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? Its 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
Ive been interested in survival stories since I was a kid, which is funny considering I grew up in a city. Maybe thats 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
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/05/06/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-shock-doctrine-edition/
The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Shock Doctrine Edition
Posted: 06 May 2009 07:00 AM PDT
Next Post: Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance On Just One Page - Download My Personal Finance eBook for Free!
The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Shock Doctrine Edition
Over the weekend, I finished an utterly fascinating book thats (largely) unrelated to The Simple Dollar but still worth mentioning: The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.
The book is basically an alternative look at world history over the last thirty years, particularly in terms of the collapse of various governments and replacement by new regimes (Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Poland, Russia, South Africa, and Iraq, among others). Kleins book points out a ton of common threads among these seemingly very different governmental shifts - mostly, that as these nations are going through the shock of a radical change in their government and way of living, the new government would push through some very radical economic reforms that usually resulted in much of the wealth of the nation as a whole winding up in the hands of a small number of people, leaving many of the rest in a state of poverty.
Its a really fascinating, complex book that casts a different light on much of what I knew about recent world history. Very, very thought provoking and well worth checking out from the library. But be warned - its a pretty dense book. I found myself regularly turning to Wikipedia and other sources to find out more about certain people and events that Klein would discuss for just a page or two.
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2009/05/01/what-percentage-of-income-should-be-saved-to-be-financially-responsible/
What Percentage of Income Should Be Saved to Be Financially Responsible? I dont think there is a set percentage, because I think it varies quite a bit depending on your life situation. How secure is your job? Do you have any other dependents? There are lots of questions in the mix here.
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2009/04/how-to-be-frugal-without-being.html
How to Be Frugal Without Being Miserable I cant tell you how strongly I agree with the advice in this post. It pretty much sums up how I feel about frugality. Frugality is about being mindful of the real value in your life - and that doesnt always mean spending as little as possible.
http://www.freelanceswitch.com/freelance-writing/6-ways-that-regular-writing-can-help-all-freelancers/
6 Ways that Regular Writing Can Help All Freelancers This article should actually be titled 6 Ways That Regular Writing Can Help Anyone, because most of these are true for everyone. Writing every day is an incredible release (at least for me - and for my wife, actually, who is an avid diarist).
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/05/01/ask-the-readers-how-to-save-money-on-books/
Ask the Readers: How to Save Money on Books? In my opinion, PaperBackSwap is the greatest thing since sliced bread for saving money on books. Its reached the point where it beats the library for me, since I can send out and request a book from home and dont have to worry about late fees or anything like that.
http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/confused-career-decision/
Ramits Inbox: An email from a very confused guy who cant find a job I like this quote (except for the use of the word rich - I think the more appropriate term is financially sensible) - Rich people plan for things before they need them, while others are caught treading water when something bad happens.
http://www.productivity501.com/take-the-time-to-play/99/
Take the Time to Play I often feel like there is too much to do. Reminders like this help keep me mentally in line.
http://www.wisebread.com/reverse-engineer-the-best-time-of-your-life
Reverse Engineer the Best Time of Your Life Another great article from the always thought-provoking Philip Brewer. I find that when I do such a reverse engineering, I always find that the core of the moment was free - and that essence is something I can find again in my own life today.
LOL!
You’ve got me pegged, DW. As with everything, I over do it right from the start!
I suppose you could if you don’t fasten the lid down. For water bath canning, you have to cover the jars with enough water to completely cover them and add another inch or so.
For the pressure canner, you just add an inch or so of water and the steam creates the pressure.
Honestly, hot water bath canners are not that expensive, but they are a single use item. After a canner load or so of canning and seeing the hard water deposit build up, you don’t WANT to use it for any thing else. They are much lighter and easier to manage for cleaning than pressure canners. There is storing them, though.
Thanks for the pings (#7601 & #7605) and many links at #7605. Thanks for the post/link at #7610 Tenth. Very interesting.
