Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

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Letter Re: Raising Meat Rabbits
By James Wesley, Rawles on December 28, 2009 10:23 PM

Dear Editor:
Pam N. wrote an excellent addition to the blog that was posted on December 24th. Their is a couple of points I’d like to add.

Be careful keeping rabbits in an area without a lot of ventilation. Rabbit urine puts off an ammonia type smell that evidently can damage their health. We regularly get freezing weather in the winter and then as high as 110 in the summer and our rabbits stay outside all year round.

While it’s made very clear on the package not to use it on anything other than cattle, Ivomectrin is very helpful in treating rabbits. We have used it on dogs and rabbits for over a decade. The VetRX rabbit product should be in the vet kit as well.

Rabbits do require protein for good growth as Pam pointed out. However they will eat most any of your vegetable and fruit scraps, cut grass from your yard (non-weed sprayed of course), most whole grains and many deciduous (smaller) branches. Ours love fruit tree branches so at pruning time the trimmings are put right into a wheel barrow and go right to the rabbits. Whole green corn stalks are pulled apart and given to the rabbits after corn is harvested off of them, they love the green corn husks also. Our rabbit pellets go into 55 gallon drums that are kept outside near the rabbits. Usually they are rotated within a year’s time.

We separate the young from the mother at around 6-to-8 weeks. Most folks say to butcher then but their really isn’t much meat on them at that time. We put them into a separate larger cage that my son called “the playground cage” since the rabbits seemed to always be playing around in there. Usually they are kept another four weeks or so before they are butchered.

Their are several advantages and disadvantages to rabbits for the survivalist-

Advantages:

* Small animal that can be eaten during one meal, thereby circumventing the need for refrigeration.
* Small animal that could be taken with you during a vehicle bug out. Put 2-to-3 rabbits in one cage to conserve space. [JWR Adds: Sibling males that have been raised in the same cage together generally get along, but introducing a new male into a cage is almost certain to cause a fight, possibly a fight to the death. Also, does should always be taken to the buck’s cage for breeding, rather than vice versa! And if a buck is rejected by the doe, he should be removed from the cage immediately. Breeding age does should generally be caged by themselves, although if need be, their own offspring can often be left in the same cage with their mother until they are close to butcher size.]
* They are normally quiet as compared to chickens, goats, etc.
* Meat, fur and fertilizer, guts get put in the fish traps or given to the dogs.
* Can withstand cold weather pretty well. [But very high temperatures can be a problem.]
* Very little veterinary care required as compared to cows, pigs, etc.
* Low initial costs compared to larger animals.

Disadvantages:

* Cannot forage for themselves while in cages
* Require regular care versus a flock of chickens allowed to free range that may only require a little bit of supplemental feed.
* Not a lot of fat on the carcass. Domestic rabbit will have some fat on it but nothing like beef or pork. This is good for health now but may be a disadvantage if the SHTF.

Merry Christmas! - Robert (from HomesteadingAndSurvival.com)

Oklahoma firm recalling beef products in six states
CHICAGO
Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:31pm EST

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Oklahoma company said it was voluntarily recalling 248,000 lbs (112,000 kg) of beef products in six states following an outbreak of illnesses involving E. coli bacteria.

U.S. | Health

In a recorded telephone message, National Steak and Poultry of Owasso, Oklahoma, said it was recalling various products in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Michigan, and Washington state.

The company said it was cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service as a precautionary measure because some of its beef products might be linked to a series of E. coli-linked illnesses in the six states.

The company did not confirm any contaminations at its production facilities, but said it “will err on the side of being cautious” by recalling the products.

“This is the first recall in our company’s nearly 30-year history,” the firm said in its recorded message on a consumer hotline.

On its website (http://www.nationalsteak.com/), National Steak and Poultry describes itself as “beef and poultry marination innovators since 1980,” offering fully cooked and fresh frozen beef and poultry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2009
Release # 10-094

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

RC2 Corp. to Pay $1.25 Million Civil Penalty
Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway Toys Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of its commitment to protecting the safety of children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill. has agreed to pay a $1.25 million civil penalty for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban.

