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
Wow what a cool site: A google wiki (user-contributed and editable articles):
For example, here are all the articles about gardening.
http://knol.google.com/k/knol/system/knol/pages/Search?q=gardening&restrict=general
Boy, you have proved there is no excuse for portraying anything inauthentic in historic novels. The information on how cooking was done is overwhelming!
Shooter Identified in fatal drive by shooting
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262451/posts
better read fast, this will vanish from the SRM screens probably overnight!
Interesting low cost, low maintenace vehicle for farm work. Kinda like a small tractor/ATV Looks good, never heard of it before.
http://www.drivebuv.org/index.html
Looks like we REALLY need to learn from Argentina.....
First Europe - Then U.S.?
European Nations as Bad as Argentina, Ferguson Says
By Jennifer Ryan and Rishaad Salamat
June 1 (Bloomberg) — Many European governments finances are as risky as Argentinas were at the height of its worst financial crisis, and the U.K. gives cause to be extremely nervous, Harvard University professor Niall Ferguson said.
It is a myth that countries dont go bust, you only have to look at the history of Latin America to see that they do, Ferguson told Bloomberg Television today. When you look at the financial position of many European countries today, especially east European countries but also some west European countries, its every bit as bad as Argentina was in 2002.
The average euro region budget deficit will swell to 6.5 percent of output this year, more than double the European Unions limit, the European Commission forecasts. In the U.K., Prime Minister Gordon Browns government predicts an annual shortfall almost twice that size because of the cost of bank bailouts and a slump in tax receipts from the recession.
One has to be extremely nervous about the situation in the United Kingdom, borrowing on the same scale as the U.S. but without a reserve currency, Ferguson said.
The U.K. Treasury predicts its deficit will reach 175 billion pounds ($287 billion) this fiscal year, or 12.4 percent of gross domestic product. The government plans to sell an unprecedented 220 billion pounds of debt to cover the shortfall and the cost of propping up banks.
Deficit Measures
In Eastern Europe, deficit-cutting measures are being imposed by international lenders as part of the price for more than $90 billion in aid doled out since September. Latvia may be preparing to run a deficit of 9.2 percent of GDP, the Baltic News Service reported today.
Measures taken by government officials in the U.S. and Europe to bail out banks have saddled the financial system with firms that ought to have collapsed, Ferguson said.
Weve got dinosaurs on life support at the moment in the form of major banks that only are alive because of massive capital injections and guarantees from taxpayers, he said. Thats inhibiting the process of evolution that ought to be creating new and better firms that ought to be taking the place of these failed firms.
Argentinas economy contracted 3.4 percent in 2002 in the aftermath of its $95 billion bond default. The peso lost two- thirds of its value while unemployment soared to a record 22 percent that year and the government imposed capital restrictions to stem outflows.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aWIsYmP8RzuE&refer=economy
thx for the ping.
I blame the PC apologists almost as much as the shooter. They share a big portion of the guilt, IMO.
ouch.
And the libs/socialists are just itching to follow in Europe’s footsteps?
http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext05/7iccr10.htm
Ice Creams, Water Ices, Frozen Puddings Together with Refreshments for all Social Affairs
/ Rorer, S. T. (Sarah Tyson Heston), 1849-1937
Large variety and interesting.
I’m not sure who posted about the Home Depot buckets being food grade. I tried looking back through the comments, but couldn’t find it. Was it HDPE 2 that was the food grade plastic? I hope I got it right. I was at Lowes checking on some herbs and looked to see if they had any 5 gal. pails. They had some grey ones. With lids it cost $4.16. Tell me I got the right ones. If not, I can return them. I only bought 2 just in case. I had tried getting some from our store bakery, and they gave me a couple of pails, but no lids. It’s kind of hard to store stuff without the lids, but I have found other uses for those.
>>>Was it HDPE 2 that was the food grade plastic?<<<
Yep...
HDPE 2 and you will see a triangle of arrows with a 2 in the center on the bottom of the pail. Same plastic they use for milk bottles.
Thanks. I think I will get more later this week. I have wheat I wanted to put in them. Do I need to put bay leaves in with the wheat like other grains?
>>>Do I need to put bay leaves in with the wheat like other grains?<<<
Personally, I put in bay leaves AND I freeze it for 3-4 days. But then, I am not storing bought wheat, but wheat that I have grown, so want to be absolutely sure I won’t open a pail and find something that even the chickens won’t eat.
One thing that many do is to use aluminized mylar bags. Their theory is that they are impervious to oxygen transpiration. But, I don’t really think that is necessary, as wheat has been stored in clay pots in the pyramids for a few thousand years and was still good (and sproutable too). I think moisture is the biggest trigger to the bugs and mold, so just be sure it is good and dry.
Not sure if this has been posted, been out of town. Freeper ChocChipCookie has “a new blog dedicated to preparedness from a moms perspective”.
http://www.thesurvivalmom.com/
A lot of good info.
Saw it.. she did a great job with it, Thanks for the ping.
Glad to see more and more adopt the preparedness mindset.
I see DW already answered - he’s our kindly source of knowledge w/r growing and storing food here, isn’t he?
thanks for reminding me, marm. (if you don’t mind me calling you that!). I also intended to pick up some just to have and forgot all about it!
I’m a great grandmother but find this link very informative. I worry that my children and grandchildren refuse to worry about preparedness, so I try to keep up and prepare for them also. Thanks for the link. Will read more tonight after I finish outdoor work on this wonderful day. So much to do and so little time and energy to do it.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm148389.htm
AZ Hydroponic Farming Recalls 4oz Alfalfa Sprout Cup Because of Possible Health Risk
Sun, 03 May 2009 23:00:00 -0500
[This part of the alert was delivered only minutes ago, so I think the date is June....granny]
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
# May 29, 2009 - Union International Food Company Recalls White Peppers Because Of Possible Health Risk
# May 28, 2009 - Chang Farm Recalls Expired Chang Farm Bean and Soy Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
# May 22, 2009 - St. Bernadette Circle, St. Rose Church Recalls Pistachios-In Shell Dry Roasted and Salted Because of Possible Health Risk
# May 22, 2009 - Season Produce Co. Los Angeles, Ca. Conducts a Voluntary Recall of Roasted & Salted Shelled Pistachios Due to Possible Health Risk
# May 22, 2009 - Fun Express Expands Nationwide Recall of Water-Based Face Paint
MARYLAND BEATEN BISCUITS<<<<
There is a good example of how we did in the old days, no oprah to tell us how to think and we beat with a good result.
Sounds like a winner to me.
Blueberry Cobbler
For the filing:
½ cup (1 stick) margarine or butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoons salt
9 cups fresh blueberries, picked over for stems
¾ cup brandy or water
For the crust:
½ cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups apple or pineapple juice or milk
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
To prepare the filling, melt the margarine in a medium-size saucepan over a medium fire.
Stir in the sugar, flour and salt and mix well.
Add the blueberries and water, stir and heat thoroughly, about 5 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a buttered deep 9 x 12-inch casserole dish and set aside
To prepare the crust, in a medium-size mixing bowl, cream the margarine with the sugar, then add the flour, baking powder, salt, and fruit juice and mix well.
Pour the batter over the blueberries and bake until golden brown, about 1 hour.
I am glad that Dela Where knew the answer, for I always forget which is the good one.
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