I have 2 I carry in my pocket to relieve me of my urges to go play like Scrouge McDuck in his money vault. (not that I have that much)
One is a copy of the ASE (with no date) and one is that Indian head / Buffalo round. It IS nice to feel real money again and people are amazed when they see them. Pity there are so many uneducated.
Nam Vet
1. Dahon and REI Novara Folding Bicycles Recalled Due to Fall Hazard
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2009
Release #09-214
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 442-3511
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Dahon and REI Novara Folding Bicycles Recalled Due to Fall Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: 2008 model year Dahon and REI Novara Folding Bicycles
Units: About 11,500
Importers: Dahon California Inc., of Duarte, Calif. and Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), of Kent, Wash.
Hazard: The hinge on the handlepost can crack, posing a fall hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been 25 reports of the handlepost hinge on these bicycles cracking, including one minor injury involving scrapes and bruises.
Description: This recall involves model year 2008 Dahon and REI Novara folding bicycles. The models included in the recall are as follows:
Dahon Ciao P8, Curve D3, Curve SL, Glide P8, Jetstream P8, Mu P8,
Mu P24, MU SL, Mu XL Sport, Vitesse D7 HG, Speed D7,
Speed P8, Speed TR, Speed Pro TT, Mariner D7
REI Novara Buzz FlyBy and FlyBy Shuttle
The words “Dahon” or “Novara” and the model name are printed on the bicycle. Hinges with an “R” embossed on the face of the upper handlepost hinge and/or a “Radius Handlepost” sticker on the handlepost are not included in the recall.
Sold by: Authorized Dahon California dealers and REI stores nationwide from March 2008 through April 2009 for between $430 and $1,300.
Manufactured in: Taiwan and China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop riding these bicycles and contact any Dahon California dealer or REI store for a free inspection and repair.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dahon California at (800) 442-3511 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dahon.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recall product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09214.html
********************************************************
2. Lumetique Recalls Botanika Candles Due to Fire Hazard
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2009
Release #09-215
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 872-0228
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Lumetique Recalls Botanika Candles Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: DayNa Decker 16 ounce Botanika Candles
Units: About 7,000
Manufacturer: Southern California Candle Co. Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.
Distributor: Lumetique Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.
Hazard: The glass can break during use, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received ten reports of the glass breaking during use, two of which resulted in fires causing property damage to household items and carpet. One consumer reported a cut on her foot when the glass broke and another consumer reported a wax burn from blowing out the candle.
Description: The recalled candles were sold under the DayNa Decker “Botanika” brand in 16 ounce green glass vessels, 4 inches wide by 5 inches high. Botanika candles in the smaller 3 ounce and 6 ounce sizes are not included in the recall. The words “DayNa Decker” and “Bacara,” “Bardou,” “Clementine,” “Indigo,” “Leila,” “Manzanita,” “Sierra,” “Violetta,” “Yasmin” or “Zelia” appear on the bottom of the glass vessel.
Sold by: Resorts, spas, gift shops and specialty stores nationwide from March 2008 through April 2009 for about $76.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the candle and contact Lumetique to receive a full credit toward the purchase of DayNa Decker brand products.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lumetique toll-free at (888) 872-0228 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.daynadecker.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recall product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09215.html
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/05/survival-seeds-in-a-can-9-years-later/
Survival Seeds in a Can-9 Years Later
12 May 2009 / Gardening, TEOTWAWKI Survival
“Vintage” 2000 Nitro Pak Survival Garden Seed Can
“Vintage” 2000 Nitro Pak Survival Garden Seed Can
I, like some of you, have in the past purchased canned or packed survival seeds that are advertised as if they can be saved and planted when disaster hits. Mine came from Nitro Pak Preparedness Center and were packed for 2000 (yep, thats 9 years ago). We didnt get into the Y2K scare, so its really just coincidence that that is the year they were packed for, but Im guessing Im not the only one that has a can or two of these seeds sitting on the food room shelf waiting to plant them until I need them. They are non-hybrid seeds, meaning they produce seed that will grow the same plant it came from when it is planted, so you are supposed to be able to harvest your seeds and grow more food next year with it.
