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How to Dry Eggshells in the Oven for Your Tomato Plants

Did you know that eggshells can help your tomato plants grow strong and healthy? Eggshells are packed with calcium, which helps prevent a common tomato problem called blossom end rot. This is when the bottoms of your tomatoes turn black and mushy.

One easy way to prepare eggshells for your garden is by drying them in the oven. Here’s how:

How to Dry Eggshells in the Oven

1. Save Your Eggshells – After cracking eggs for cooking, rinse the shells with water to remove any egg residue.
2. Let Them Dry – Place the shells in a bowl or on a tray and let them air dry for a day or two.
3. Bake Them – Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Spread the dry eggshells on a baking sheet and bake them for about 10-15 minutes. This removes any remaining moisture and makes them easier to crush.
4. Cool and Crush – Once the shells are cool, crush them into small pieces. You can use your hands, a rolling pin, or a blender to grind them into finer bits.

Washing the eggshells

Drying the eggshells in the oven

How Eggshells Help Tomato Plants

When you plant tomatoes, sprinkle a handful of crushed eggshells in the hole before placing the plant. As the shells break down, they release calcium into the soil, helping to:

• Prevent Blossom End Rot – Calcium strengthens tomato cell walls, reducing the risk of rot.
• Improve Soil Structure – Crushed shells help aerate the soil and improve drainage.
• Deter Pests – Sharp eggshell pieces can discourage slugs and snails from attacking your plants.

This simple trick is a great way to recycle kitchen scraps while giving your tomatoes the nutrients they need to thrive!

Crushed egg shells ready for the garden

So looking forward to the upcoming Spring/Summer growing season. I’ll be placing crushed egg shells under the majority of our tomato plants.

Take care all –

Rourke

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Growing your own food is not only rewarding but also promotes self-reliance. I planted 6 blueberry plants two years ago and they have done great!. Blueberries, delectable and nutritious, are a welcome addition to our Maine homestead. In this article, we’ll dive into the planting and growing of blueberry plants. From soil preparation and soil amendments to selecting the right blueberry species and understanding the fertilization process, we’ll equip you with the knowledge you need to cultivate a thriving blueberry harvest.

1. Soil Preparation:
The foundation for successful blueberry growing is soil preparation. Blueberries thrive in acidic soil with a pH range of 4.0 to 5.5. Follow these steps to prepare your soil:

a. Soil Testing: Begin by testing the pH of your soil. Soil testing kits are available at garden centers or through online retailers. If the pH is too high, you will need to lower it to create an acidic environment suitable for blueberries. NOTE: Test your soil in several areas as it may vary depending on where you test.

b. Soil Amendments: To lower the soil pH and improve its fertility, use the following organic amendments into the top 6-8 inches of soil:

– Peat Moss: Peat moss is highly effective in increasing soil acidity. Mix it thoroughly into the soil, aiming for a ratio of one part peat moss to two parts soil.
– Pine Needles: Pine needles are naturally acidic and can help maintain the desired pH level. Use them as mulch or incorporate them into the soil to enhance acidity.
– Well-Rotted Sawdust: Sawdust, particularly from coniferous trees, can contribute to soil acidity. Ensure it is well-rotted to prevent nitrogen depletion, and mix it evenly into the soil.

c. Organic Matter: Blueberries thrive in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Prior to planting, incorporate compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to enhance its structure and fertility. Aim for a 2-3 inch layer and mix it evenly into the topsoil.

d. Mulching: Blueberries benefit from mulching to conserve soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips, pine needles, or straw, around the base of the plants, leaving a gap around the stem to prevent rotting.

2. Selecting Blueberry Species:

Choosing the right blueberry species is important for your planting area and space. Consider the following recommendations:

a. Highbush Blueberries:

Blueberry plants come in two main types: highbush and lowbush. Highbush blueberries grow in a wider geographic range and they are a common choice for home gardeners. Is that you? Highbush types are the typical types found in grocery stores and they can grow upwards of 6-12 feet tall!!!

– ‘Bluecrop’: This variety is renowned for its abundant, medium-sized berries and excellent flavor. It is winter-hardy and adapts well to various growing conditions.
– ‘Jersey’: Known for its high yield and disease resistance, ‘Jersey’ produces large, flavorful berries. It is a reliable choice for home gardeners.
– ‘Duke’: This variety is prized for its early ripening and robust, medium-sized berries. ‘Duke’ performs well in both cool and warmer climates.

b. Lowbush Blueberries:

Lowbush are just that – low to the ground meaning they simply do not grow as tall. Typical height is around 2 feet. Lowbush are popular in Canada and Maine and grows all the way down to North Carolina.

