Posted on 02/09/2009 12:36:11 AM PST by nw_arizona_granny
Yahoo ran an interesting article this morning indicating a rise in the number of survivalist communities cropping up around the country. I have been wondering myself how much of the recent energy crisis is causing people to do things like stockpile food and water, grow their own vegetables, etc. Could it be that there are many people out there stockpiling and their increased buying has caused food prices to increase? It’s an interesting theory, but I believe increased food prices have more to do with rising fuel prices as cost-to-market costs have increased and grocers are simply passing those increases along to the consumer. A recent stroll through the camping section of Wal-Mart did give me pause - what kinds of things are prudent to have on hand in the event of a worldwide shortage of food and/or fuel? Survivalist in Training
I’ve been interested in survival stories since I was a kid, which is funny considering I grew up in a city. Maybe that’s why the idea of living off the land appealed to me. My grandfather and I frequently took camping trips along the Blue Ridge Parkway and around the Smoky Mountains. Looking back, some of the best times we had were when we stayed at campgrounds without electricity hookups, because it forced us to use what we had to get by. My grandfather was well-prepared with a camp stove and lanterns (which ran off propane), and when the sun went to bed we usually did along with it. We played cards for entertainment, and in the absence of televisions, games, etc. we shared many great conversations. Survivalist in the Neighborhood
I like to think it was the sour dough pancakes that brought everyone so close together.<<<
Laughter:
It was the sour dough, as any one can serve Bloody Mary’s and Screwdrivers.
I have a whole family of convicts across the street from me, so will pass on the community get together’ s, they are penny ante type robbers.
This is a neighborhood that does not want to mingle, some of us have been here over 30 years.
It was a shock to me, I didn’t expect to ever live in an area like this.
Judy's sister passed the evening of the ninth, with Family surrounding her, and her Husband holding her hand as she left to be with the Lord... My nineteen year old lap warmer (Kat Kitty) passed the next day. It was a good thing as she was beginning to suffer as well from the curse of old age.
Dela Where, SO glad everything worked out well with your daughter! You get a double "atta boy" for standing your ground against the those bureaucrats!
My canner and mill has arrived at our redoubt! I should be there this coming weekend (with a huge load of goods!). Leaving this Thursday, if no blizzards or what have you make me delay! Can't wait to give you an informed opinion on how that grinder performs! Think I'll try to make some home made peanut (or almond) butter as it's first test!
LOL! I hope the kittens like being sat on by a Mama Hen!
You are right - love is the real currency of the heart.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2206616/posts
Obama warns of US food ‘hazard’
BBC ^ | 3/14/09 | staff
Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 11:38:35 AM by pissant
President Barack Obama has said the US food safety system is a “public health hazard” and in need of an overhaul. <<<<
[in case anyone doubted that we were going to get the new anti garden laws...granny]
LOL! I hope the kittens like being sat on by a Mama Hen!<<<
They were quite happy, warm and all snuggled together.
Yes, there are times, when going out of this world is for the best, I do hate it when people linger and suffer.
And Sister has taken a loving pet with her, so goes God’s work and he sure pulls a lot of strings.
LOL, as long as you are safe, that is the main thing.
From the new anti-gardener laws obama is working on, you had better make the greenhouse, hidden and underground, for the crime of growing food, will soon be in the law books, along side those for growing pot.
Do keep us posted on the next chapter of your life, we want to go with you.
Hugs and sympathy to Judy in her loss, give her a hug for me.
Lets’ Grow a Garden by Gyo Fujikawa - 1978
It looks like spring is here!
Let’s grow a garden,
full of good and tasty vegetables.
We start by
getting little packets of seeds,
and tiny, leafy
seedlings all ready
to plant.
What we do at The Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden
30 Page Photo Album
Since 1990, the City of Vancouver and City Farmer Society have been working together
at the Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden, to teach Vancouver residents how
they can ‘go green’ at home. Composting is part of a larger City strategy named
‘Grow Natural’, which shows the public how to “save time, money and the environment
by using natural yard care techniques.”
The Vancouver Compost Garden works in cooperation with a variety of City Departments
(Solid Waste, Water Design, Parks, Health, Streets, Green Streets) to inform the
public about these strategies, which include back yard and worm composting, water
conservation (rain barrels, drip irrigation, permeable surfaces) safe pest control
and natural lawn care. All of these ‘green’ activities overlap and involve other
topics as well.
What does your chicken coop look like?
