Thread: Canned carrots

George Shirley wrote:

> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're on
> their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust them
> went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I will
> have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or build my
> own testing system.

How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?

On 1/22/2012 5:49 AM, pheasant16 wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>
>> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
>> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
>> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
>> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
>> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
>> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're
>> on their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust
>> them went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I
>> will have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or
>> build my own testing system.
>
> How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
> it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?
Not here they don't, tried them many years ago, about all they will do
for you is soil testing, at a higher rate than I can do it myself with a
kit.

Nope, here's the URL: http://www.cookingandcanning.net/

Reasonable prices for outdated parts IMHO. We shall see about their
delivery timing, just ordered parts yesterday.

If I sound like I'm not pleased with LSU's extension service it is
because I am. Have tried to talk to one or more extension agents over
the last twenty years but they're all "specialists" now. I'm a native
Texan and had lots of interaction with both ag agents and home agents
over my lifetime there, always the agents were ready to reach out. May
be the difference in state salaries and poverty levels.

On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:20:09 -0600, George Shirley
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 1/22/2012 5:49 AM, pheasant16 wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>
>>> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
>>> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
>>> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
>>> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
>>> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
>>> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're
>>> on their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust
>>> them went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I
>>> will have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or
>>> build my own testing system.
>>
>> How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
>> it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?
>Not here they don't, tried them many years ago, about all they will do
>for you is soil testing, at a higher rate than I can do it myself with a
>kit.
>
>Nope, here's the URL: http://www.cookingandcanning.net/
>
>Reasonable prices for outdated parts IMHO. We shall see about their
>delivery timing, just ordered parts yesterday.
>
>If I sound like I'm not pleased with LSU's extension service it is
>because I am. Have tried to talk to one or more extension agents over
>the last twenty years but they're all "specialists" now. I'm a native
>Texan and had lots of interaction with both ag agents and home agents
>over my lifetime there, always the agents were ready to reach out. May
>be the difference in state salaries and poverty levels.

The Ag extension agent here retired last spring and I am not sure that
he has been replaced yet. Will have to check. They were going to
rely on Master Gardeners "temporarily." They used to come to the
Farmers' Market and answer questions about what is wrong with my
plant. Bring in a leaf or two to show him. I'm going to miss him. At
least they have a pretty good Web site.

I haven't had my canner checked since I moved here. I had my first
one (14 qt.) checked in Newport News, VA. After I moved here (NC) I
found another one , 21 qt. I then got a 9 qt one from a place about
50 miles from here. It came with the jiggler and I then found out
that I could replace the safety control valve on my All-American with
the jiggler like the Mirro. The gauge is still there and I can
compare the two.

The only All-American I paid anything like retail for was the 9 qt.
and it was less that retail. The first one I got came with a Squeezo
with 3 screens for a total of about $75. The 21 qt. we found at a
church rummage sale for about $35. The 14 qt. gets used the most.

Maybe you will have better luck with the extension service in Texas.

--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

George Shirley wrote:
> On 1/22/2012 5:49 AM, pheasant16 wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>
>>> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
>>> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
>>> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
>>> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
>>> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
>>> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're
>>> on their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust
>>> them went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I
>>> will have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or
>>> build my own testing system.
>>
>> How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
>> it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?
> Not here they don't, tried them many years ago, about all they will do
> for you is soil testing, at a higher rate than I can do it myself with a
> kit.
>
> Nope, here's the URL: http://www.cookingandcanning.net/
>
> Reasonable prices for outdated parts IMHO. We shall see about their
> delivery timing, just ordered parts yesterday.
>
> If I sound like I'm not pleased with LSU's extension service it is
> because I am. Have tried to talk to one or more extension agents over
> the last twenty years but they're all "specialists" now. I'm a native
> Texan and had lots of interaction with both ag agents and home agents
> over my lifetime there, always the agents were ready to reach out. May
> be the difference in state salaries and poverty levels.