The penalty settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that RC2 Corp. and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Learning Curve Brands Inc., knowingly (as defined by the Consumer Product Safety Act) imported and sold various Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys with paints or other surface coatings that contained lead levels above legal limits. In 1978, a federal ban was put in place which prohibited toys and other children’s articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead (by weight) in paints or surface coatings. As a result of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the regulatory limit was reduced to 0.009 percent on August 14, 2009.

CPSC staff alleged that RC2 failed to take adequate action to ensure that the toys would comply with the lead paint ban. This failure created a risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to children.

In May 2007, RC2 reported that more than two dozen styles of vehicles, buildings and other train set components from the Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway product line were determined to have paints with lead levels that exceeded the then-applicable regulatory limit of 0.06 percent. Later, in August and September 2007, RC2 further reported that five additional toys from this product line were determined to have exceeded this limit.

This civil penalty settles the following allegations:

* RC2 imported up to 1.5 million units of non-compliant Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys between January 2005 and June 2007, and distributed them to its retail customers for sale to U.S. consumers. These toys were recalled in June 2007.

* RC2 imported up to 200,000 units of five additional non-compliant toys from this product line between March 2003 and April 2007, and distributed them to its retail customers for sale to U.S. consumers. In September 2007, the original June 2007 recall was expanded to include these additional units.

“The highly publicized recall of Thomas & Friends(tm) Wooden Railway toys was a catalyst for Congressional action aimed at strengthening CPSC and making the lead-in-paint limits under federal law even stricter,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

This settlement also resolves other potential matters. In agreeing to the settlement, RC2 denies that it knowingly violated federal law, as alleged by CPSC staff.

To see this release on CPSC’s web site, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10094.html

********************************************************

‘CPSC 2.0’ Launches Product Safety Agency into Social Media — Learn more at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09346.html

* Visit our new blog, OnSafety at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety

* See our videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc

* Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety

* See our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Raising Meat Rabbits<<<

We have had rabbits on and off, most of my life, if for no other reason than I needed the manure for my orchids.

The best set up that I have had, was a double cage that sat on a 30 inch tall cone, I found it at the dump, galvanized tin, about 18” wide at the bottom and 2 foot or so wide at the top. Both ends are open.

Bill said it was part of an air conditioning duct, but it worked for a middle of the bed compost/manure tea set up.

I sat the cage on top of it, in the middle of the bed in the greenhouse, fed the rabbits the weeds and leaves plus hay and a little rabbit pellets.

Then every day or so, I stuck my water hose in the cone and watered the bed, with water that flowed through the manure.

Worked beautifully, plants loved it and so did the rabbits.

I wanted Bill to design a suspended pipe, over the beds and hook a cage to it, so I could just push it down the pipe and keep fresh fertilizer coming all over the place....LOL, he never did.

I don’t care for rabbit meat to eat, but then I don’t like poultry either, so that may be why.

beef products in six states following an outbreak of illnesses involving E. coli bacteria.<<<

I had almost never heard of e.coli, and then it turned up in our meats, and food over and over again.

I did catch something years ago, many times, as soon as the meat is recalled and it all dies down, a new company buys out the old.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2416735/posts?page=25

Astonishing Inflation Data From The BLS
The Market Oracle ^ | 12-28-2009 | By: Larry Edelson

Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 9:07:02 PM by blam

Astonishing Inflation Data From The BLS

Economics / Inflation
Dec 28, 2009 - 12:42 PM

Victory Gardens

By Alice B. Yeager

There have been very few times in our nation’s history when “We, the people” have banded together so fiercely as we did during World War II. We were united in our effort to bring about a successful end to the global conflict and we went about it with utmost dedication. Everyone had someone—husband, sweetheart, relative, friend, neighbor—who was in the armed services. Many of us who remained at home were employed in the defense industry, but no matter where we worked we were all supportive of the war effort.

Certain foods were rationed, as well as tires and gasoline. We had our shoes repaired and we forgot about buying new cars. Most of us depended on crowded buses and trains to get to wherever we wanted to go. A sense of pride swept over us every time we heard our national anthem or saw our flag displayed. Patriotism spilled over into every facet of our lives. Food gardens weren’t merely “gardens.” They were Victory Gardens! We were urged to grow as much as we could, and a pantry filled with home-canned vegetables was something to be proud of. The home front’s frugality made it possible to ship much needed food supplies overseas to support our troops.

