I Wanna Farm said:

I tried my extension office for something else once, and they were so useless. Surprise, surprise, Detroit. But maybe I can find another branch or something. The community colleges might have something and I think now that you mention it, I'll look around at the local gardening clubs and see if they do anything like that. I didn't even think of any 4H connections before, if I contact them they might be able to direct me. I have done BWB but I'd like to learn all types. I'm checking out a book called Preserving Food Without Canning, Freezing, etc. and it includes all kinds of methods that seem interesting. I got it before but didn't get to look through it well. I have a friend who loves this stuff and is interested in learning too, but she's over an hour away from me and between family obligations and work we'd be hard pressed to get together for it too often, but maybe next year we can make some time. We don't really have small farms too near us, all 30 minutes or more, but maybe I could volunteer my help with preserving for some of the haul and learn in the process!

If you are looking for good prices on produce you might want to try Blocks in Romulus.  I don't know how far you are from them, but they do have some great deals.  The deals get even better if you are there in the evening and the start marking down to get rid of it for the night.  One time it was fill a bag with corn as much as you could get in it for $1.  Tomatoes by the case, tons of apples, by the pound, 1/2 bushel or bushel.  This is where we got our tomatoes in the fall.

If you find something in the area for classes please pass it on.  I BWB, pressure can, freeze and would like to do more dehydrating, but need a new dehydrator.

Hugs Cheryl  

Iwannafarm,

I did not know of that place, I will have to do a search and see if I can find it.  Sometimes it's crazy at Block's and others there isn't to many people. Good to know I have another option for looking for produce.  Thanks for sharing.

Hugs Cheryl  

Thanks Heather!!!

I'm always on the look out for new places to buy produce.  There is a farmers market near us, but usually the prices are so high that you can't afford to can anything.  Or they don't sell in bulk, and that doesn't make it any easier. 

I'll have to make the trip up Telegragh again next year and see if I can find these places.  I have been coming down from Waterford and getting on M5 and then 275 to Romulus since Telegraph was under construction.

Hugs Cheryl  

Hi Heather,

For the canning stuff we did at Steven's in Wateford we found Blocks to have good prices.  I have canned a lot of stuff at my house and have my favorite places to buy stuff. Some of those prices are pretty close and for some things even a better deal.  You have to know your prices so we do can at both houses.

As for groceries… a 3 liter bag of milk is over $4.00 you can buy a gallon of milk at Krogers – white or chocolate for $1.99.  One gallon is approximately 3.8 liters…. big difference.  Eggs, turkeys, cheese, detergent, paper products and so much more are so much cheaper.  I can buy clothes at really great sales and the sales tax is less than half, plus I can't find that kind of prices at home.

Gas is cheaper in Michigan so a fill up saves more than you are paying in for crossing fees.  People that are buying groceries are usually do other shopping as well. 

Canadian and American money is almost par…  I'm in Michigan most weekends anyways so for me it's easy to shop there.  It gives me options and I make the best of both worlds.

Hugs Cheryl  

Since I'm over for more than 48 hours and I don't ever reach my limit, no I don't pay duty.  But I know people who will shop and pay the duty because it's still cheaper.  Or there is a good chance that you won't be asked to go in to pay duty so even better. 

And to get stuff here free is almost unheard of.  On the weekend I picked up four General Mills products at Kroger and got 2 gallons of milk free.  That went to my son and his girl friend and her 2 kids.  Normally I would not have picked up that much cereal, but it doesn't go bad before it gets eaten… and then I could give away the millk. 

Hugs Cheryl