Posted on 03/23/2008 11:36:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Americans finding soaring food prices hard to stomach can battle back by growing their own food. [Click image for a larger version] Dean Fosdick Dean Fosdick
Home vegetable gardens appear to be booming as a result of the twin movements to eat local and pinch pennies.
At the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta this winter, D. Landreth Seed Co. of New Freedom, Pa., sold three to four times more seed packets than last year, says Barb Melera, president. "This is the first time I've ever heard people say, 'I can grow this more cheaply than I can buy it in the supermarket.' That's a 180-degree turn from the norm."
Roger Doiron, a gardener and fresh-food advocate from Scarborough, Maine, said he turned $85 worth of seeds into more than six months of vegetables for his family of five.
A year later, he says, the family still had "several quarts of tomato sauce, bags of mixed vegetables and ice-cube trays of pesto in the freezer; 20 heads of garlic, a five-gallon crock of sauerkraut, more homegrown hot-pepper sauce than one family could comfortably eat in a year and three sorts of squash, which we make into soups, stews and bread."
[snipped]
She compares the current period of market uncertainty with that of the early- to mid-20th century when the concept of victory gardens became popular.
"A lot of companies during the world wars and the Great Depression era encouraged vegetable gardening as a way of addressing layoffs, reduced wages and such," she says. "Some companies, like U.S. Steel, made gardens available at the workplace. Railroads provided easements they'd rent to employees and others for gardening."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
That explains it. SoCal types I would imagine.<<<
Many of my clients were from the middle of Calif.
It is happening here as the media is not reporting on the horrendous conditions in Missouri and Kentucky. NO FEMA, NO 0bama, NO media......people have been told they will have no electric for perhaps 6 weeks. Over 24 have died from the cold. It's outrageous!
The same thing will become the case here, if it isn’t happening already.<<<
It is happening already, I hear more on the police scanner than most will ever know, in the town they live in.
What happened in Palmdale, calif last night? There was an evacuation, spotting, swat teams and more, it went on for hours and hours, I never fully understood what was going on, but they were using ambulances to move the residents out that had health problems/recent surgery and it went on until an Officer said that all citizens were out of the area.
Or the call I caught last fall of the Officer saying he had found the hand gernade in the hole that was dug under the gas or oil pipeline, when his top officer asked if it had been found yet, that never made the news from the Big Bear scanner.
You need to join Milford’s group, he posts all the ‘incidents’ that he can find.
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/under-investigation/
Check out the link, I think his messages are open for reading.
What a lovely setting.
May well be too shady for a greenhouse, but what if some of the dead branches were removed, the west gives the most sun that there is.
The year that I had a complete garden in the far side added on room, it had only a good north window and an Eastern small window and my peppers, greens and tomatoes grew just fine.
You might play with the cheap plastic and see if you think it is worth going into more expense.
Thanks for the photo of the birdhouse, now I can show Bob the man who came to fix a couple leaks what I meant.
I suggested he make for sale, also suggested solar cookers and solar greenhouses, which your next post proves that I am right, 6 weeks without electric is a long time.
Bob is a neighbor of Scott’s Lady Friend, LOL, I like him, he talks like he has been reading the Free Republic.
I was afraid he wouldn’t come back, I slipped yesterday and voiced my opinion, and Debbie said no politics...so I feared he was one of “them”....LOL, he made it clear that he is not.
He is a cabinet maker, and is interested in things to make and sell.
I suggested the bird houses for bird lovers, solar ovens and solar greenhouses, will also suggest the earth type boxes for planters.
What other survival items should I add to my list? LOL, yes there is a piece of paper here that says “Bob” on it.
Selfish me, if he stays in the valley, instead of going east to find work, I will have someone to call for help.
Well, I had been told to put them on the surface of the soil and not cover them. I think they alternated between being soggy and dry due to my work schedule, but here again the worse thing was probably that they weren't warm enough. I've never had good windows and I don't have good heat in the house even for me. My onions and chives sprouted but then we'd have a cold spell. At my old home it would get cold enough in the house to put ice over the water in my water glass by the bed at night. Apparantly my refrigerator nor hot water heater kept them warm enough. But being living beings, I understood that. Sometimes it was all I could manage just to keep the kids warm enough.
I understand about that oxygen generator as well. I grew up with my grandparents who were married in 1932. Being with them so much of my childhood is why I have a mindset to use everything and make do. By the time I was born my grandparents were fairly well-off but you didn't know it by the way they lived. We had *so* much love in the house and never did without anything, but they didn't spend money if they could manage in another way.
So, what I was going to say about the oxygen generator is that Grama had one of those for the last couple of years. She died in 2003. But, she was the best friend and most fun person I ever knew. We had a little portable tank before she got to where she just couldn't get out. Even when she was feeble we'd take the tank and head out to the lake for picnics and such. She loved to watch my youngest daughter play at the lake. Those are memories of Grama with my kids are right up there with my own childhood memories. She kept her mind good till the very end and I was with her when she went. I miss her every day. But, in the best way possible. I think God that I had her always.
