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
Here’s a good site for a wide range of food storage / preparing topics ,
may have already been posted, if so please forgive.
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/
I was very surprised this past Saturday when I went to Home Depot to get storage shelves. They had stacks of Multi Purpose 5 Gallon ‘Paint Buckets’ all around the store. Price - $2.98 - I figured they would try to make it up on the lids, but I found them there for .99 - So, I checked the bottom and believe it or not - HDPE #2 - (High Density Polyethylene) The same as food grade - it is even the same plastic used for milk.
So, I bought 10 more buckets and lids - for $39.70 - Wife thought it was too many more than we have, but once we got them home, she had already planned on using them all - Things like First Aid supplies - Cleaning supplies, etc. etc. (along with added food items) She now says we should have gotten more.
Hope they have them at a Home Depot near you.
Thank YOU, Will do on our next trip to civilization..
BTW HomeDepot was to open a store adjacent to a new walllyworld which would be closer..
However:
HomeDepot cancelled the construction because of :: The Slow Economy !!
Wonder how long the local ABC and the Drive-By Media can continue to say times are improving with Chrysler in bankruptcy court and GM up next ??
>>>HomeDepot cancelled the construction because of :: The Slow Economy !!<<<
Same here... They were supposed to build one about 5 miles from here, but canceled it too. So I can drive 25 Miles North or 23 Miles South...
Like you, I see deterioration rather than recovery happening in the economy.
>>>I plan to make great use of the suggestions presented on this thread, and, hopefully, contribute an idea or two. <<<
Glad you found us... Welcome! - look forward to your thoughts and ideas. :^)
They’ve had them at our HD for a long time now - at that great price too. They’re so much more pricey elsewhere. Of course, they’re not bright orange either! But that might also be a good thing - a burglar seeing HD buckets might not think there’s anything too valuable in them.
>>>They’ve had them at our HD for a long time now<<<
Hmmmmm, so CB was keeping HD secrets from DW.... LOL
Actually, those bright orange pails with the Paint Bucket HD logo on them might lead them to think you were a painting contractor... But knowing the type of people who would be stealing would probably try to knock them over to spill the paint just for kicks.
I checked the place where I buy used barrels too, they are sold out and don’t know when they will get more. I was looking for 4 steel barrels for greenhouse stoves and plastic 55 gal drums for grain storage for chickens but none of either.
Here’s a link to another “goodie” from DHS march 29,2009
“Domestic Extremist Lexicon “
http://video1.washingtontimes.com/video/lexicon.pdf
and the thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2244481/posts
I could not find a category for :
medical disabled,
trying to keep the bills and taxes paid / food on table/ gas in vehicles , while juggling doctor /hospital / and insurance bs
when the 401k has disappeared by 90%.......
Awww, no - I wasn’t keeping a secret ;) I think that’s always been their price. Besides, you know EVERYTHING and are my mentor!
hmmmmm, maybe I should go get some since it sounds like storage supplies are running out....
Nice site - bookmarked for later use!
thanks Eagle.
WHO Updates International H1N1 Situation Including Global Number of Laboratory Confirmed Cases
Influenza A(H1N1) - update 16
5 May 2009 — As of 16:00 GMT, 5 May 2009, 23 countries have officially reported 1490 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Mexico has reported 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (140), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).
Read full article>>
For more information on H1N1 situation, please visit www.PandemicFlu.gov
Welcome to the thread.
Laughing and thinking of how each of us would plan your backyard.
Granny thinks an attached solar greenhouse is a good starting point, with goats and chicken pens second.
The rest can be plowed for food growing.
Join in, always room for more information here.
Good information on food storage, thanks for finding it.
Good link.
Here’s a good site for a wide range of food storage / preparing topics ,
may have already been posted, if so please forgive.
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/
<<<
Good link and do not worry about “has it been posted before”, as I see it, when something is on my mind, I hope to see a link for it and not have to hunt for the prior one.
and the thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2244481/posts
I could not find a category for :
medical disabled,
trying to keep the bills and taxes paid / food on table/ gas in vehicles , while juggling doctor /hospital / and insurance bs
when the 401k has disappeared by 90%.......<<<<
What you do not understand about this, is the fact that by admitting that you owned a 401K, you are admitting that you are a capitalist ....and we all know that is evil. [sarcasm aka sick humor]
Better get ready, for this nightmare only continues on and on.
Okay, I’m late to this party but will add something to this....
>>>>>>. How does canning ground beef work? I’ve heard (read) DW say canning chicken works good. But I’m thinking of having a canner around for if/when my freezer goes out, so I’ll have things like ground beef, roasts, and pork as well as chicken.<<<<<<<<
DW answered your question with a great indepth answer. I just want to add one thing. Since our household is just the two adults I actually can a lot of my things with ground beef as leftovers. I cooked for a whole family and am so used to cooking in large pots I just continue to do so pretty often and then go ahead and follow safe canning procedures for the meat and can up my leftovers for future use. This works really well for me with chili, sphaghetti sauce, stews, etc.
Also that makes the food item in a nice quantity for us when I open the quart or pint of product. So, I can cook the large pot once and then have lots of containers perfect for “just us.”
On your storage of canned goods. Like DW said again, garage is really about the least likely place to maintain the food well. I don’t use a lot of airconditioning even in Texas but find the food keeps much better in a dark closet. Temperature doesn’t spike so high and keeping it out of light helps also.
And I agree with the statement, don’t wait for the freezer to go out. Just can it up now.
Yes, you found me!
But, I’m only here when I am taking breaks from gardening or working lately. You will love this thread though as you get into your home ownership. Closing is in 2 days right? YEA!!!
I don’t know anything to do with cucumbers except to pickle. I always keep a bunch sliced up in vinegar in the fridge but they have so much water content that any other method of freezing or canning just makes them mushy. And I don’t have any recipes to use cucumber mush in.
Now Greens. They can up good. They also freeze well. If you can them you have to use a pressure canner, they are not acidic enough to do in a water bath canner which is the “easy” method. (Both are easy to me.) But, pressure canners are expensive and if you are just starting out you can freeze them very easily.
Wash them by soaking in a tub of water with some salt added. Salt will get any bugs off and clean them well. Take ‘em out of the cleaning water and just blanch or go ahead and cook them, put them in containers and freeze.
Also, I just mix different kinds of greens in the same container when I can them or freeze them.
Gees, I gotta make a run to town within the next 2 weeks. I gotta go by Home Depot and find those buckets.
bucket bump
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