I decided this year to plant as many non-hybrids or heirloom varieties as I can in my garden, so in addition to purchasing more heirloom seeds, I pulled out these cans and opened them up. Inside was an oxygen pack, the seed packs, and a 2 page front/back printed set of instructions for gathering seed that left me slightly confused (this is easy to do).
Some of the varieties like beans and corn are annuals. These will produce seed this fall. Some like carrots, spinach, and beets are Biennial and will not produce seeds until NEXT growing season. So I have to wait until next year to get seeds off some of these plants. That means that if it were a survival situation, I could only eat some of the beets this year, then Id have to leave some to go to seed next year (in some cases the biennials need special care to overwinter). Then Id be able to plant more the following year. Are you seeing where this might be a problem if youre starving?
In thinking I needed a little more information in my non-hybrid garden adventure, I searched out a book to help me and ended up with Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth Survival Seeds in a Can 9 Years Later. It has specific directions on planting, growing, pollinating, and harvesting seed from about any vegetable you could want to grow. It even has picturesI love picturesthey teach me faster than words do. This should help me out far more than the insert in the seed canglad I didnt have to rely on the scant information in the can to grow the plants and harvest the seeds correctly.
Rutgers Tomatoes grown from Survival Seed canI didnt know what to expect from the 9 year old seeds, so Ive planted some in Jiffy pots along with my seeds packed for this year, and heres whats happened so far. (My kids helped plant the seeds, so that may give a small margin of error to my findings.)
The tomato seeds are Rutgers tomatoes and came up very well. They actually had better germination rates than the new seeds I purchased this year. I had 100% germination on these, and the plants are all healthy.
Onions on the left, Peppers on the right
Onions on the left, Peppers on the right
The peppers are bell peppers and the onions are White Lisbon Bunching onions. These pictures were taken 22 days after planting. I had exactly Zero pepper plants sprout (while the new pepper varieties all had 100% germination) and 4 of 56 onion seeds sprout. The onion sprouts are very weak compared to the onion sprouts from this years seed and I dont think I will even be transplanting them into the garden.
Ive direct seeded the spinach, lettuce, and carrot seeds into the garden this week, and will be seeding the beans in the next few weeks, so Ill report on those when and if they sprout :)
Peas from 2001 seed
Peas from 2001 seed
I did not plant the pea seeds from the can as I wanted all one variety of peas to make maintaining seed purity easier on me and I had more of another variety, but I did plant peas that were packed for 2001 and have been kept in the food room in a plastic grocery sack (no special, oxygen free environment for these seeds). The picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. I laid the seed in the rows pretty thick, so cannot calculate germination percent, but can say that I have quite a few peas coming up from those old seeds.
So if you have an old can of survival seeds in your preps, you might consider replacing them unless you can live on peas and tomatoes. And going along with Wades Skills as a Prep post, if you have purchased non hybrid seeds to grow as a survival garden, you may want to plant them now and learn how to save your seed before you need to. If you mess it up now, you can buy more seeds, but if you mess it up when thats all you have it will be more than just an inconvenience.
* Share/Save/Bookmark
Related posts:
1. Gardening: Getting Ready for the Season pottingsoilAll...
2. Seeds in food storage? Lately it seems I have been seeing a number of...
3. Starts for the Spring garden Ten days and counting. Boy do I have spring-fever. We...
4. Skills as a prep A few weeks ago a guest author on a popular...
5. Gardening resources (local and mail-order) Gardening in Utah can be a wonderfully enjoyable and productive...
Just for you, Chocolate soap:
http://selfrelianceadventures.blogspot.com/
It is a good article on making real soap from scratch.
Actually gold, silver, oil, copper, etc. are not going up, it just looks like that because they are retaining thier value as the dollar becomes worth less.<<<
Welcome to the thread, thanks for joining in.