Anyone who had space to grow anything in the food line got out his gardening tools and laid out rows for a garden. Some of the folks, who couldn’t do much actual gardening, managed to prepare “V” shaped plots on their front lawns and fill them with bright colored flowers. V for victory! On many porches there were large pots of red, white, and blue petunias. Anywhere you looked, someone was doing his part to show support for the war effort. Even lawns of public buildings had special flower beds designed to remind passers-by of our team effort.

Now it doesn’t seem so important to hawk the virtues of the Victory Gardens. We’re not at war and there are supermarkets brimming over with every kind of produce imaginable and from every country on earth. We used to enjoy local fruits and vegetables during their seasons. Now we may have almost anything we want at any time of year. Abundance is ours.

Despite the overwhelming amount of produce available, the fact stands out that a great deal of this produce cannot measure up to the great taste of the things we harvest from our own kitchen gardens. With every mile produce is hauled, flavor is sacrificed. What is it they say about sweet corn? To enjoy peak flavor, run as fast as you can to the kitchen with your fresh ears of corn. Strip away the shucks and silks and drop the clean ears into a pot of boiling water. Cover and let simmer five to seven minutes. Then remove to a plate, dribble with butter, season with salt and pepper if you like, and enjoy. No loss of flavor here!

And what about those bargain-priced bins of green beans often seen at odd times in the produce markets? A complete waste of time and money if you’re looking for flavor. If flavor is missing, you can bet something else has slipped away too.

To go back to the Victory Garden idea may not be a bad thing. We can certainly have some personal victories over our choice of food supplies and we can enjoy varieties of home grown produce never seen in markets. We also know we’re getting food that is free of pesticides. One of the first requirements for the Victory Garden was a load of “well-rotted barnyard manure” which was spread over the garden plot, dug in and allowed to rest for several weeks prior to planting. Depending on the severity of the climate, some gardeners also applied a thick coating of mulch.

The well-rotted barnyard manure may not be as available today in some areas as it was during the forties and before. However, some of the best fertilizer to be found comes from chicken houses where litter is cleaned out after every flock is sent to market. Poultry manure is twice as valuable as cow manure on the basis of nutrients contained. Gardeners need to be aware of what is available locally at a reasonable cost. County Extension agents are often a good source of information as they are in touch with their agricultural communities.

A well balanced soil should not be dependent on the usage of a lot of chemicals or soil additives. Unfortunately, since World War II we seem to have drifted toward dependency on chemicals. We use them to enhance production, kill weeds, fight off intruders, eliminate bugs, and on and on. When I walk into the chemical section of a gardening supply house, I often wonder how the employees survive their place of employment and, usually, no one is wearing a protective mask. This is a far cry from a load of well-rotted manure.

Recently a lady told me she has some friends who give her cucumbers. “They’re perfect looking, but they taste bitter. Do you know what causes them to be bitter?” I told her my guess is that the growers are using a commercial fertilizer. I have never tasted an organically grown cucumber that was bitter.

A good compost pile is one of the best friends a gardener can have, and it’s not difficult to start. Just select a convenient spot accessible to the garden and enclose a space about four-feet by four-feet with some type of fencing that will keep the compost contained and provide good air circulation. Have an easy side opening so you may occasionally stir or turn over the pile. Start putting in kitchen waste (egg shells, vegetable peelings, wilted flowers, etc., but no meat scraps), lawn trimnings, leaves—anything organic. Avoid any grass or weeds that have gone to seed as you don’t want to spread a crop of gremlins every time you use the compost on your garden plot.

A shredder is a very useful machine to have to aid in pulverizing shrubbery and vine clippings, rose trimmings, and all manner of small greenery. The smaller the particles, the sooner they will decompose into that black gold known as compost. Along with the compost will come earthworms. When the latter appear, welcome them with a dance around the compost bin. Who cares what the neighbors think. This is a type of victory in itself.

Here in southwest Arkansas (Zone 8), as in many places, we gardeners are lucky enough to be able to garden almost all year long. We have cool season gardens when we grow many types of greens, onions, radishes, etc. During the summer a greater number of vegetables may be grown.

