A few posts back, "deep end of the loom" (love that name!) asked me to tell a bit more about the haying process. If you want my version, read on. If you'd like to read the official wikipedia version, click here . Haying happens in three steps: cutting, raking and baling. This process takes several days, as the hay must be dry when baled. Moist hay molds and heats up and has even been known to spontaneously combust, burning down the barn. Gotta have dry hay. This first photo is of our haybine. The haybine not only cuts the hay, it also crimps each piece of long grass in several places, to allow for faster drying. We usually cut hay in the early afternoon, when the dew is gone. When we're done, long row of cut grass lie waiting. The hay is allowed to dry for two to three days, depending on wind and sun conditions. Obviously, the more wind and sun the days hold, the quicker the hay will dry. When we feel like the hay is nearly dry, we go out with the rake. There are diff...
Love the pic of all your peaches! What a good idea to spread them out, I have never thought of that. I have a bushel's worth in two boxes that are waiting to be canned, should I spread them out too so the bottom ones don't rot?
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How wonderful! So few people "put up" fruits and veggies in my neck of the woods -- Southern Cal just isn't that kind of place. But I do have a neighbor who cans wonderful applesauce every fall. :)
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ReplyDeleteLaying them out on papers prevents one mushy peach from adversely affecting its neighbor. If you have one going bad, it will spread its badness to the peaches around it (that's why we lay them out, not touching). The basement floor is cool, so that helps prolong their life. When I come home with a basket of peaches, I'll put a bunch in the fridge for eating later--but these must not be soft, mushy peaches. I'll use up the soft mushy ones right away. Then I'll can the rest in waves, as they ripen up. So YES! If you have someplace cool to spread them out, do it.
Okay, thanks so much Lona. I have found a flat surface for the contents of one of the boxes, but need to spread out the second box as well. We were gone all day yesterday so I'm just doing my first batch today. I'm sure your advice will give me a bigger yield. Thanks again!
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