And the last coupla days I have thanked God for your conversation as well ma'am.
I gotta try potting up the tomato shoots from the best plants in the yard then. I didn't know you could do that!!! Now, taking cuttings and makin' 'em grow is something I can do with my eyes closed!!! So, if I can root those shoots I can keep my best plants alive in the greenhouse all year long even if they start out in the yard! Awesome!!!
With drought expected to worsen, water officials drawing up rationing rules
Preparing for dry days ahead
[end of article...Ventura county, Calif.]
Rationing could be harder this time around because since the 1991 drought, many of the easy conservation measures such as low-flow toilets have been implemented.
“It’s going to require rethinking about how we use water,” said Jeff Reinhardt, a spokesman with Las Virgenes.
As always, the biggest water waster is landscaping. From 50 to 80 percent of all water used in Southern California is used on landscaping.
It isn’t just the people who get their water directly from the state who could be affected by the rationing.
Mike Solomon, general manager of United Water Conservation District, which gets all its water from the Santa Clara River, said that once rationing happens, more people start to rely on groundwater. If they start pumping from the Oxnard Plain, the groundwater level drops and there is a greater risk of saltwater intrusion into the aquifers. The district uses Lake Piru to recharge the aquifers.
But with Lake Piru at one-quarter capacity — compared to being full this time last year — United doesn’t have a lot of water to spare and has already warned farmers that there may be less water available this fall.
“I think people are really starting to wake up,” he said. “This is serious.”
Find more water conservation tips at http://www.bewaterwise.com.
Source: http://venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/03/preparing-for-dry-days-ahead-turning-off-the-tap/
Folks, it will be a good idea to start gathering up all the buckets, etc that you can, so you will be ready to plant your food in planters and use less water....
Makes a greenhouse look even better.
Las Vegas is almost and may be, on year around water restriction so are other towns, San Diego has big problems.
granny
And that's not just a true statement about the used water usage either. When I read the things you used for planters I thought that you should see my collection. If it holds dirt and I can figure out how to make a hole in it, it's a planter. I gotta drill to help with that. If I can't get a hole in something it's a saucer.
Last summer I found a bunch of old light fixtures in the old shed here. You know the kind that go over the bare light bulbs in the ceiling? Grama replaced her lights with ceiling fans and those old fixtures were in the shed. Some of 'em had holes. Having had the same experience you had with glass containers and the green slime I filled 'em up with soil for succulents that don't need much water. Keeps the green stuff from forming if I don't have to water often. And I had the prettiest succulent trays you can imagine. Used a couple for Christmas gifts this year. They were a hit!
I had not heard of freecycle though. Am about to sign on. Dunno if they'll have anything close to me, I am a ways from a big town, but I also have to make it into the big towns from time to time.
My sweetie sent me an email earlier that said he'd be home later than normal tonight cause a lady posted on Craig's List that she had a bunch of free plastic planters. He works in town 50 miles from here. He's going to get me the pots before he comes home. ;-)
You can root tomato shoots in water, <<<
I don’t know if the pepper plants will root in water or not, but the mint family will also..
Save some cans or jars and try some of the flowers, even roses will, at times, others they do not.
LOL, there you go, a cutting of this and 3 of that and the whole world out there to test for rooting in water.
African Violets root in water, so should many others.
Laughing very loud and thinking that your greenhouse will soon grow to and attach to the house, LOL, I am thinking of it being alive, and wanting to be near you...ALL the Time.
My sweetie sent me an email earlier that said he’d be home later than normal tonight cause a lady posted on Craig’s List that she had a bunch of free plastic planters. He works in town 50 miles from here. He’s going to get me the pots before he comes home. ;-) <<<
Now that put a smile on my face, wonderful man, give him a hug for me.
Yes, I like your succlent garden ideas, wonderful idea.
You could also paint the inside black and then they would work for hanging planters.
I gave up on macrame years ago, when I discovered that I could make a fine plant holder from 2 pieces of rope, or more and simply tie a knot about 3 inches down from the middle of the ropes, a cinch knot, simple to hold the now 4 ropes in one solid group, and it forms the hanger, then come down and you tie a good solid knot or more than one near the end of the 4 ropes, I left about 8 inches for a tassel and put a wide tray or planter in and it is done.
I think mine were cut in approx 9 foot lengths, but it varied as some were meant for a single pot and others have something in them that is wide and it makes them shorter and because, I get careless and don’t always pay exact attention, or didn’t want them all the same length.
Freecycle took off and most towns have them, Kingman is not a large town and it has one.......they are in almost every country in the world.
Just folks sharing.
Oh fabulous, this man sounds like a God send. I hope he can patch your roof!!
I would be very interested in a solar cooker. I saw plans for one somewhere that I can’t remember now. :) When my electricity went out I was out of luck as my gas BBQ seems to have bitten the dust.