One of our most anticipated summertime treats is a salad made from our homegrown vegetables—tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, cucumbers—all cut in chunks and ready for a favorite salad dressing. Personally, I prefer a bit of plain mayonnaise as it doesn’t detract from the wonderful fresh flavors of the veggies.

Exit supermarket. Victory is ours.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/yeager54.html

Starting your own plants

While many crops can be direct-seeded (planted directly into the ground), some plants take so much time to mature that you need to start them indoors from 8-12 weeks before they can be safely transplanted outdoors in to your garden. The two most common vegetables that you need to consider this with are tomatoes and peppers. Yes, you can simply go to the local nursery and buy a few plants to put in your garden, but many times these are not necessarily the best varieties for your climate and area. Do you need a tomato that is very early and does well in cool temperatures? Or do you need one that will handle high humidity and lots of frying sunshine and still set blooms and make tomatoes for you?

By carefully reading seed catalogs and the backs of seed packages, you will learn how many “days to maturity” a variety requires. When planting seeds this means from when you plant to when you first begin to harvest your vegetables. With tomatoes, peppers, and other plants you bought to transplant into your garden, the “days to maturity” means how many days are required after you transplant them before you begin to harvest their crop.

Look for the traits you need or want, such as “grows in cool soil,” “handles high temperatures well,” or “stands up under wind.” Of course, I always look for the best productivity, taste, and something pretty, too.

If you are going to start some seeds, fill containers at least 2 inches deep, preferably 4 inches, with a good quality seed-starting soil which you can buy from any store with a decent gardening section. (Otherwise, use sifted, well-rotted compost mixed half-and-half with gardening soil.) It’s best to punch small holes for drainage in the bottoms with a nail or other sharp instrument to let excess water drain out. This prevents the seeds or tender young plants from rotting. Water the soil, which is usually quite dry, well. Let it soak in, then carefully place your seeds an inch apart all ways in the container.

You don’t have to plant the whole pack of seeds. Plant what you wish to grow, most of the seeds will germinate, then seal the envelope again and store it in a jar for next year. Seeds stay good for many years. You’ll save money this way.

Next, sprinkle about 1/8 inch of seed-starting soil over the seeds and gently sprinkle warm water over the container, dampening the soil well. You don’t want it heavy and soggy, just nicely moist. Put the container in a used bread bag or white/clear plastic shopping bag and close it with a twist. Tuck the end under the pot and set it in a warm location. Watch the container carefully; tomatoes can germinate in as little as four days...or take two weeks, depending on the temperature. The optimum temperature is around 75°F. Cooler makes things slow down. But too hot can actually cook the seeds, so keep them out of direct sunlight.

Once the plants are up, remove the plastic and place them where they get sunshine for most of the day. Watch out so they don’t dry out, as a sunny window will tend to suck the moisture out of the pot. Once the plants have two sets of true leaves, it’s time to transplant them to a larger container of their own. I find that Styrofoam coffee cups work well for this. Just poke a hole in the bottom of each and fill them with a good potting soil. (Avoid cheap soils, they are solid peat and very dense and acidic—and plants don’t like them either.) Plant the seedling as deep as it grew in the original soil, or deeper if it is a leggy tomato plant as it will form roots up the stem, too, making it stronger.

When the plant is several inches tall and growing well, your planting season should be upon you.

//snip from:// http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/clay117.html

Weekly Harvest Newsletter

Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - December 30, 2009

Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online (http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/archives.html#wh).

Share The Harvest: Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the latest sustainable agriculture news, funding opportunities, and events.

News & Resources
* Organic Matter Factsheet Now Available
* Tree Fruit Cost of Establishment Studies Released
* Pollinator Resource Center Now Online
* Food Banks Working With Farmers
* Website Assists Livestock Producers With Financial Issues
* New Book Profiles Farmers in Texas

Funding Opportunities
* Oregon Organic EQIP Funds
* Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants
* Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program

Coming Events
* Beekeeping Conference and Trade Show
* Minnesota Organic Conference
* Advanced Soils Course for Vegetable Growers

News & Resources

Organic Matter Factsheet Now Available
http://www.mosesorganic.org/attachments/productioninfo/fsfertility.html
One of the greatest challenges producers face when beginning organic management is providing adequate fertility to meet crop needs. MOSES has released ‘The Importance of Organic Matter to Soil Fertility and Crop Health,’ a new factsheet to help producers address soil fertility issues.

