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
More freezing weather on the way to you, Calif. is expecting a 1500’ snow level, so I will get far more this time.
Sounds like Florida has a real problem with gores global warming.......meant as a joke.
When Florida freezes and Calif is out of water, we get imported foods with only God knows what diseases on them.
I’m sorry it took so long to get back to you and thank you for your warm welcome. I was on the thread about the plane crash for a long time last night.
When I checked my “pings” this A.M. I overlooked yours and just found it!
I wish I had more time to devote to reading this thread. I’m kind of a “drive by” poster on the news stuff. Such a wealth of info here! I joked with granny that I’m going to have to buy more paper because I find myself printing so much.
Thanks again..see ya soon.
I have had a greenhouse for quite a few years (but not the last couple) Insects are not a huge problem (unless you have an infestation and don’t treat it. It can get out of hand very quickly.
Those yellow insect sticky pads work great to help you monitor insect types and levels in your greenhouse.
Not only do the greenhouses provide optimal conditions for the insects propagation, but it does help with the treatment too, because whatever you use to treat them is more effective as you can control air circulation, moisture and maintain insecticide levels much more easily.
Probably the most common problems will be with aphids or maybe white fly.
I have found that the much milder more natural things like Safer Soap or even Fells Naptha soap well sprayed can be as effective as harsh chemical poisons.
The following is from our local County Agents website and it is from Michigan State University. Check you Ag Agent - they can be a wealth of practical information.
Greenhouse - Insect Management
Insects can easily build up in greenhouses due to the perfect growth environment. The following are some thoughts on managing insects in greenhouse production.
Starting clean
Do not carry-over insects from one crop to another. Keep thrips numbers down to less than 10 per card per week in the fall and winter on poinsettias and Dracaena. Avoid keeping houseplants or allowing weeds to grow in the greenhouse. When each batch of media arrives for a new crop, check it for fungus gnats by filling a 1 gallon ziplock bag half full with moist soil. If fungus gnat adults emerge within 2 weeks, consider applying a fungus gnat treatment at planting time. Check incoming plant material carefully for insects.
Scouting
Monitor thrips and whiteflies with yellow sticky cards. Change cards once per week. Use at least one card per house or one per 2,000 sq ft. Check the first plants that flower for thrips. For spider mites and aphids, check susceptible plants like marigolds (mites) and peppers (aphids), weekly. Potato wedges can be stuck in soil and checked 24 hours later for fungus gnat larvae. Systemic insecticidesUse Marathon, Tristar, Flagship, Safari or Aria in poinsettia pots, lily pots or in hanging baskets prone to problems with whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs or soft scales. Note: Aria does not work on silverleaf whitefly.
Preventing outbreaks
If yellow sticky cards or scouting indicates an increase in aphids, mites, thrips, fungus gnats or whiteflies, apply the following materials once per week until populations decrease to acceptable levels.
Thrips - Avid, Conserve, Mesurol, Orthene 97, Safari, Sanmite, Tristar.
Aphids - Aria, BotaniGard, Decathlon, Discus, Endeavor, Flagship, Marathon, Orthene 97, Precision, Safari, Talstar, Tristar.
Whiteflies - Azatin, BotaniGard, Decathlon, Distance, Endeavor, Enstar, Flagship, Marathon, Ornazin, Orthene 97, Precision, Safari, Sanmite, Talus, Judo, Tame, Tristar (Note: Q biotype may be resistant to Marathon, Flagship, Tristar, Safari, Distance and Talus).
Mites - Akari, Avid, Floramite, Hexygon, Judo, Ovation, Pylon, Sanmite, Shuttle, Tetrasan, Ultiflora.
Broad mites - Avid, Akari, Judo, Pylon, SanMite.
Fungus gnat (drenches) - Azatin XL, Adept (not on poinsettias), Distance, Marathon (perhaps other nicotinoids; not yet tested), Mesurol.
Mealybugs/ Soft scales - Aria, Flagship, Orthene, Safari, Talus and Tristar.
