@jackie
Oh, Bend is so beautiful!
Do you have Bi-Mart over there? Or Winco? If so they have good prices, lots of stock up options, and I've even seen them carry buckets that are pre-filled with dried foods for prepper types. (At Winco that is)
We are making applesauce with our gravensteins right now. 16 qt. jars and bunch of pints so far but rancoutvof jar lids (flats not ribgs) only have used lids from freezer jam last year and don't trust those in canning only for freezing.
No new lids available from any of our sources in town. Amazon ones were $6 for a box of 10 but you had to buy a huge amount to get that 4x normal price!
Arrghhh. Can't even buy new jars even though we don't need any more just to get 12 lids with them.
We also make cider but need the applesauce for grandkids who inhale the stuff!. So much for own home grown produce to have for later. Ha.
Do have lots of seal a meal bags but it would pretty silly for applesauce freezing especially instead of canning since freezers are full of berries/ rhubarb/ stocking up sale things and no room for applesauce in a bag ?
@kateinpdx Yes, we have a Bi-Mart--great store. A Winco is going in as we speak, and I'm looking forward to that. We also have several choices for CSA (community-supported agriculture).
Gardening is a challenge here with the short growing season, so we have covered raised beds and have had good success with a variety of vegetables. The deer population is plentiful and can decimate a garden quickly, so the covered raised beds are helpful in that regard as well.
@michele-b Oh Michele.. that sucks!!! Can you order online from Tractor Supply and have shipped to you? Do y'all even have Tractor Supply stores? LOL Ours here still had a few and my friend in Louisiana said their Tractor Supply has some. Check them out and see?
Maybe use a few bags to freeze anyway? You could give a jar or two family and tell them to store in fridge and eat soon.
When I made my loquat jam this spring, I never used the proper jars. What I do is sterilize (dishwasher) lids and jars from things like mayo and pickles. I then tell anyone I give it to to keep it refrigerated because it's not a real preserving jar. I have also made pickles this way lately. oWorks very well.
In fact, here is a depression-era tip I learned as a kid: when you finish a jar of (store bought) pickles, do not throw the liquid out. Throw it in a little saucepan, add a splash of water, and slice in some fresh cucumbers. Simmer for 20 minutes, cool and put back in the jar (which you have washed with hot water). Pop it back in the fridge.
Pepperoni is getting harder to find and it is a lot more expensive to buy.
Need a used vehicle? They are in short supply and their prices are actually going up.
No new lids available from any of our sources in town. Amazon ones were $6 for a box of 10 but you had to buy a huge amount to get that 4x normal price!
Arrghhh. Can't even buy new jars even though we don't need any more just to get 12 lids with them.
Michelle, when I was growing up, my grandma who came of age during the depression would make beach plum jam every year as well as other items and she would pour it into any saved jar or even old juice glasses and seal them with wax. We would pry the wax out when ready to open. I realize it is not something they recommend today. However I do not remember any problems -- of course we ate it up pretty fast- it was usually gone by March. She kept them in a cool pantry (small room/closet off the kitchen that was not insulated-- she lived on Long Island).
I went to Costco today to get some things to stock up on because you know, 2020 may be saving the best for last.
I hate to say it, and hope it is an anomaly but...I picked up one of the last packs of toilet paper. Seriously.
I really hope this is not a window of things to come.
You have been warned.
Anyone noticing any shortages on anything lately?
I've been stocking a lot this week as well. And while my local Costco (Southern California) did have both toilet paper and paper towels in good supply, I have noticed a few things have been running low at my local Trader Joe's lately like canned tomatoes and flour (I got the last sack).
I happened to be at my local Target this week as well, and snagged the last tube of antibacterial wipes and bleach spray as well.
@lovendures It's interesting - my wife and I swap groceries depending on who gets paid each week (pre-pandemic we just went together, still keeping to the who pays rule) and after each trip we regale each other with tales of what is and isn't there.
This past week was her trip. Some meats were low again. Canned goods like spaghetti o's (my daughter's favorite) are limited again to 2 cans per family. They had disinfecting wipes (we buy one every time we go when they do whether we need them or not) Kleenex is still limited but toilet paper and paper towel flows freely.
What a time to be alive.
I really appreciate these on the ground updates from stores. We haven't actually been to a supermarket since March. We have been getting by with supplies from our vegetable garden, a local butcher shop, and ordering some things like dairy delivered through whole foods.
However, it occurred to me last week that it might be good to start thinking about getting a turkey for Thanksgiving. My husband called the butcher shop we've been using to ask about this and the butcher said that he's been trying to get turkeys but is having a hard time ordering them from his usual suppliers.
So, I'm wondering if there may be a turkey shortage this holiday season. Has anyone spotted turkeys in the supermarket yet? If so, we may have to break down and actually go to the store! Thanks!
If you have an Aldi close by, they have lots of frozen turkeys.
Turkeys.
From what I have read, turkeys may be a problem for some. Especially smaller birds. Turkey farms plan out their turkeys months and months ahead of time, before we understood what a Covid Thanksgiving would be like. They will be stuck with large birds that serve many people. People are not going to restaurants and not hosting large Thanksgivings this year so the need is for small birds or turkey breasts. There will not be enough to supply that particular need.
At Costco, I saw turkey roll stuffed with stuffing which will likely be popular with small families. I also saw turkey breasts. I will hopefully be able to order a 14is pound bird without a problem this year from Sprouts, if I do it soon enough. I will not be able to procrastinate.
Turkeys.
From what I have read, turkeys may be a problem for some. Especially smaller birds. Turkey farms plan out their turkeys months and months ahead of time, before we understood what a Covid Thanksgiving would be like. They will be stuck with large birds that serve many people. People are not going to restaurants and not hosting large Thanksgivings this year so the need is for small birds or turkey breasts. There will not be enough to supply that particular need.
At Costco, I saw turkey roll stuffed with stuffing which will likely be popular with small families. I also saw turkey breasts. I will hopefully be able to order a 14is pound bird without a problem this year from Sprouts, if I do it soon enough. I will not be able to procrastinate.
Yes, I think this is going to be more of a plan-ahead thing than anything. Smaller birds will likely be in short supply.
I have noticed that some of my local barbecues have already been announcing their Thanksgiving menus for holiday ordering and at least one will be selling whole smoked turkey, smoked turkey breasts and smoked turkey by the pound, so that may be an option for some people who don't want to do a whole bird.
Thank you guys! I am going to call around to a few stores this week and see what is available now. The tip on Aldi's was especially appreciated!
I have noticed that some of my local barbecues have already been announcing their Thanksgiving menus for holiday ordering and at least one will be selling whole smoked turkey, smoked turkey breasts and smoked turkey by the pound, so that may be an option for some people who don't want to do a whole bird.
You know, I’m sitting here planning how to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner for my wife and daughters for the first time in my life, and you just hit the nail on what might be an even better solution. I’m going to consider looking around to see what some of our locally owned restaurants are offering. I’ll probably spend less, waste less, and be helping out my neighbor at the same time.