Tree Fruit Cost of Establishment Studies Released
http://news.ucanr.org/newsstorymain.cfm?story=1257
New studies showing costs of establishing and producing fresh market oranges, nectarines, peaches and plums are now available from the University of California Cooperative Extension. Each analysis is based upon hypothetical farm operations using practices common in the region. Input and reviews were provided by farm advisors, researchers, growers, farm accountants, pest control advisers, consultants and other agricultural associates. All cost of production studies are available online at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu.
Related ATTRA Publication: Tree Fruit: Organic Production Overview
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/fruitover.html

Pollinator Resource Center Now Online
http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/
The Xerces Society’s Pollinator Conservation Resource Center is now on-line! Containing a wealth of information, the resource center gives access to all you need to complete a pollinator conservation project in any region of the United States. When you visit the resource center, select your region from the map to access plant lists, details of creating and managing nest sites, pesticide protection guides, and practical guidance on planning and implementing habitat projects on farmlands, gardens, golf courses, parks, and wildlands.
Related ATTRA Publication: Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/nativebee.html

Food Banks Working With Farmers
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fo-food-banks23-2009dec23,0,7463204,full.story
With supermarkets no longer supplying as many leftovers, food banks are approaching farmers directly to bring imperfect, but still edible, fruits and vegetables to the needy. This year, Farm to Family, a program of the California Association of Food Banks, will secure 87 million pounds of seasonal produce, some donated but most of it purchased for pennies on the dollar, for 44 food banks all over California, said Ron Clark, the association’s food sourcing and logistics manager. Farmers have long donated food to their local food banks or have allowed people to glean leftovers from their fields. But in 2005, the California Association of Food Banks got involved, hiring one solicitor who procured 10 million pounds of food, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Website Assists Livestock Producers With Financial Issues
http://www.extension.org/pages/Resources_for_Managing_Livestock_Financial_Issues_Brought_to_One_Web_Page
At a time when Iowa livestock producers continue to grapple with the tough economy, Iowa State University Extension wants to make it easier for producers to find ISU educational resources they need. ‘We want livestock producers to easily find ISU people and information that can help them work through year-end financial issues and develop financial plans for next year,’ said John Lawrence, ISU Extension livestock economist. ‘We know many producers are feeling financial and emotional stress, so we have placed our materials on one Web page for their convenience.’ The new Web page, Managing Financial Tough Times for Livestock Producers (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/livestock/managingFinancialLivestock.htm), has materials organized on seven sub-pages.

New Book Profiles Farmers in Texas
http://www.tamupress.com/product/Growing-Good-Things-to-Eat,5203.aspx
As more and more people seek locally grown food, independent, family owned and operated agriculture has expanded, creating local networks for selling and buying produce, meat, and dairy products and reviving local agricultural economies throughout the United States. In ‘Growing Good Things to Eat in Texas,’ author Pamela Walker and photographer Linda Walsh portray eleven farming and ranching families who are part of this food revival in Texas. With biographical essays and photographs, Walker and Walsh illuminate the work these food producers do, why they do it, and the difference it makes in their lives and in their communities.

More Breaking News (http://attra.ncat.org/news/)

Funding Opportunities

Oregon Organic EQIP Funds
http://www.tilth.org/news/nrcs-eqip-funding-for-oregon-organic-farmers
Oregon farmers and ranchers transitioning to organic production or already certified as organic, had until January 22, 2010 to apply for technical and financial assistance through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), but the deadline has been EXTENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. It is still a good idea to get your application in, as we do not know for how long the deadline has been extended. Organic producers can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years through this initiative.
Deadline has been extended until further notice.

Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/news/releases/2009/nr-2009-12-15-grants.aspx
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grants through January 15, 2010. These grants are intended for projects that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources, as well as improve profitability and quality of life on farms and in rural areas. MDA will award up to $90,000 in 2010 for projects such as fruit and vegetable production, livestock production systems, conservation tillage and weed management, organic farming, and alternative energy crop production.
Proposals are due January 15, 2010.

