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
Thank goodness I was sitting down when I started making calls to the local nurseries up here! $75-90 EACH for a 4-5” spruce????<<<
I meant to suggest you ask Delawhere about his hybrid Popular trees, for they grow fast and are good firewood too.
And have LOTS of friends.
There is one other very good way to partake of biscuits and molasses that is extremely easy..... go to a Cracker Barrel and order biscuits with the meal and ask for molassas on the side.<<<
That would have worked a few years ago, now due to health, I do not go out and about.
There is a Cracker Barrel about 15 miles from here.
You can make the regular biscuits and freeze them for later baking or already baked.
But there is nothing wrong with prepared ones either, better than none at all.
We debated about that, but in the end decided to go ahead and plant one here, although sticking only with the basics. What can I say? I’m a “gardener”. :) So the potatoes are “in”, and I’ll plant some beans, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, and marigolds, although not as much as I normally would. I still have quite a pantry full from last year, so we won’t starve either way, but I’m planting mostly heirloom seeds this year and am eager to see how they do.<<<
Good, you are all set and will soon know where the fields are that sell produce in your new area.
It is true, some things, like gardening need to be done, I always needed to play in the dirt.
Our local whole grain grocery, located on the edge of her truck farm, will ship items, if you want to pay for postage.<<<
Is there a website or catalog?
>>>you’re farmin not gardenin.....<<<
LOL 7 1/2 acres total - not a very big farmer...
But, my garden provides for about 4-5 families... I usually can about 80 cases, freeze and dry, raise chickens, butcher a few deer a year - so besides salt, sugar, baking powder, black pepper, rice, etc. we don’t have to do much grocery shopping.
We use our stockpile daily, so there is no ‘survival shock’ to deal with, and not too much rotation to worry about. I get peas and limas from local neighboring farmer (all shelled via their half million dollar viners) and apples and peaches from my old college roommate (the pomology major) till my fruit trees grow a bit. Grow most of everything else we eat, including wheat.
I also grow hybrid poplars for firewood, and have had nubian milk goats in the past, as well as sheep, horses, Aberdeen Angus, and Poland China hogs.
>>>I meant to suggest you ask Delawhere about his hybrid Popular trees, for they grow fast and are good firewood too.<<<
A bit late for this year... I don’t have any more refrigerated cuttings. February and March are the best times to put those cuttings out unless they are kept refrigerated.
I have sold and given away about 5,000 this year.
“I notice you already call Alabama ‘home’ ;)”
oops! My reference to “Alabama” was to a song by the singing group named “Alabama”. I’m not headed quite that far south. :)
Born and raised in West “by God” Virginny; 100% “hillbilly” who married a “damn Yankee” and moved “up north” (the Mason-Dixon line defines these things for us :)
So yes, I’m heading “home” at last. At least for me, it’s a truism that while “you can take the girl out of the hills, you can’t take *the hills* out of the girl”. At first, I tried to like it here and make friends, but I’ve never understood the, I guess you’d call it “underlying negativity” of the attitudes I encounter here. Having been raised to ask “How *can* we do it?” when encountering a problem, I just don’t *get* the “the first word out of their mouth is NO!, followed by the 47,438 reasons “why not” attitude that’s caused this area to literally die.
Personally, I’m so happy about leaving that I feel like jumping up and down. I refrain because this is a hard move for my husband, as his family has been in this area since 1840. But the bottom line is that this area has been “dying” for nearly 30 years; our children have moved away and are *not* coming back; and our original “compromise” was that we would stay here for as long as he had this particular job, but “when the job goes, we go”. That time has come and while I know he’ll love it down there, I try to understand that it’s not easy for him to leave. :)
These posts are awesome Granny.
Back in Scottsdale, Arizona, there used to be a place called Rawhide (it’s now on the Indian reservation south of town).
They had a display of Conestoga wagons in a circle with some of the items the pioneers carried. It always seemed spooky to me to have the possessions of people long dead arranged like that, as if they might return at any minute. They even had mock campfires and harmonica music playing.
“Rex Jelly”
I remember that stuff. When I was a high school sophomore we were very poor (on welfare some of the time). We got that stuff with our commodities. It didn’t taste like anything.
I am going to add that blog to my google page. Thanks!
We have ten acres but most of it is in hardwood timber and ridges and gullies....Only a couple of acres worth “farming”. I buy wheat out of the field (and also the bails of straw) We have some of the best truck farmers in the country within mile or two of house.
Have a small orchard and raised bed for gardens. Have been trying out lasagna gardening and gardening by the square foot. We buy chicken,pork and beef when it’s on sale or from local farmers (can’t eat what we name and we name anything we grow). Would love to have fowl, but too many cyotees and other vermits.
If you are interested in growing you own peas have a method passed to my sis by an amish lady...... Keep a large wash pan or water trough filled with dirt and compost in a building so it doesn’t freeze/warmed. On first of Feb. sprinkle pea seed in a long, 12+inch wide 1” deep area of garden. (Even on top of the snow) Cover with warmed dirt in building.....Mine are a couple of feet tall with peas forming now.
Am trying my luck at kidney beans this year. letting them dry on the bush ala grandma. (Dad is 89 hope he remembers correctly)
Have you ever grown sweet potatoes in a barrel?
When a child mom and dad fed us off of their five acres....Cows, pigs, sheep, goats, duck, geese, chickens, horses and lots of work to keep us out of trouble. That’s when I learned not to name something I was planning on eating.
Now raising just for dad, son and self.
I’ll call Carol and see what she has available.
LOL - I used to call him my fruity roommate - he didn’t appreciate it too much.
Pomology (from Latin pomum (fruit) + -logy)
>>>If you are interested in growing you own peas have a method passed to my sis by an amish lady<<<
I do grow some, but only for the pods... I get about 150 pounds of shelled peas from neighbor - besides, he likes me to ride on the side of the viner for an hour or so while we chat while he keeps picking... We both look forward to the time to cuss and discuss world affairs, and to reminisce. Besides, shelling that many peas with my arthritis - not likely. For about $35 - it is worth it. He always tries to give them to me, and I always refuse - sort of a ritual.
I divvy them up with my two daughters and families and wife’s aunt and uncle who are in their 90’s - can about 6 cases for us. Same with the lima beans too.
>>>Have you ever grown sweet potatoes in a barrel?<<<
Now that’s a new one on me... Have not tried it. Any special instructions? I am having a hard time finding sweet potato slips this year.
>>>Am trying my luck at kidney beans this year. letting them dry on the bush <<<
Every time I try that, it turns really wet in the fall and I lose them. Only way I have been able to raise them is to pull them roots and all, tie and hang them in the shed or barn, then shell them when they are dry.
I knew CottonBall would pick up on ‘Next to Heaven’ WVa.
Seems like it has turned into ‘Byrd Land’ though. Lots and lots of Gov’t. projects and operations there now.
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