A standard box that holds graham crackers is 5.5 inches by 7.7 inches by 2.5 inches. According to people who care about such things, one such box is capable of holding 77, 20 gauge shotgun shells if they are packed carefully.
What vegetable will never be grown in space?
Leeks!
I am trying to decide if leeks are worth trying to grow here on earth.
The ever lovely and supportive Mrs ERJ is out doing errands and will bring back a leek from the grocery store. My intention is to make Leek-and-Potato soup.
I can see the attraction if I can get them to reliably over-winter. There are a few super-hardy cultivars that might-maybe be able to do that here. The smart money would be to put them in a windswept location and then put up "snow fence" to get the snow to drift over the row. Perhaps insulating the ground with some straw ahead of time so the snow does not melt quickly.
Any comments regarding leeks will be much appreciated.
Shopping
Many of you have already deduced that Handsome Hombre is from Latin America. He settled in Southern Florida after immigrating and has never spent a winter north of Miami.
That is about to change.
He works in construction and he is now in Michigan, albeit the clement and lovely southern quarter of Michigan.
Southern Belle and Handsome Hombre went shopping for winter clothes for him.
The great news is that HH works with a passionate outdoorsman who has been giving him the no-bullshit skinny on what it takes to stay functional while spending multiple hours outside in USDA Zone 5.
The bad news is that HH is ambivalent about puffy clothing that is not flattering.
The mission parameters for the shopping trip are rapidly evolving. The last I knew, the plan was to buy a single set of cold-weather gear and let him use the set for several weeks to determine if he had enough range-of-motion and enough room beneath the shell to have layers of sweaters and/or quilted flannel shirts.
It would be stupid to buy a full complement of clothing before knowing what sizing works best for his build and for the activities he must perform and the environmental conditions he must endure while performing them.
It is smart to go shopping at places with multiple sizes on-the-rack, live with it for a bit and then shop thrift stores after the rifle is sighted in, so to speak.
Your faithful scribe is watching Quicksilver and reloading 20 gauge shells while this all happens.
Oh, and if Belladonna reads this, Quicksilver would love an unbreakable hand-mirror and sippy cups with either cows or dogs on them.
ERJ, I have actually had luck with leeks. American Flag and Giant Musselburgh leeks in my case; your mileage may vary. Leek pie (a quiche-like thing) is actually rather delicious.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to HH and his first Winter. Our first Summer in New Home was equally "revealing".
For outside construction, a 'puffy' jacket is not the best choice, it gets rips and tears quickly. My go-to clothing for working in the cold has been thermal underwear as the base, then canvas or denim pants plus sweater, and topped with a sheepskin coat. Don't forget the head, a ushanka works nicely. Wool gloves to go into leather work gloves keep the hands protected. Wool socks and good boots for the feet.
ReplyDeleteLeeks won't survive the cold where you are. If they won't handle a Wisconsin winter, they definitely won't manage a Michigan winter. You'll want to start them inside in the spring, then transplant after the last frost.
Have HH consider yooperchook.com for an active outdoor hat. Standard thickness- their version with extra insulation is great for still hunting, but not when moving.
ReplyDeleteSomething that will be easily overlooked until the pain is realized is footwear! He likely won't need heavily insulated boots, but if he has steel toes or a steel shank for safety, he should look at POLY instead of STEEL for winter time. Steel toes are very cold outdoors... Also very helpful to have a way to dry boots without heat, heat will dry and damage leather over time where a regular small fan will remove moisture and not damage the materials.
ReplyDeleteNeed to wear the two buckle or four buckle boots to keep the feet dry too
DeleteCouple years ago, I got my husband a Dickies quilted nylon work jacket. It’s a slim fit design, and he says it’s comfortable and very warm. Calls it the best winter work jacket he’s ever had. Not puffy. In really cold weather he puts a zip hoodie under it. Sells on Amazon for about $65. YMMV.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
Man, years ago when I was doing construction, there were too many winters that I couldn't put enough clothes on to keep warm.....
ReplyDeleteI don't miss that.
Leeks and I have a love hate relationship. I love them and apparently they hate me. Tried them in Texas, a no go regardless of what I did. Moved to Ky and finally got in a garden. Bought leeks, planted leeks, leeks kept dying. Finally after 5 years I gave up. They won. I buy mine now.
ReplyDeleteWould recommend canvas bib style pants as the lower part of a layered system, with a hooded, insulated canvas jacket. Agree with tweel- layer one is wool gloves that fit inside leather work gloves. Then if/when extended time in real winter zone 5 winter occurs put a two layer union suit on under it all. Best luck, HH!
ReplyDeleteMilton
Look at https://asbellwool.com/ - thet sell to bowhunters. I got a blanket weight wool hoodie from them and it's about the warmest thing I own.