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FSMIP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture invited state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations and other state agencies to submit proposals that help to market, transport and distribute, domestically and internationally, food and agricultural products produced in the United States. Selected proposals will be funded through the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).
Proposals are due February 10, 2010.

More Funding Opportunities (http://attra.ncat.org/funding/)

Coming Events

Beekeeping Conference and Trade Show
http://www.abfnet.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=51
January 12-16, 2010
Orlando, Florida
The 2010 conference will feature something for everyone, from the new hobbyist to the seasoned professional. We’ve expanded the trade show area to offer even more great deals and new product ideas.

Minnesota Organic Conference
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/food/organic/2010orgconf.aspx
January 15-16, 2010
St. Cloud, Minnesota
This conference provides great information about organic agriculture that will excite experienced organic producers as well as people new to this farming system. Besides the keynote speakers, there will be more than 30 breakout sessions on organic production of crops, dairy, livestock, fruits and vegetables, marketing, and many more topics. We will serve organic and grass-fed products for our snacks and meals, and highlight those growers and processors at the conference.

Advanced Soils Course for Vegetable Growers
http://www.nofavt.org/annual-events/digging-deep
January 5, 19 & February 9, 2010
Fairlee, Vermont
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced vegetable growers to help you develop a deeper understanding of how to manage soils and soil fertility on your farm.

More Events (http://attra.ncat.org/calendar)

ATTRA Organic Small Grains Webinar Now Available

A 90-minute webinar produced by staff working on the ATTRA project is now available for viewing on the ATTRA website (http://www.attra.ncat.org/video/#small_grains).

New & Updated Publications

Organic System Plans: Livestock Production
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/30/organic_system_plans_livestock_productio

Aquaculture Enterprises: Considerations and Strategies
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/18/aquaculture_enterprises_considerations_a_1

Building Sustainable Places
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/11/building_sustainable_places

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What information can you give me on greenhouse strawberry production?
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/question.php/2009/12/28/what_information_can_you_give_me_on_gree_1

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Both the garden articles are good, glad you posted them.

Hi all, sorry I've been gone so much. Holidays and all, ya know? :) Hope you had a great Christmas!!

This might have already been posted here (I'm a tad behind on catching up to this thread!)

My mum was here for Christmas and having grown up in Italy during WWII, she was saying she sees a lot of similarities between Mussolini's rise to power and what Obama is doing to the nation. She's very afraid he will become a dictator. I first thought that he couldn't do this w/r our Constitution and laws and would be a fool to try. Even our media would catch onto anything like that.

But now, he is stepping around our laws to grant immunity to Interpol from any of our laws!

One of many FR stories: Could Obama Use INTERPOL to Evade Constitutional Law?

The original story: Executive Order Amended to Immunize INTERPOL In America - Is The ICC Next?

>>>My mum was here for Christmas and having grown up in Italy during WWII, she was saying she sees a lot of similarities between Mussolini’s rise to power and what Obama is doing to the nation. She’s very afraid he will become a dictator. I first thought that he couldn’t do this w/r our Constitution and laws and would be a fool to try. Even our media would catch onto anything like that. <<<

Guess we will all have to become the media.... Internet is our AP and UPI, and a lowly hektograph could become our printing presses.... Geesh, some gelatin, a transfer pencil or sheet, along with paper (even that could be hand made from scraps) and we are in the publishing business. With ‘presses’ on every block, it would be mighty hard to control.

By the way, welcome back - I always hated moving - particularly after we had to move 26 times in 12 years when my father was a problem store manager for Sears. (Many many years ago - like 60) Told my wife that this last one was exactly that - the last one I am going to make...Amazing the things we accumulate over the years, then we had the situation where my mother said she didn’t care if we piled her things and burned them, but she did not want them pawed through at an auction.. So, we have kept much that we should have disposed of years ago. (Of course it just feeds my natural pack rat syndrome)

Glad to hear your keeping busy with the two home based businesses... Texas is great for them! Around here if you even want to bake some bread to sell or bake some cookies, you have to jump through hoops for the state - then rent one of their ‘certified’ kitchens to do the job in... Killed bake sales, widows baking cinnamon rolls for sale, and even homemade fudge sales. Geeesh.

