Making Lye from Wood Ashes

Poultry and Livestock Forum -we're riddled with this mess!! And it's contagious. I probably should be quarantined...should have been...

Hey, I've had days like described above and it just leaves a soul with a 'unique perspective on life'. >>snort

You might want to hit the ol' P&L then...less collateral damage...

you guys should look for a series of books entitled "foxfire". published by a school in N. GA. to teach highschoolers about their ancestors.
I have several and all 3 subjects here are in them. Making Lye, making lye soap, and making hominy.
I have seen copies available in the visitors center on highway 441 at the carolina border. Every homesteader should at least read some of these. you might even find them in your local library ours has most of them in stock

Wow! I'd forgotten about those. The Foxfire series was very popular in the late '60's and '70's or thereabouts. That and the Whole Earth Catalogue.

I thought about it after I posted that one . Mother Earth News may have something interesting too

fremar,
Which one of the Foxfire books? I've tried figuring it out so I could get them through interlibrary loan, but I haven't been able to. I used to have a couple of those, but I gave them away and I don't remember which numbers I had.

Jay

Jay the first book is the one with soap making and getting lye from ashes, it shows an ash hopper and several descriptions for soapmaking
you might try this site too
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/86/86-6/B_Michel.html
If the link above doesn't take you to it look on the left margin and click library and I think it was near the top
I'll be at the library later this week and try to remember to check for the foxfire that has the hominy recipe


Fred

Thanks! =0)

Jay, recently read about a guy using leftover whey in his compost and used ashes to neutralize the acidity of the whey.

In other words...we need to get you a cow ;0) LOL

Now hold on just a New York minute there Texas... I think you just might be PROJECTING a little! You're a milk cow enabler, I can tell. LOL

You get you a cow and I'll take the hi-whey down to relieve you of the excess whey from cheesemaking. Because of course you're going to make cheese.

=0) Jay... blissfully cowless

Milche Asses...they're more Jay's speed....

Oooo, but I don't think Hannah would appreciate the attention. Talk about getting kicked into the next county! She's a sweet donkey, and she's only kicked once in the 10 years I've had her, and it was just a "warning shot fired across my bow" as it were, but it made a DEEP impression on my little mind.

She was not unprovoked... the vet was trying to palpate her and she found that an extraordinarily offensive way to treat her. I hence tied up a hind foot and she submitted with as much lady-like dignity as such a procedure will allow, but I am very glad I could not hear her thoughts.

No, I leave the milking to others for now... perhaps someday a goat, perhaps not.

Hannah will be relieved!
LOL Jay

Ha!!

Enabling usually works with flowers...hmm...must rework my approach.lol

You should have seen the look on the faces of my young sons when we had our girl AI-ed, classic!

Oh dear ---where was the hidden camera when you needed it?!

Cocoa... I hear being an AI technician pays better than being a vet. Certainly better hours! LOL
"What does your son do for a living?"
=0)

I know when my mother was having goats AI-ed it was really costly. We lucked out and live 15 minutes to a huge AI facility. They teach, collect and inseminate just about everything, including deer. 'Two tries', and our total bill was 30.00 including the 'farm stock' semen.

My sons are 8 and 10. The oldest found the process interesting and had lots of questions afterwards. My 8 year old just kept repeating "I would NEVER do that!" ...I believe him :0)

Yeah, but right now he's probably not real big on girls either. Lots can change in 10-20 years. LOL