“I was a little surprised at the lack of smell. With only a little effort, there’s
little to no smell in the coop area, and certainly nothing that would carry over
to my neighbors. The birds are quiet most of the time. [They] can squawk loudly
after laying an egg, but still it’s not as obnoxious as a barking dog.”
-Carl Wacker, Madison chicken owner
Vitalizing the Vacant: The Logistics and Benefits of Middle- to Large-Scale Agricultural
Production in Urban Land
An urban farm is considered to be one or more sites within the boundaries of a city,
where the soil is cultivated for edible plants, and where the food produced is shared
(whether for-profit or not, by sales or donation) with individuals other than the
farmers themselves. The existing sites currently known as urban farms usually occupy
a total of at least 1/4 acre (or 10,890 ft2) and have established a formal food
distribution system, often selling through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA),
at farmers markets, and to local restaurants.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More on these stories at:
City Farmer News [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102505496498&e=0012iftRR4FhTvjfMwW-VX-KOh44rprWTCHtyvKftBCzf1egBzK11LqtoBz23UqZ2lBSaKM1t1VyCsRu80yA0g_ohmqtubROIlZ6psYtcc0hsU7cfoycyCYZA==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Levenston
City Farmer - Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture
Thanks for the ping, granny. WOW! DelaWhere, WOW!
Hooray!
condolences
Latin America News [and U.S.]
Venezuela to Press OPEC Partners for More Cuts in Oil Output
Venezuela will insist at next week’s meeting in Vienna of OPEC that the cartel needs to impose more production cuts, as the country seeks to get oil prices up to its $70 target....
More details
You are welcome, I like pinging good news.
Top 10 Bizarre Food Festivals
Posted: 14 Mar 2009 05:15 AM PDT
Food food food! We love it so much it features regularly on the List Universe. And the one thing we love more than food? Bizarre lists. Fortunately this one combines both passions. So sit back and enjoy a fun filled list. Of course, if you can think of other exciting bizarre food festivals, be sure to tell us all in the comments.
10
Noche de Rábanos
Night of the Radishes
Pc230066.Jpg
Where: Oaxaca, Mexico
When: December 23-24 annually
This is a food festival where eating is discouraged! This festival originated in the 16th century when Spanish monks brought this edible root to the new colonies. To gain attention in the food markets, sellers would carve some radishes into eye-catching sculptures. This tradition continued throughout the centuries and became an official festival in 1987. Radishes as big as two feet long and weighing upwards of ten pounds are carved into intricate religious or cultural scenes. The artisans can compete in three different categories for cash prizes.
9
Annual Testicle Festival
Montana-Testicle-Festival-1.Jpg
Where: Clinton, Montana, USA
When: July 29-August 2, 2009
There are several imitators but this is the original ballfest. Usually known by its classier name, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival, this whole event is dedicated to serving deep-fried bull testicles. You can have your choice plain deep-fried, beer battered, marinated, as well as some newly concocted delectables. For the indecisive, $5 can provide a sampler plate of testicles. Those on a low-testicle diet can have fun as well! One of the highlights of the festival is Bullshit Bingo, with a grand prize of $100 for the lucky person who can correctly predict where a cow will do its doodie. The motto of this dignified event? “I had a ball at the Testicle Festival.”
8
World Pea shooting Championship
9 Pea Shooting A.Jpg
Where: Witcham, Cambridgeshire, UK
When: July 11, 2009
This is loosely termed a festival since the food isn’t celebrated; rather, it’s like a block party that grew out of a simple target competition. In 1971, local headmaster Mr. Tyson held the first pea shooting competition as a way to fundraise for the upkeep of the village hall. The entrance fee is only £1.00 for adults and £0.50 for children, but be warned! The competitors take this extreme sport seriously and you’ll need hi-tech gear (like the laser-guided pea shooter) to stand a chance on the field with these seasoned pea shooting veterans.
7
Roadkill Cook-off
of the Autumn Harvest Festival
Roadkill.Jpg
Where: Marlington, West Virginia, USA
When: September 26, 2009
Nobody panic! None of the entries in this harvest festival competition have any tire marks as they aren’t actually unfortunate outcomes of “Why did the chicken cross the road?” jokes. This competition utilizes wild game such as raccoon, possum, deer…basically any of Bambi’s friends that could be potential roadkill. Does that make it better? No? oh well… notables among the past wild game entries are “Spicy Venison, Buffalo & Sausage Stew”, “Pulled BamBiTo under Saboogo”, and Biscuits & Squirrel Gravy.