From the article “Greenhouse insect management” by Dave Smitley, MSU Entomologist, in the January 19, 2007 edition of the Greenhouse Alert newsletter from Michigan State University Extension
Re: post 985
And Lockwood said it would be easy for an ecoterrorist to introduce the disease into the US with $100 worth of supplies, simple instructions and a plane ticket.<<<
In 1998 or 99, I picked up a shortwave program on the shortwave and it told in detail how to make disease in your kitchen and even transport it on a plane in a vial tucked in your bra.
The instructions were simply enough for me to understand and I do not have any training in science or lab work.
I also, on the same station, learned how to take down electric high tension towers and to toss branches onto electric lines so they will break and it will look like an “Act of God”.
And then the station disappeared and I never found it again.
So when you think of me as a conspiracy nut, think again, the years have given me many bits of information, but not enough to make me an expert in any thing...
granny
Did I say welcome? You are welcome to the thread.
I am pleased to see so many new Freepers reading this thread and all are welcome to join in.
It looks like we all need to learn a lot and in a hurry.
Could you tell me if you get a lot of bugs in the greenhouse?<<<
You may get a lot of bugs, if they have a way to get in.
Find lizards, toads and Praying Mantis and put them in there, and most of the others will wash off with a strong stream of water.
Plant things the bugs don’t like, peppermint, garlic, marigolds etc and it will help keep them away.
Tomato worms will eat a Datura plant, before they eat the tomatoes.
Hi, granny!
I swear I don’t know where my head is today...I was just apologizing to TenthAmendmentChampion for taking so long to reply and here I am in the same situation again.
I was on the thread about the plane crash ‘til very late last night and just flat out overlooked you guys. It makes me feel badly because everyone has been extra nice and helpful.
While I’ve got your attention I’ve got a question. We’re on 1 1/2 acres. Most of the backyard we left with natural vegetation (saguaros, Palo verde trees, etc.) Because of all the rain we’ve had over the past few months we have a bumper crop of what I was told is “saw grass.” It looks beautiful now, all green and lush, but as soon as it starts to warm up it dries up to a crispy brown mess. Sticks to your socks and won’t come off.
I’ve been working a few hours a day with a “scraper thing” to try to remove it but was wondering if there’s ANYTHING to prevent it from sprouting again? This is back breaking not to mention a fire hazard during the summer.
Hope you’re doing okay. Have you had the leak fixed yet?
Take care.
Your cat stories were funny! I’m more of a dog and horse person, but I have “talked” to a few cats. LOL<<<
Oh, I talk to horses and dogs too.
People ask me how I get my good dogs, it is simple talk to them and you will find the right one.
More than once, I have gone to the Humane society and talked to the dogs and came away without one or found the right one.
I am not into fancy training of dogs, so a dog must understand what I say to it and respond.
One of my favorite dogs, was Grandpa Ira’s miniature poodle.
Bear dog would keep the other cows and steers/bulls back and away from Ira, while he milked, one hoof and Bear would have been a grease spot.
Or the chickens got in my garden and were doing damage, we were on the other side of the mobile, from the garden and sitting in the patio, I told Grandpa and he calmly said to Bear,
“Bear dog, those chickens are bothering me and they need to be in their house, not my garden.”
Bear dog made short work of getting them out of the garden.
Ira said that his grandkids were teaching Bear to sic um, and he did not want Bear being sicced on anything or other person, so he taught him the “they are bothering me”.
The best part, was when I found a Bear Skin in the local dump and drug it home, it got nailed to the over hang of the patio and Ira told everyone “See the bear that my Bear Dog killed, that is how he got his name....”
still makes me smile, seeing the town folks who bought the bear story.
You are welcome and I know you won’t have time to get in trouble, if you are reading thread #1.
I am laughing.
It was beyond my understanding how to make an index for such a massive document a useful tool.<<<
Now you know why there is no index for it.
Did you post and will you post the download links on thread #1?
I thank you for all the work that you did to capture it.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with cast iron. So many here have told me that they’ve used cast iron on ceramic cooktops on a lower heat without any problems.
I’m working up the courage ‘cause I’m scared to death I’ll scratch it. We have one of those “open kitchens” that everyone can see from all the other rooms. It’s nice but if it was a separate room I wouldn’t mind as much.
