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Hubby and I both really enjoy “the old ways.” Our woodshed is full, we are working on wood for 2010 - 2011 now, the hand pump is workable in our deep well, generator will run on propane long enough to keep food frozen til I can can it, pantry is full to overflowing, plenty of ammo for the guns-so I feel fairly confident. Meanwhile, the people around me are blissfully unconcened. Scary!!!

I'm enjoying learning the 'old ways', even though I grew up pretty pampered. A baby boomer, ya know? There's something very comforting about splitting and stacking wood - and then having all those lovely tarp-covered stacks to look at and know we'll be warm this winter. Or as Thoreau said, the woodpile keeps us warm twice - once when generating body heat to split and stack it, and again in the winter when we burn it.

I'm learning about canning now. And we're getting prepared to stay in the mountains when things get bad. I'm growing some potatoes in our meadow - and so far, they're doing well. I'm trying to see what crops can be grown at 7200'.

But you got us beat with the well! We can't legally dig one and are dependent on the local well. Darn. It's hard to feel self-sufficient this way.

And I'm with you on worrying about others' lack of concern. Most times, when I talk about storing food, gathering ammo, etc - some people think I'm nuts. Well, I'll just have to hope I DO sounds nuts and nothing happens to prove me sane. But I feel comfortable being prepared, no matter how I appear to others.

>>>I’m trying to see what crops can be grown at 7200’.
<<<

Garden location - positioning can make a big difference. Row covers are cheap and will give 3-5º protection. These two things will expand the types you can grow.

Here are a couple of articles you may find of interest:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1975-05-01/High-Altitude-Gardening.aspx

http://gardening.coloradohighaltitude.com/VegetableGardening/index.php

O.K. are you ready for the rant?

Another rainy day. Another wood fire to stave off the dampness. What hasn't rotted in the garden or been eaten by the groundhogs is now being devoured by the deer. After 60 plus years of the same old, same old, why don't I just buy my veggies? I know, it's in my genes and I always manage to harvest enough to make it worth my time and expense.

Now, another rant. This stimulus!! My daughter has been given two half-time literacy teachers that she neither needs or wants just to use up stimulus funds. My grandson is working overtime drawing up plans for new sewer systems for towns, just to use up stimulus funds. Meanwhile, we are incurring debt that will be impossible to pay off. Has the whole country gone crazy?