Do you remember the old days, when you could see at a glance what was going on, I mean if the stock market went down, gold went up, next time it would be the gold dropping as the stocks went up.
Then about 20 years ago something changed and it was not so clear cut.
http://www.bearridgeproject.com/2009/04/bear-ridge-update.html
<<<
LOL, as I read your post from the above link, I assumed it was from JD Outrider and read every word..
Never dreamed that it was a stranger.
Thanks for posting it , it is an interesting read, and site.
Does anyone have any recipes for trail mix and how long does it keep? Any way to prepare same to give it a longer shelf life. As you can see, I am more concerned about losing access to my “comfort foods” than more practical everyday foods. Guess at my age, you don't worry a lot about a “proper” diet. Let a good multi-vitamin take care of that.
Interesting recipes, all look good to me.
Why couldn’t one use whey in place of the buttermilk in the soups?
Hello, glad you checked in.
Smiling at you, and reminding you that you are most welcome to come and read any time.
I do not. I've only been watching the market for about 20 years at most
Then about 20 years ago something changed and it was not so clear cut.
I used to think this was due to technological changes, but in reality it probably had more to do with the huge amount of debt we've taken on.
LOL, I misread your post and thought it said “chocolate soup”. Got excited to try to make ‘soup’ for breakfast. ;-)
Currently we are back in WA State to take care of bizz, see our medical team, and clean up our property out here... and packpackpack! Trying to keep the load's weight down is really a pain in the youknowwhat! Bringing our sleds (motorcycles) back this time as well, riding 1740 miles in three days should prove fun for the posterior! We have two family members helping Judy with the driving this time which will really help... I calculate it will take one more flipflop (round trip) to finalize our move to the gulch.
The "gulch" is really turning out to be a blessing! With all the hard work we're doing, it's congealing quite nicely thank you! Going to wear out the chain saw doing the fire clearances and prepping the area for the large shop... may also be be purchasing one of those "FEMA" trailers (used by the Katrina crowd down in LA) from Judy's Tribe, who got them for next to nothing and would make a great place for family to occupy if tshtf! Not to mention a great place for Judy's art studio and my hobby room. So many projects to complete that I rarely have time for FR these days!
I haven't tested the Grinder yet, but promise to give it a whirl, and give you a report once we're back next week... it's on my list LOL! One of MANY lists!
Was going to get one of those "Easywater" devices for the hard water problem, but after researching it, found out it's a con! Went ahead and had the water softener unit serviced (top drawer equipment) and what a difference it makes! Those easywater units you see advertised on the boobtube do NOT function as advertised, if they did, why wouldn't every boiler plant operation use them? Just saying...
Jeeeez! Our area in North MN is just overflowed with ticks! can't go out the door without us giving each other a "body search" every time we come back in! I've read that there are tick eliminators out there on the market (and garlic seems to be a main theme), but don't think we could afford to treat all the acreage we have! Just going to have to keep up with the body scans and man up about them!
Our garden area is now fully free of ice and snow, and the hard freezes are about over... time to plant in Zone 4! Thought we were busy before now, heck! The real work is just beginning! I can't wait!!!
So much has happened since my last post it's hard to select what to tell you... will update on my return to the ice people region!
How did you get hold of a FEMA trailer? Are they generally available?
You probably could use whey, regular milk, rice or organic soy milk, etc in those soups. The soy and rice milk probably wouldn’t curdle, either.
Swine Flu May Be Human Error; WHO Investigates Claim
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2250095/posts
Haven't yet... Judy's Tribe gets them from the government as they relocate/evict Katrina people. Some trailers are actually new, the rest that the Tribe get are in GREAT shape. They are being used to help get some of the Tribal Elders get out of their old worn out units and into something nice and livable!
Judy is an Elder as well, and we have joined on the list to grab a FEMA unit if one comes available after the folks that really need an upgrade are taken care of. WE, of course, will have to purchase one albeit at a great discount!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.