6
Gilroy Garlic Festival
Isitedible - Garlic Ice Cream.Jpg
Where: Gilroy, California, USA
When: July 24-26, 2009
Gilroy is the unofficial Garlic Capital of the World and proudly shows off in this festival that attracts over 100,000 visitors annually that as a whole consume an estimated two and a half tons of garlic at the event. The official Gilroy Garlic Festival website claims to have used 72 tons of garlic in the twenty-nine years this festival has existed. Cooking demonstrations and lectures discuss traditional uses and health benefits but the innovative can always express their love for this pungent food in the Great Garlic Cook-off, which has had entries like garlic ice cream, garlic soft drinks and last year’s winner “Walnut-Garlic Tart with Garlic-Infused Cream and Chili Syrup”. Anyone need a Tic Tac?
5
Waikiki Spam Jam
5Thannualwaikikispamjam-042807 6060.Jpg
Where: Waikiki, Hawaii, USA
When: April 25, 2009
As an area with a scarce meat supply during WWII, this archipelago embraced the blue-canned pink meat and has now become Spam’s most loyal market. During this street festival, hula dancers perform while judges crown a Mr. and Miss Spam and Hawaii’s top chefs create new recipes celebrating the gelatinous meat product. Pedestrians get to sample everything from Spam Burgers to Spam Musubi (kind of like sushi but with spam instead of fish). This festival also serves a philanthropic purpose that benefits the Hawaii Food Bank, the largest non-profit in Hawaii that feeds the needy.
4
Ivrea Orange Festival
Ivrea-Orange-Throwing-Festival21.Jpg
Where: Ivrea, Italy
When: Last date: February 25-28
La Tomantina has already been mentioned in a previous list but by no means is that the only fruit-throwing festival! The Ivrea Orange Festival originated from the 12th century when during parades and city celebrations, girls would throw oranges from their balconies to gain the attention of the boy they fancied. The boys began to reciprocate (no mention if the secret admiration was reciprocated but the oranges certainly were!) and this evolved into a messy rivalry between the balcony girls and the street boys. It wasn’t until WWII when the intricate citrus battle rules were finally laid out. It is free for anyone to participate by joining one of the nine teams on foot or become a member of the carriage crew.
3
Carnival at Vilanova i La Geltrú
Candy Throwing Fight
395486484 D55C92553C.Jpg
Where: Vilanova i La Geltrú, Spain
When: Fat Tuesday (Mardi gras; next date is February 14, 2010)
Originally a protest of the Franco regime’s Carnivale prohibition, this annual festival is by far the sweetest food fight in the world! Celebrations begin on Fat Tuesday with the Meringue Wars, where bakeries open their stores and pass out free pie ammunition to children. The adults dress in the colors of their respective Carnival Society and attend parties and masquerades before joining the children in the streets in what becomes a sweet tooth free-for-all! Over 200,000 lbs of food has been donated to the food fight, ranging from pies to candy to cereal… It’s a dentist’s nightmare! The festival officially ends with the ceremonial burial of a sardine to mark the beginning of Lent and fasting.
2
Olney Pancake Race
Olney Pancake Race 470 470X250.Jpg
Where: Olney, England, UK
When: Pancake Day or Fat Tuesday (next date is February 14, 2010)
At 11:55 am on Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Day, aka Fat Tuesday), the local ladies assemble dressed in traditional housewife attire (including skirt, apron and scarf) and run 415 yards through the streets of Olney carrying a frying pan. The pancakes are tossed at the start of the race and the winner is must toss her pancake again at the finish. The race has been an Olney tradition since 1445 and in 1950, the competition expanded to include a friendly flapjack rivalry with the housewives and young women of Liberal, Kansas in the US. The ladies of Liberal won this past year’s race with a new record of 57.5 seconds.
1
Annual Yuma Lettuce Days
Picture 1-82
Where: Yuma, Arizona, USA
When: Last date: January 23-25, 2009
Yuma is known as ‘The Winter Lettuce Capital of the World’. Sounds silly, yes, but considering Yuma produces $1.5 billion of Arizona’s agriculture revenue and provides 90% of North America’s winter vegetables, it’s appropriate to respect the lettuce. Among the highlights of this Veggie Fair are the Lettuce sculptures, Cabbage Bowling, Homegrown Cooking Contest and the ‘World’s Largest Salad’.
