Alaskan's Journal

[farmerjan]

We are in a selenium deficient area also, that is why there are occasional cases of white muscle disease and why giving BoSe or MuSe is a common practice to babies of the different breeds. We do supplement that in our mineral, I have kelp added to my mineral too to help increase the trace minerals that the animals get.

 

[Alaskan]

I agree with the soil making different crops taste different. Some of the sweetest cantaloupes I ever grew were from ground that I had run the hogs on the year before. The ground had been well roooted up, turned over, and the hogs did a fantastic job of composting everything that they were given. They demolished the weeds and after just a quick tilling in the spring to even out all the "holes and wallows", I planted and mulched and was done.
I have had lettuce that was bitter tasting too, from soil that was pretty poor. Tomatoes seem to taste better from well fertilized soil.
I saw a report on some studies that Mother Earth News had done, and the vitamin/mineral levels in certain vegetables, from different plots with different soil fertility..... and some where I read a study comparing the health benefits of todays vegetables to the ones that were studied in the 1950's (?) and how much more nutritious they were. I fully believe that the healthier the soil, the healthier the food that comes from growing in it.

Do you remember if the article said any specific minerals helped make the veggies sweet?

I am sure the Alaskan carrot fields are not fertilized with copper and selenium.... so those 2 must have nothing to do with sweetness.

 

[farmerjan]

I don't remember, but might try to look for it when I have some time in a couple days. Seems I remeber reading somewhere about some mineral that made things have a higher "sugar" content.

 

[AmberLops]

I'd have those 5 boys put the driveway markers in !!! Sure you will need them in a couple months with snow out there.

below 35 INSIDE??? Oh, no. Not here. Low 60s & I'm cold inside. Can't imagine close to that temp and thinking it's ok but, you all are acclimated to it and I am not.

I keep my house at 74 during the day, and 55 at night. But nowhere near 35....I think i'd freeze to death!

 

[Alaskan]

55 is pretty toasty.

 

[Alaskan]

I don't remember, but might try to look for it when I have some time in a couple days. Seems I remeber reading somewhere about some mineral that made things have a higher "sugar" content.

Thanks... that would be interesting.

 

[Bruce]

55 is pretty toasty.

So is 74°! Must be Amber has lots of money to "burn" Even with the woodstove going that part of my house is rarely much over 70°. No A/C here and the thermostat has never been set above 68.

 

[Alaskan]

I found spouse had the emergency radiant space heater thing...pointed at the TV watching chair... AND SET TO 75!!!

I just about keeled over when I entered the TV room. Sheesh! No wonder our electric bill is so high!! -insert shock emoji-

 

[Bruce]

Well, better than having the house set at 75°! Maybe you convince said spouse that a heating pad under a warm blanket would be even better.

Sounds like your spouse doesn't quite agree with your heat austerity program.

 

[Alaskan]

Nope... also spouse keeps ALL the lights on... walks into a room, turns on the lights.. walks out of the room....NEVER turns them off!

Drives me batty!