That's sad.

Being an alum of the same university that sponsors the Extension Service
and having one retired agent go to our church(never met her face to face
until she retired and her voice was sooo familiar one day I asked; it
was!) and another that lets me hunt their farm has made my every stupid
question more of a chance for some good natured ribbing along with good
advice. Ah; the joys of living in a rural area have been wonderful over
the years.

On 1/22/2012 10:22 AM, The Cook wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:20:09 -0600, George Shirley
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 1/22/2012 5:49 AM, pheasant16 wrote:
>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>
>>>> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
>>>> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
>>>> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
>>>> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
>>>> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
>>>> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're
>>>> on their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust
>>>> them went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I
>>>> will have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or
>>>> build my own testing system.
>>>
>>> How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
>>> it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?
>> Not here they don't, tried them many years ago, about all they will do
>> for you is soil testing, at a higher rate than I can do it myself with a
>> kit.
>>
>> Nope, here's the URL: http://www.cookingandcanning.net/
>>
>> Reasonable prices for outdated parts IMHO. We shall see about their
>> delivery timing, just ordered parts yesterday.
>>
>> If I sound like I'm not pleased with LSU's extension service it is
>> because I am. Have tried to talk to one or more extension agents over
>> the last twenty years but they're all "specialists" now. I'm a native
>> Texan and had lots of interaction with both ag agents and home agents
>> over my lifetime there, always the agents were ready to reach out. May
>> be the difference in state salaries and poverty levels.
>
> The Ag extension agent here retired last spring and I am not sure that
> he has been replaced yet. Will have to check. They were going to
> rely on Master Gardeners "temporarily." They used to come to the
> Farmers' Market and answer questions about what is wrong with my
> plant. Bring in a leaf or two to show him. I'm going to miss him. At
> least they have a pretty good Web site.

I have friends in the Master Gardener group in Louisiana, the ag agents
use them to answer phones, etc. at their offices over near McNeese
University. The Master Gardeners generally give you pretty good advice.
They have a computer program with lots of stuff on it and give those
answers. I've found I can look things up online by myself and save the
waiting time. They do have an annual plant sale and lectures at the Ag
Center here, sometimes we go to see what's new.
>
> I haven't had my canner checked since I moved here. I had my first
> one (14 qt.) checked in Newport News, VA. After I moved here (NC) I
> found another one , 21 qt. I then got a 9 qt one from a place about
> 50 miles from here. It came with the jiggler and I then found out
> that I could replace the safety control valve on my All-American with
> the jiggler like the Mirro. The gauge is still there and I can
> compare the two.

I honestly don't remember what we paid for our Sears canner. Since it
was in 1964 and I was making about $4 an hour plus shift differential
and holiday pay, it couldn't have been much. I remember that if we had a
buck leftover after paying bills back then we thought we were rich. We
built our first house the year after, 1965, $14,000.00 turnkey for a
1485 square foot all brick home, stick built and very sturdy. House note
of $144 a month and $44 a month electric bill for an all electric house.
I probably should calculate what that would be in 2012 dollars, a lot
more I'm sure. I loved that house, had a 20x20 pantry, enough space for
full cabinets, got the sewing machine in there plus the washer and dryer
and an upright 24 cubic foot and a chest 30 cubic foot freezers too. We
had a huge garden, 50x90, a barn, and several acres to plant row crops
on. Not to mention a pond full of fish, also a good swimming hole for we
and our children. We raised rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats, and had a
cow and calf a lot of the time. Came as a shock when we moved to Houston
in 1976 and had to buy all of our food at the supermarket.