Cutting the trees may be difficult. The man who owns this owns two full streets out here in the country of various houses and he’s always busy fixing something. He’s got property in other states as well, sometimes I can’t catch up with him.
Tamiflu no longer works for dominant flu strain
U.S. health officials say almost 100% of the type A H1N1 strain showed resistance to the leading antiviral drug. So far, the influenza season has been mild.
By Mary Engel
February 4, 2009
A milder than usual U.S. flu season is masking a growing concern about widespread resistance to the antiviral drug Tamiflu and what that means for the nation’s preparedness in case of a dangerous pandemic flu.
continued..........
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-flu4-2009feb04,0,6558106.story
I will have lots of rocks. Probably not any as pretty as you and your grandmother found. But, I will be learning to build rock structures for my garden. :-)
We aren't looking to build. Just trying to find an old farmhouse someplace that we can afford. The mortgage people are limiting us to 5 acres unless we come up with a huge down payment so we're trying to keep it about there. Grading of the greenhouse space is a possibility though. The guy around here likes to do that sort of "guy things" to help me out. He'd like the idea of making it less dependant on a heater.
I am also hoping that I can get a large rainwater storage system set up. You know, what we used to call a cistern. LOL... now they're rainwater storage tanks. When I switched from tap water to rain water the change in my plants was phenomenal. I'd always let the tap water set for a few days to "get the chlorine out." But, that doesn't hold a candle to rainwater!
He thought he could patch one of the leaks, will take a good look at the others. The one in the bathroom has no source, it is a migrating leak.
Yes a solar oven would be a plus.
you are in trouble now:
All kinds of plans here:
Okay, this is what I found. Didn't find him till 3 years ago but I'm hangin' on to him!!!
God Bless Ya'll!!!
You know that you are reaping the benefits of all that helping that ya'll did over your lives. It never hurts us to do it, and we don't know in the end all the good that comes of it. We only see a small part of that good, I believe.
My mom and I split time caring for my grandmother before she died also. I would not trade that time with Grama for anything. I spent more time with my grandparents growing up so we were close. Mom was the only child so it would have all been on her shoulders if I hadn't been able to help. I know mom would have tried to do the care herself but I doubt she could have done it. I still have treasured memories even of the last weeks when it was all hospital time. Grama still had her mind and her sense of humor. It would have been a real loss to have missed that!
I am also hoping that I can get a large rainwater storage system set up. You know, what we used to call a cistern. LOL... now they’re rainwater storage tanks. When I switched from tap water to rain water the change in my plants was phenomenal. I’d always let the tap water set for a few days to “get the chlorine out.” But, that doesn’t hold a candle to rainwater! <<<
And if the tank is in the greenhouse, it is passive storage for heat.
There were some fancy homes built for solar homes, that had tall tanks for water/passive heat collectors.
They appeared to be about 24 inch diameter and looked like they were part of the support system, they could be, if used right.
But simple barrels or a cement tank in the greenhouse, if where the sun hits it right, will work.
Some grow a few fish in the water tanks for food and of course fish water is good for plants.
Or grow a pretty fish in them, that the pet stores will buy from you.......I did that with parrots, finches and parakeets for years.
In the old days, a lady used rain water to wash and rinse her hair in, none of that old well water.
LOL, which reminds me of the young Mexican girls, where I grew up, they used fresh, still steaming cow manure for a pack on their hair, thought it made it blacker and more glossy.
You will find that 5 acres is all you can take care of and more, with room for a goat on it.
Good luck on the search.
I would need a handyman like your Bob to do that. :D
I actually hate building things or putting things together. I bought a new vacuum and had to put it together, I almost had to tear my hair out before I was done. Everything is so poorly made these days.
I am thinking of getting one of those fire pit things to grill with. I would probably have to find a regular BBQ lid to put over it or burn down the house with all the trees around here. One thing about Texas is it’s almost always windy.
Someone may offer me a job about an hour from Taos New Mexico, but that would be a big move and I’m not sure I can give up my trips to the big city and my favorite stores like Target and Whole Foods. Not so sure about the really cold weather either at my age.
I am sitting and laughing at that. If you never plant you will never harvest either!!! Better get crackin' on that orchard!
This is my time for hanging up office clothes for garden clothes. I've been working part time at home for 3 years and more and more I'm growing enough to not NEED to do the office work. My goal is to gain enough self-sufficiency to not even have to think about office clothes ever again!!
I think when we find the house with acres to live on I will have accomplished that. Anybody out there reading please send us a prayer to find our place soon! Otherwise I'm going to be living in one house and taking care of crops at another house!
Okay, this is what I found. Didn’t find him till 3 years ago but I’m hangin’ on to him!!! <<<
I am so thankful that you found Mr. Right, it is worth hanging on with both hands.
Scott had a good marriage, but his wife died 3+ years ago, from Cancer.
So I pray that he will be able to do it again.
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