great tip; thank you! I had never heard of canning water before, but I will definitely do it in the future. My hope is that we have a place with springs on it for fresh water in the future, but still it never hurts to be prepared!
Love,
Marqueta
I've never thought of canning water. I do like the idea though. We keep bleach on hand to add to water, but still...not quite the same.
ReplyDeleteRemarkable, Jane.
ReplyDelete