– ‘Top Hat’: Ideal for small gardens or container cultivation, ‘Top Hat’ is a compact variety that produces flavorful, small berries. It is also cold-hardy.
– ‘Northblue’: Well-suited for colder regions, ‘Northblue’ is a lowbush variety with medium-sized berries that are rich in flavor. It boasts exceptional cold tolerance.

3. Planting Techniques:
Proper planting techniques are crucial for the healthy establishment of blueberry plants:

a. Timing: Spring or early fall is the best time to plant blueberries. This allows the plants to develop a strong root system before facing extreme weather conditions.

b. Spacing: Blueberry plants should be spaced 4 to 6 feet apart, allowing sufficient airflow and sunlight penetration. Rows should have a spacing of 8 to 10 feet. [NOTE: With my most recent planting I spaced them around 5-6 feet apart. So far, so good]

c. Digging the Hole: Dig a hole at least 2X larger and deeper than the plant’s root ball. Gently loosen the roots and place the plant in the hole, ensuring it is at the same level as it was in the nursery container. Surround the plant with an excellent soil mixture to allow the roots to travel. Some will say a hole slightly larger than the root ball is fine. I recommend 2X.

d. Backfilling: Fill the hole with the amended soil mixture, gently firming it around the roots. Avoid compacting the soil too tightly, as blueberries prefer well-draining soil.

4. Fertilization:
Blueberries have specific nutrient requirements for optimal growth and fruit production. Follow these guidelines:

a. Organic Fertilizers: Utilize organic fertilizers formulated specifically for acid-loving plants. Apply them in early spring before new growth emerges, adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions.

b. Avoid Overfertilization: Excessive nitrogen can lead to vigorous foliage growth at the expense of fruit production. Always follow the recommended application rates to prevent overfertilization.

NOTE: Bone meal, good compost, and ammonium sulfate can be excellent fertilizers. Throwing some coffee grounds around your blueberry plants can be beneficial as well.

5. Pollination:
Blueberries are self-fertile, meaning they can produce fruit without cross-pollination. However, planting multiple varieties in your garden can enhance fruit set and yield. Encourage pollinators like bees by incorporating other flowering plants nearby.

Success!!!!!!

Time to Get Your Blueberry Plants!!
Planting and growing your own blueberries can be rewarding and promotes self-sustainability that can provide sustenance for years to come. By remembering the steps outlined in this guide, you can better your chances of successfully growing your blueberry plants. Remember to prioritize soil acidity and fertility by incorporating appropriate organic amendments, use correct planting techniques, and fertilize to promote growth. So they even say talking to your plants helps. Not so sure about that! 😄

Blueberries can be an excellent part of your homestead and survival garden. They also taste great in some blueberry muffins!! 👍

Rourke

Just finished Black Autumn, and I can’t stop thinking about it. The movie Homestead is based on this series. The story pulls you right into a post-apocalyptic world where everything’s falling apart, and a small community of people has to figure out how to survive against all odds. It’s got plenty of action, but what really stood out to me was how real and relatable it felt—like you’re right there with them as they build a homestead community, face tough choices, and fight to protect their homes.

What I loved most is how it shows people pulling together in the worst of times. It’s not just about survival—it’s about teamwork, resilience, and what it takes to keep going when everything’s stacked against you. If you’re into stories about survival, prepping, or just seeing a glimpse of a possible future for all of us, this one’s worth a read. 🌾 Have you read it?

https://amzn.to/40LSq1F

By the way – there are several books in this series. I think I’m on Book 5 right now. Love it.

Rourke

Food Prices Are Rising, Supply Chains Suffer – Growing As Much Of Our Own As I Can!

Walmart has blueberry plants for just $6.88 right now! 🍇🌱 If you’ve been thinking about growing your own food, now’s the time to start. Blueberries are easy to grow, come back every year, and provide delicious, healthy fruit for your family. We planted 6 mature plants two years ago and looking to increase that by 8-12 this Spring. Additionally looking to add additional raspberries and blackberries.