I've got the Maid of Honor torn down to its components and am polishing
the aluminum inside and out. For the inside I use a paste of cream of
tartar and water, coat the walls and bottom, let sit 20 minutes and then
scrub off with a soft scrubber. Does a pretty good job. I just use the
scrubber on the outside and it works okay too. I would like to have a
nice stainless steel canner but that can wait until we move. I know a
thrift store near where we're moving that gets in lots of canning stuff,
a large retiree area and, as they pass on, their kids sell or give away
all their "stuff." My son gets us lots of fruit jars there for a nickel
or a dime each.
>
> The only All-American I paid anything like retail for was the 9 qt.
> and it was less that retail. The first one I got came with a Squeezo
> with 3 screens for a total of about $75. The 21 qt. we found at a
> church rummage sale for about $35. The 14 qt. gets used the most.
>
> Maybe you will have better luck with the extension service in Texas.
>
Always did. When we lived in Texas every county had an ag agent and a
home extension agent. Miz Anne belonged to a club way back where they
met once a month and traded recipes and canning tips, the home extension
agent ran the thing and was very good. Most of the ag agents over there
used to be close to the big farmers, nowadays they've got some good home
gardening agents that work with folks like us.

George Shirley wrote:

> On 1/22/2012 5:49 AM, pheasant16 wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>
>>> Some how I broke one of the lid handles on the Sears Maid of Honor
>>> Pressure canner/cooker we bought in 1964. Super glue doesn't hold up
>>> well at high heats so a repair was not the thing. Went on line and
>>> looked specifically for parts for that model, found a site that had
>>> exactly what I wanted plus I ordered a new blow-out plug, steam gauge,
>>> and lid gasket. Those all need to be replaced periodically so they're
>>> on their way. The folks who used to test my steam gauges and adjust
>>> them went out of business after the owner passed away so I reckon I
>>> will have to buy new ones every couple of years now. Either that or
>>> build my own testing system.
>>
>> How about your county extension service for gauge testing? Know they do
>> it here in ND. Good find for parts. Was it Dey Appliance?
> Not here they don't, tried them many years ago, about all they will do
> for you is soil testing, at a higher rate than I can do it myself with a
> kit.
>
> Nope, here's the URL: http://www.cookingandcanning.net/
>
> Reasonable prices for outdated parts IMHO. We shall see about their
> delivery timing, just ordered parts yesterday.
>
> If I sound like I'm not pleased with LSU's extension service it is
> because I am. Have tried to talk to one or more extension agents over
> the last twenty years but they're all "specialists" now. I'm a native
> Texan and had lots of interaction with both ag agents and home agents
> over my lifetime there, always the agents were ready to reach out. May
> be the difference in state salaries and poverty levels.

It can differ within a state too.

When I lived in Ohio the extension service was excellent, ditto in Michigan.

Here in Virginia, it's been a crap shoot. The agents I dealt with
in Virginia Beach were helpful, sent out regular newsletters, held open
house sessions, and the like, but the ones I've talked to here in Prince
George County have been pretty much useless.

In their defense, the first ones I talked to in PG were ag specialists used
to dealing only with farmers and had to scramble just to get me the
first and last frost dates for the area. One of them did call me back within
a day or two and we chatted about the strange weather, problems the
farmers had been having and all sorts of non-home-gardener type talk.

When I went to their office, the staff was friendly enough, but at a loss
about what information they had available or even where to find it. A
couple of them spent a fair amount of time digging through various file
cabinets and boxes and finally came up with a small stack of handouts
that they didn't even know they had. They laughed and said that at least
now they would have the stuff handy for anyone else who asked. lol

As for testing gauges or holding training sessions, forget about it. They
had neither the facilities or the trained staff to help with any of it. About
the only outreach program they run is the Master Gardener one, which is more
of a way to get free labor for various county projects than actually being
much of anything useful, except maybe bragging rights for people who like
to hang the title of Master Gardener behind their name. Absolutely nothing
in the home economics or home preserving fields at all.

It's too bad. A lot of people could benefit from having the resources
handy to get started in preserving or even help in getting started in home
gardening. Especially in these dark economic days with ever-soaring food
prices and overly processed foods.

Nyssa, who is glad her canner has a weight rather than a gauge