tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post4356528620405440141..comments2024-03-28T01:51:22.367-03:00Comments on Not Buying Anything: A Year Without JamGregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-36273859336819852462012-09-14T23:14:22.190-03:002012-09-14T23:14:22.190-03:00We are the same. "Going out" always seem...We are the same. "Going out" always seems to involve spending money. We like to stay home - walks in our neighbourhood are free and enjoyable. <br /><br />I wonder how popular going out would be if there was no profit in it and there wasn't as much pressure to always be somewhere other than where you are.<br /><br />We also feel liberated by choosing to live a more focused, local lifestyle. Life is beautiful right here, right now. Why all the rushing around?Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-22584746890091383072012-09-14T15:47:58.305-03:002012-09-14T15:47:58.305-03:00Four years ago I sold my car and gave up driving. ...Four years ago I sold my car and gave up driving. To be completely honest; the decision was mostly because of my progressive muscle disease. Nothing big happened to scare me, but little troubles were disconcerting. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, to hand in that license. We live in a semi rural area, so driving to get to essentials is a must. I couldn't imagine not having that freedom, to go when and where I wanted. Now I can't imagine why I felt the need to be out so often. We've made arrangements for someone to take us once a week or so to the grocery store. Then doctor appointments when needed. Other than that I never leave the house. I'm actually grateful now for the time and space to ponder each day. No more shopping or going out to dinner for "entertainment". I only wish I would have learned this years ago! My ex-husband and I went out every weekend to a mall or dinner and a movie. I hated it, but couldn't seem to buck the system. It's been liberating rather than confining. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-31524681416029740812012-09-14T15:29:52.494-03:002012-09-14T15:29:52.494-03:00Vappu, we do need a new recipe for jam. We are rel... Vappu, we do need a new recipe for jam. We are relatively new to jam making and have had fairly traditional North American routines and recipes to work from. The recommended high sugar levels come with warnings not to alter sugar levels or the jam might not set. We have used no-sugar pectin recipes and the jam is just fine.<br /><br />I agree with Gregg, our year without jam taught us much more than just 'life without jam'. Nothing is a necessity (least of all sugar) and everything is open to change.<br /><br />Thank you for your encouragement and suggestion.<br />LindaLinda H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06441149797681710225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-14776090859744154122012-09-14T05:23:27.332-03:002012-09-14T05:23:27.332-03:00I think you may need a new recipe for jam:) 4 cups...I think you may need a new recipe for jam:) 4 cups of berries to 7 cups of sugar sounds terrible! If you go by weight it will sound even worse, since a cup of berries weighs less than a cup of sugar.<br />We use 2-3 kilos of berries to one kilo of sugar, so it ends up being only 25-30% sugar by weight. The taste is more tart, which is much better I think :) Some citric acid can be used as an additional preservative. The jam keeps well in our root cellar. We do freeze berries as well.Vappuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037052581038901436noreply@blogger.com