Oh – seed potatoes are available now. Check your local farmer’s exchange for best pricing.

Being prepared isn’t just about storing food—it’s about growing it too! Grab a few plants and seeds while they’re cheap and start building your food security.

Do you garden?

Take care all –

Rourke

Folks – I’ve been away for a couple weeks. Maine Prepper Girl and I traveled to South Carolina and Georgia to visit family and friends. It was great, however, just too short and not able to spend the needed time with people we would like. My youngest son’s wife is expecting their first grandchild(my 4th) in March. It’s really cool watching them get ready for this next stage of their lives.

You may not be aware, but my youngest son was married at 19 years old. He was married in Chimney Rock, NC right where Hurricane Helena caused such severe damage. Kass and I stayed right downtown where so many pictures were taken of the destruction.

The trip south went well. We drove the 16 hour trip both ways(I don’t fly). The weather was fantastic when we arrived as it was 61 degrees on Dayh 1 and 59 on Day 2. This was quite a change compared to the teens and single digits in Maine. What this warmer weather did was get Kass and I talking about the upcoming gardening season as well as the chickens and greenhouse we will be getting. Kass will be building a chicken run and coop once school gets out(she’s a school nurse now). One of my summer projects is to build a small greenhouse.

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Anyone seen this movie – Arcadian? It sounded interesting, and I am thinking of giving it a shot.

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Over the past couple of months, Walmart has had crossbow arrows on clearance. I’ve managed to accumulate about 12 to goo along with what I already had.

I’ve been meaning to do a review on this crossbow and maybe a video to talk about it and good deals you can get if you have patience. This Barnet was bought on eBay for $60. It didn’t come with a scope and grabbed a used one off eBay for about $20. I wanted a recurve as I wanted to stay away from the complexity of a compound. Extra string and the aforementioned arrows I believe have rounded out a pretty good system.

Oh – I also bought several packs of broadheads on clearance for $5 for a set of 3. Great deal!

So much fun shooting this thing!

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So – Trump has been office for a bit more than a month and I am shocked at the level of true aggressive and needed change that has happened. In such a short time so many of things that many of us have hoped for is actually taking place. Actually – many things I never imagined are taking place. I’m so impressed. Of course not everything is happening exactly as I wish, but, in such a short time I could not be more thrilled.

One thing I’d like to see are charges against the corruption that we know has taken place. Maybe that will happen.

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We’ve had a little snow this year…. 🙂

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As we inch closer to gardening season, we are looking at really ramping up our efforts for food production as well as improving our overall system. Adding fruit bushes and trees is a major component.

We planted several young blueberry bushes 2 years ago and have had good production. Blueberries grow well in Maine and now I’m thinking of adding upwards of 8-10 more plants focusing on future growth. In addition to blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, elderberry, and echinacea, are also planned.

We have 4 apple trees and one peach tree. Likely we will add 2-3 more apple trees.

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As I’m typing this I just completed some meal prep for the week. Every Sunday Kass and I get ready for the work-week and this includes making certain meals and making sure we have what we need for the week. We often make breakfast sandwiches, which often consist of eggs, cheese, bacon and/or ham, on an English muffin. Salt, pepper, and garlic salt are usually added.

Going through the drive-thru at Mc Donalds and grabbing an Egg McMuffin with hashbrowns and drink runs upwards of $11. Homemade meal? Much less and healthier.

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Something I’ve been doing recently is going to Tractor Supply and other businesses and looking at books. These books are related to farming, home improvement, homesteading, raising animals, gardening, bee-keeping, etc. Books today are crazy expensive, so if I see something I would like to enjoy and if the cost is what I would consider excessive I’ll look on eBay and see if I can find a used copy cheaper. Often I’ll find a used copy and sometimes a brand new copy much cheaper.

This is allowing us to build an extensive physical preparedness library.

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I recently had a comment from someone related to an article I published where I spoke of my dissatisfaction of traffic to this website and my feeling that I must change something to either get more visitors and engagement – or move to do something else. This comment suggested that it was ridiculous to complain that I am not getting an increase in traffic when I am only posting once per week.

Initially the comment got me pissed off. Knowing I don’t make the best decisions when I am upset, I waited and came to the conclusion that the comment was irritating – and 100% correct.