Try to drop in every once in a while as you art cogitating the approach to a new project. ;^)

This message contains the following:

1. Wooden Toys Recalled by Kendamaspot Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10095.html

2. Dehumidifiers Recalled by LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10096.html

3. Dorel Juvenile Group Recalls Play Yards with Bassinets Due to Suffocation Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10097.html

Happy New Year Granny!

I first thought that he couldn’t do this w/r our Constitution and laws and would be a fool to try.<<<<

From the looks of it, he has already done a lot that he planned.

And the fools still support him.

Glad you are back and very glad your mom is visiting you.

Thank you, it is a good time to wish you and your family a
Happy New Year, too....

Pray for 2010, lots of prayers will be needed.

Also, pray for Rush Limbaugh, please, for my news alerts say he is in the hospital in Hawaii, with chest pains.

Absolutely.

Latest about Rush is he is awake and comfortable. Going to spend the night in hospital as precaution.

A statement is due to be issued soon.

Update posted.

This was just posted on his 24/7 website...
ALERT: Rush was admitted to a Honolulu hospital today and is resting comfortably after suffering chest pains. Rush appreciates your prayers and well wishes. He will keep you updated via RushLimbaugh.com and on Thursday’s radio program.

RushLimbaugh.com

WOO HOO! Thanks for the update, tubebender. Hang in there, Rush!

1,430 posted on December 31, 2009 1:38:01 AM EST by nutmeg (Rush Limbaugh & Sarah Palin agree: NO third parties! Take back the GOP)

If your New Year’s Resolution is to be prepared - here is some pertinent information:
- - - -

The Bare Facts on Toilet Paper History
by Joseph Parish

Someone recently asked me what people used before the invention of the modern toilet paper rolls. Being a survivalist, this question has been posed many times to me, and I always try to answer it as honestly as possible.

It is only logical to presume that our modern toilet paper has not been around prior to the 19th century. The notion of Charmin or of Cottonelle is a fairly recent concept. Although when it was first introduced it was more of a novelty then a necessity as it is now our current contemporary home.

The original items that were previously used for our wiping pleasure ranged from various sticks and leaves to corn cobs and pieces of linen fabrics. Prior to the earliest known toilet paper product being introduced in the late 1800’s people reached for items commonly found around their environment.

It is rumored that those people who lived in the northern portions of the world generally used the tundra moss during the summer and resorted to handfuls of cold snow during the winter months. To those people who resided within the tropical zones old coconut shells and mussel shells were commonly employed.
Read more in History
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The Greeks used clay pieces and stones while the Romans had the most logical method of cleaning that I have found. In ancient Rome they used a sponge which was attached to a stick and then immersed into a container of salt water.

In the 14th century the Chinese emperors were using scrapes of rice paper and the Europeans began using hay, grass, straw and old rags. Many early societies in the far eastern world used the left hand for wiping. This was considered to be an acceptable practice and has lead to the theory of why the right hand is extended in friendship and not the left.

During our own colonial era the corn cob was a popular item found within the common home. The first paper products used for personal wiping were the mail order catalogs which were hung in the privy area. The Old Farmer’s Almanac had special holes placed into it so as it could be carefully hung in the toilets.

The first actual toilet paper product is credited to the German Hans Klenk, an American named Arthur Scott and a British gentleman named W.C. Alcock. History has dedicated the toilet paper to these three men.

In 1928 Hans Klenk became the first European to roll paper bands however the American Arthur Scott had previously accomplished the same effect in 1890. W.C. Alcock created an alternative to the current popular newspaper use in the 1880s.

The modern toilet paper roll has definitely made life much easier and more hygienic for us all. At last count there were over 5,000 companies who produce bathroom tissue in various parts of the globe.

The same person asked me about how much toilet paper they should store up on for emergency use. As survivalists we believe in storing food for as much as a year and as such we should store extra toilet paper also. You can roughly base your storage upon the rate of 1 roll of 1000 sheets per person every three days. So a rough count would be for storage of 100 rolls for one year per person.

Each family is different and these figures may very well change from one family to the next. When in doubt store extra as it will make a great trading material when needed.

http://socyberty.com/history/the-bare-facts-on-toilet-paper-history/

http://www.living-and-loving-my-country-life.com/growingstrawberries.html

VERTICAL GARDENING.
= = =
(Joya is back. Happy New Year.)