Maybe I’ll just start off with fried eggs and work up to something more exotic! Will let you know.
While you are at the library, also ask them to order a copy of
“Gold on the Desert” by Smith.
This is the story of the Betty Lee Mine, out of Wellton, Az and it is all true.
My friend Mary’s husband Jay did some Cat work there at the end of the depression and I have his ledger for the work.
We took Mary and her daughter and others there for Christmas dinner/picnic, complete with turkey, in 1975.
It was a good thing that 2 of them were nurses, as Bill and the guys went up the mountain to the jewelry grade ore and Bill managed to get a piece of his rock hammer in his chest, which stayed there for another 20 years.
Another book that I love, is Golden Mirages, published about 1942 and was written by Bailey, if I have the authors name correct.
It is a fantastic book of the old treasure stories that he investigated and had real knowledge of, in the Calif/Arizona border area and San Diego County.
I am allowed to use the above 3 books when writing historical articles as reference books.
We lost a dog just before Thanksgiving. Stupid dog! Laughing as I say it. We had him for 11 years. Chihuahua. ONe of the meanest, nastiest, most ill tempered dogs i’ve ever owned/been owned by but he was so deep in my heart. Good thing he loved me/I loved him or... He and I had such a rapport, I could look at him and think “ride” and he’d run to the door. Not only that, he’d go to the right vehicle once we got outside. Good dogs should live as long as people. It hurts too much to lose them. :) :(
Love your “Bear” story.
I’m not even going to start about how smart the goats were! LOL
I couldn't get the posts all into one big file, Word couldn't handle them all. LOL FR handles them with no problem, although it's not easy to search within that one big thread.
I'm glad you're here! I lived in Phoenix for nearly 20 years, and I miss it a lot. Although... it's awful pretty here.
Today we got snow:
I know that there is speculation of good quantities of gold in the Chocolate Mountains. Dianne Feinstein, whose husband is a mucky-muck with the Santa Fe Railroad, had the state give her husband’s company claim on the mountains in exchange for the relatively worthless Anza Borrego desert area. This was during the Clinton era, naturally.<<<
When you read Golden Mirages, you may change your mind, the canyon, where the prospector goes to wait for the mirage of the ship, is 3 to 5 miles off of I-8 at Coyote wells, near Ocotillo, Calif.
Coyote Wells/Painted Gorge is where I bought my first 10 acres of desert land.
West of Ocotillo, in the foothills of the mountain range that I-8 is going through, there is a cave of guns, still in glassine, that when first found, had a Chinaman guarding it.
They are part of the Pancho Villa stash and a Rancher from the top of the mountain found the cave, while attempting to locate his horses that Pancho Villa stole, he brought back one of the guns.
When you see the giant boulders there, you will understand why we never found the cave.
It was so bad and rough, that for the wagon trains to continue on to Calif. coming from Yuma, they had to take the wagons apart and pull them by rope up the sheer cliffs.
LOL, wonderful stories [history] in the west.
We are at about 1200 feet and we got a little dusting of snow. It’s still snowy on the hills. I hope we keep it all here instead of letting it escape to Arizona. We need it sooo much!
(Mediterranean Dressing does not need to be made separately.) Research shows that carotenoids found in foods are best absorbed when consumed with oils.
Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.<<<
Interesting to learn and I would like the dish.
Thank you for the link and the excellent article on swiss chard.
Granny talks to goats too, and they talk to her. Just ask her.
Remember the "volunteer" tomato? I planted ten yesterday and left the other seed out. I couldn't find them this morning when I looked. I searched the kitchen (my daughter had cleaned up). After about an hour, I started on the garbage. Sure enough, there was the envelope, in the very bottom, but only about 25 seeds - about 75 were gone. By that time, I was relieved to have found any.
But it doesn't end there. I pulled them out of the now wet envelope and put them on a plastic lid to dry - and debated on just planting them tonight. A few minutes later I went into the kitchen, and they were gone. The plastic lid was about 8 feet away, on the spagetti, no seeds. I saw one seed on the countertop, and got it. Then I got the bifocals and flashlight. I ended up finding about 17 or 18, and immediately secured them! Whew, what a day!
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