ReplyDeleteStay safe
The little sissy white with silver thread glove liners are the bomb. I really like the flannel or fleece lined pants. I have had a youperchook style hat and it is great. Sorrels -40 boots are sooo warm! Silk or silk/wool long johns are the best. They come in thin, medium and expedition weight. Polar fleece comes in 100, 200 and 300 weight. Easy ventilation to adjust from sweating makes the most difference.
ReplyDeleteWool socks a must and check Carhart for over bibs; pricey but fit over pants and sweaters etc. conserves all the body heat in one package. Gives you somewhere to warm your hands.
ReplyDeleteLeeks are best started in cells so you can plant a full row. Uneven germination leaves a lot of space otherwise. Can't live without them now. I use American flag in summer and Blue Solaize in fall. Also have used Musselburgh before-big bluish in the cold and fat and savory. I have never hilled mine just plant and forget pretty much. Too busy to fuss over them. They stay super thin for a long time and I kind of forget them until fall then there they are! Even 'summer' leeks stand fine in the garden to Christmas. Also I highly recommend oriental varieties of bunching onions. I bought from Kitazawa seeds in CA but grow zone 6 NJ. These bunching onions get huge very tall and meaty and some turn into onions by March and what a pleasure to harvest then! Red Beard, Shona red planted mid summer and Shimonita. Also check out hardy asian greens that grow in snow. Many of the heritage seeds from China and Japan grow whenever people need to eat! I've been growing and experimenting with them for over 25 years. The white part of leeks cooks down a great deal and cooks will tell you to put the greens on the compost pile. Use all the tender green inner leaves. Add a couple handfuls of the greens to beans, pot roast, soup, stock, and add it to onion soup to make it more filling. They are great on pizza if wilted in oil first. Anywhere you need something savory. Mine were decimated by voles or mice or something so I'm waxing lyrical. 2 leeks in my local store would cost me over 8 dollars. Anyway, long story short, leeks will make your life better and tastier! Valerie in NJ
Sorry me again. Have you ever tried walking onions? They plant themselves if they are not picked and grow large in the early spring. Valerie
ReplyDeleteI have at least two clones of walking onions: A white one and a red one.
DeleteIt is pretty cool to be able to walk outside and cut green onions from around the Honey Locust tree.
Great thread!
ReplyDeleteFunny how the posts you just throw together seem to get the most traction, eh?
YES to walking onions! I have egyptian walking onions. They are very pungent. I gave them attention for the first year and they really prospered, put out hundreds of bulbs/seedlets. I've ignored it entirely for 2 years, still growing strong.
I also have the love-hate thing with leeks. I've tried several strains, mixed results. Germination is my biggest problem, they seem to need consistent watering like other alliums. I plant them in a double-row which makes hilling them more efficient. They grow in close proximity without problems.
Potatoe leek soup is a great comfort food. Gotta use a whole pound of bacon and make it crispy. Don't put it back in until the very end. Mmmm... great, now I need to go to the store! Bacon's on sale this week!
As for HH and the cold, my advice is learn to type. Bi-lingual is a useful office skill.
No, really, jokes aside, he has NO concept of what booger-freezing weather is like. I've had to warm Bic lighters up in my hands before they would work. He has never encountered that kind of cold. The freezer in his kitchen doesn't get that low.
In my experience working outdoors layers and nylon are key. Like 4 or 5 layers, not 2 or 3. When working you generate heat and sweat. When you stop working to pickup a tool or read a blueprint, you start to cool down. Moisture is a killer. We typically worked through lunch, just a quick break for some calories, and cut out early to make up for the time. If you stop you get chilled, and you're done for the day.
Flattering?! He'll soon leave flattering behind if he spends a winter in Michigan working outside 8-10 hrs a day! Good insulated work boots (and even pac boots with felt liners for the really cold days), Insulated canvas coveralls or overalls (full leg zippers are handy), multiple layers of shirts and a good canvas insulated coat, and a couple of pairs of leather gloves with wool liners, and a billed cap with a stocking cap over got/gets me through my days of building in Michigan, Montana and Alaska. You cannot get cold and expect to make it through the day. Layers are important and so is taking the time to adjust your clothing so you don't work up a sweat. It's about making it through the workday, every day, all winter long. Save the flattering look for the non-work wear. Staying hydrated and munching down calories keeps your internal heater running. A good steel thermos with your favorite hot stuff in it is very helpful too. Working outdoors all day, every day, in winter weather is tough.
ReplyDeleteLeeks grow wild where i live in western ny
ReplyDeleteI also like the Carhart insulated coveralls with a heavy (also Carhart in my case) coat on top. If the sun's out at all, I usually have to take the coat off. Of course, this is Utah, it's a dry cold... :)
ReplyDelete