Contributor: gabi319
>>>you designed it and now have one that works.<<<
LOL Hey, it works for me - but I am 6’3” and wife is 5’6” and daughter is 5’ So, they always tell me that since everything is so high, I should come and reach things for them...
Actually, I got Christi a kitchen stool (and wife uses it sometimes too).
If these appliances last as long as the old ones did, I will be thrilled (and will not be around then either) The old appliances were put in in the mid 1950’s so they had earned their keep... Actually, the old refrigerator is in the back porch as an overflow/extra space/butchering cooler/vegetable chiller and still working fine.
http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2009/03/
[The U.S. and its most important news - site....granny]
For Freedom’s Way
by Tom Hoefling
For freedom’s way the patriots bled,
The crosses mark our honored dead.
More clearly than mere words e’er may
That field lays out their final say:
No greater love, they gave it all,
In answer to man’s highest call.
But don’t forget that most returned.
To them we owe esteem they earned.
And last of all, remember this:
Our LORD betrayed by one mere kiss.
For from within true danger lies,
Though carefully as friend disguised.
So fight my friend, from where you stand,
For freedom rides on every man.
E pluribus unum
>>>Think I’ll try to make some home made peanut (or almond) butter as it’s first test! <<<
That is one I will be very interested in... I have not grown peanuts for quite a few years - I do know they grow well here as I used to raise quite a few. I do have seeds for this year - Jumbo Virginia peanuts... If the mill works well for that, I would be thrilled.
>>>”atta boy” for standing your ground against the those bureaucrats!<<<
LOL I have been told that I seem to have a knack for really getting them where it hurts... (Like checking with the State Treasurers office on some of their bosses travel expenses and other items, then having a little meeting with the press - radio, TV... Bureaucrats hate getting their boss in trouble...) It has also been said that I don’t get mad, I get even!
Well, on the way home from delivering eggs to oldest daughter, and picking up dog food and cat food at the feed mill, I was driving by our local Big Lots store... There was a nursery truck there unloading, so I had to go and see what trees he was bringing...
Since I had told you that the orchard was the weak link in my preparedness, and was planning to add that hopefully this spring... Well, the trees he was unloading were huge compared to normal nursery fruit tree stock... 7-8’ trees with a 1”+ bore (trunk diameter) So, I was able to pick up 2 McIntosh and 1 Yellow Delicious Apple trees, Bartlett Pear, Plum, Elberta Peach and a Belle of Georgia Peach trees. Price - - - $14 each... Trees that size run about triple that.
Well, loaded trees, compost, peat and water barrel in the trailer and now have all of them planted... Amazing how you can almost taste the fruit as you are just planting them.
Now if I can get some pecans and pie cherries, then get those seedless Concord grapes going, I should be about set...
I already have all the mulberry and choke cherry I could want, along with a nice wild persimmon.
>>>Leaving this Thursday, if no blizzards or what have you make me delay! <<<
Wishing you the best of luck on that trip... They are calling for snow here on Thursday... Hope you don’t get that too.
Granny thanks for the tomato-seed link.. the trick is I had to reloadand try it several times before I found out
on code 1 : just enter the first digits on the line as pictured not all of them .
my can has “CX .......CB” all on same line
but just enter the first digits (printed in the creases.
I had to use a magnifying glass ) I just entered the first printed digits and it worked..
they make it hard to give away a few seeds..
“Window Pane” dough good or bad?”
It’s supposed to be good for pizza dough.. I guess i will find out tomorrow when I make a test pizza..
>>>HR 875 The food police<<<
I quickly read this late one night when I couldn’t sleep...
The thought has occurred to me that this reinforces the rationale for raising rare heirloom seeds...
Just think... Don’t hide your garden, post a sign - ‘Federally Protected Habitat! - Endangered Species Growing Here!’
As my Grandfather always said... ‘There are other ways of killing a cat besides kissing it to death.’
My Thessalonica Tomatoes only grow in proximity to cabbage, carrots, beets and various other vegetables, and require freshly composted chicken manure to survive...
LOL Let them provide the Million Dollar Environmental Impact Study to disprove it..... Then 3 or 4 years later, after they research it, change to the Peruvian Mangel... That appears to have started as a volunteer (hmmm well I may have bumped the seed packet and it accidentally spilled seeds and they grew...) But, as the only known habitat supporting it in this State... That Judge would probably apply the ESA standards prohibiting them from destroying it...
Danged if I wouldn’t try to turn their madness against them!
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