Hello

Carolyn · Post: # 47355Post **Carolyn** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 6:52 am

Hello everybody,

My name is Carolyn. I love the thought of preserving fruit using organic produce etc. but am terrified of giving my family botulism.

I am from South Australia and my hobbies are gardening, sewing and cooking.

Millymollymandy · Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:00 am

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Last night I just scraped some mould off the top of a jar of home made jam then ate some and I'm still waiting for any bad effects.......

I shouldn't worry if I was you! (it was jam put in an unsterilised jar as I hadn't sterilised enough jam jars!!!).

Carolyn · Post: # 47363Post **Carolyn** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:06 am

Thank you. :)

green-girl · Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:15 am

Hi and welcome Carolyn!

green-girl

TheLancsLass · Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:33 am

Welcome Carolyn!

Christina · Sat Jan 27, 2007 12:05 pm

Hello

Christina

red · Post: # 47490Post **red** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:07 am

welcome!

Wombat · Post: # 47562Post **Wombat** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:17 am

G'Day Caroline!

Another Aussie! Welocme to the forum!

Nev

Andy Hamilton · Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:48 am

Hello and welcome carolyn. I am sure if you steralise and seal your preserves propally you will be fine.

Shirley · Post: # 47585Post **Shirley** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:02 am

Hi Carolyn

:welcomeish:

pskipper · Post: # 47598Post **pskipper** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:33 pm

As long as you store the produce properly you are unlikely to give your family botulism. Make sure that any canning equipment is well maintained and the cans are in good condition. If you are storing food in jars make sure that they have a good seal. I reuse commercial jars with the pop lid on, that way I know if the seal is broken as the popper bit clicks.

If you are really worried then make sure that you know the initial symptoms of botulism, Warning symptoms include: nausea, dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing, blurred vision and respiratory distress. The faster you get medical treatment the more effective it is. Botulism doesn't have to be lethal.

Having scared you I'll now say Hello!

Dendrobium · Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:10 pm

pskipper wrote: Botulism doesn't have to be lethal!

I want that on a T-shirt!

Welcome, and don't worry not everyone is warped as me!

Kayte · Post: # 47763Post **Kayte** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:00 pm

I am new to your forum and just signed in to say hello. I live in Derbyshire UK and trying to keep chickens in my back garden. My first 2 beautiful brown hens were killed last week when a fence panel was blown down. Neighbours 4 dogs tunnelled up into my garden and killed them. I am obviously devastated

but intend getting some more. I will be looking on the forum for ideas of where to get hens from locally and how to make the run secure.Any suggestions warmly welcomed. Thanks

Andy Hamilton · Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:42 pm

Hello there Kayte and welcome, can't help you with chickens I am afraid. I am sure if you post in the livestock section someone will.

Boots · Post: # 47768Post **Boots** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:04 pm

I'm not certain, cos its been a while... but I'm thinking the symptoms of botulism sound a lot like I once often felt at 4am when staggering about in search of hotdog stand in the city...

Is botulism something you get just before the hangover kicks in?

Welcome girls - glad you are both here!