When I ran my previous website, it became one of the most popular survival and preparedness websites in existence, I was posting at a minimum daily. Sometimes twice per day. I should not expect the same traffic if the material which people are wanting to read shows up less frequently.

Yup – I agree. So – I need to publish more often.

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Ok folks. I hope everyone had a great week. Stay safe!!

Rourke

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Fire starting and survival go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. I’m not much of a bushcraft person so more modern, simple fire-starting methods have been the mainstay of my fire-starting catalog for some time. Butane lighters – including the famous Bic lighter – if my main method.

In the following video, I discuss my stocking up on butane lights.

Rourke

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Far too many people who want to get prepared believe that it is all about bugout bags, MREs, and freeze-dried food. No – foods put back in freezers can play a valuable role in a food storage program and preparedness.

The discussion continues in the following video……

Just finished Black Autumn, and I can’t stop thinking about it. The story pulls you right into a post-apocalyptic world where everything’s falling apart, and a small group of people has to figure out how to survive against all odds. It’s got plenty of action, but what really stood out to me was how real and relatable it felt—like you’re right there with them as they build a homestead, face tough choices, and fight to protect their community.

What I loved most is how it shows people pulling together in the worst of times. It’s not just about survival—it’s about teamwork, resilience, and what it takes to keep going when everything’s stacked against you.

If you’re into stories about survival, prepping, or just seeing how people adapt when life turns upside down, this one’s definitely worth a read.

Have you read it? Seen the movie?

Take care all –

Rourke

If the power grid went down, the government estimated that 90% of the population would die within a year.

How did they figure that out?

It was actually pretty straightforward. They looked at the population that could survive before electricity existed. Back then, the U.S. supported about 30 million people. That was the sustainable number.

So, saying 90% would survive a grid-down situation? That would be wildly optimistic.

Today, the food at your grocery store travels an average of 1,500 miles to get there. Most of our food comes from massive commercial farms or is imported from other countries, especially things like coffee and tropical fruits. I’ve seen steak in many grocery stores from Australia.

Before electricity, everything was local. Food came from nearby farms and gardens. Most people grew, raised, or made their own food. They were self-sufficient, resourceful, and tough because they had no other choice.

If you weren’t tough, you didn’t survive.

Now? Maybe 1,000,000 people in the entire country could live completely self-sufficient lives. Even fewer—less than 1%—could band together and use their combined skills to build a community capable of surviving. For most people, the learning curve would be harsh, steep, and unforgiving.

Most people can’t live without electricity. Many don’t even know how to start thinking about survival. Basic skills—like starting a fire to stay warm—are foreign to them. This is especially true for those in cities, where survival skills are almost nonexistent.

Most people wouldn’t know how to find, purify, or store water. Without these essentials, disease would spread rapidly. Illness would take over.

The government’s estimate of 90% dying is optimistic at best.

Remember the basic survival rules: you can survive 3 days without water and about 30 days without food(maybe). Yet, the average person goes to the grocery store 1-2 times per week and usually keeps less than three days’ worth of food at home. Many have even less.

The weak and sick would die first.

The phrase “only the strong survive” isn’t quite right. In a desperate situation, only the ruthless survive.

As resources run out, desperate people will abandon their morals and ethics. Those willing to do whatever it takes will take control.

Within 90 days, most of the population would be gone or well on the way. Many survivors would become hardened, brutal, and without mercy—whether for good or for bad. That’s the only way to make it through.

━━━━━━━❰✭❱━━━━━━━━

Those who prepare ahead of time would fare much better than the general population. Geographic location, as well as population density, would be relevant. Local community make-up would be very important in the ability to survive. Just for $hits and grins, consider a complete grid collapse, and those living in the middle of Boston, Massachusetts, compared to those on the outskirts of Chester, SC. 650,000 people versus around 5,000. A population density of 13,841 versus 1,593. Common sense would suggest that Boston would be a maniacal Killzone compared to the country town of Chester, SC.

Even better would be Plymouth, Maine, with a population density of 45 people per square mile. But I digress.

Bottomline: We live in an unpredictable world and anything is possible. While most live in a world where “everything will be OK sweetheart” we know better. Numerous events here in the States as well as around the world have shown that bad thing s happen to regular, ordinary, good people.

So – stock up on food, water, medicine, and other supplies. Make plans to be able to fend for yourself and be as independent as possible. Be smart.

Take care all. We are in for a helluva ride.

Rourke