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
When these go, I dont know if I can stand to get another, but I don;t know if I can live without a dog.<<<
As long as you can take care of a dog, then you should own one.
I don’t have any animals in the house now, as I can’t bend over to clean up when there is something that needs cleaned up.
Happy Valentines Day to you and your loved ones, sleep well.
This snow today was pretty handy. It fell, made the place look pretty, then it melted off the roads. Now it’s up on the hills where it belongs and won’t bother anyone, hopefully it will seep into the aquifer and let the farmers make peaches out of it next summer.
The pictures are of our mobile which is in a mobile home park. The house is pretty old but hey it’s paid for. So we enjoy it a lot. It’s just 30 miles from Fresno, California.
You see, the income from the middle class is not enough to function as middle class any more. Some from the top class fall to middle class, but the vast majority of the middle class turns into poor Said the teacher.<<<
Welcome to the thread.
Above is what has been happening to us for several years.
We are following Argentina in so many ways, it is as if they were using the same plan.
I suspect that Chavez is also using the same plan in Venezuela.
That story is what got me turned on to FerFAL’s blog:
Lots of good reading over there.
Umm, err, ahh... Yes, if I had a goat I would talk to her all the time. I’ve always wanted to have one, too.
I have a picture of my husband’s grandmother in a goat cart, taken in the 1920s. I’ll post it later.
BREAKING NEWS: Rancho HS Cancels Game Due To Fight
Rancho High School officials have canceled Friday nights boys basketball game
due to a lunchtime fight in the school cafeteria, according to the Las Vegas
Review-Journal.
MORE DETAILS: http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5EzklVk1v.html
snipped from article:
There were no injuries, but two to four students were charged in relation to fighting and causing a disturbance, Clark County School District police said.
The cause of the fight was not yet known, the paper said.
A large police presence was on hand for school dismissal as a safety precaution, Police Capt. Jim Ketsaa said.
[This is Las Vegas]
The Alaska Air jet that crashed in the Pacific in the 1990s had jack screws made in China. The bean counters want to save money, or perhaps something more sinister is going on.
Never thought about salt<<<<<
Granny, salt is what the Romans used to subdue their enemies by killing their food supply. Long term damage.
While I have never tried vinegar, I do occasionally use Roundup. Much as I hate Monsanto, that product does deteriorate fairly rapidly into inert natural products (about 2 weeks) and you can then plant anything you want.
We’re pretty close to Apache Junction. Can see Superstition Mountain. I was so excited to see snow on it the other day. Of course, it had melted by the afternoon.
The area has changed over the last 20 years. So built up...tons of homes and shopping centers and malls. It’s not the “cowboy” area that I remember. Too many snowbirds in the winter.
Progress right? I guess everyone is looking for Utopia. I just go with the flow!
Made a run today to our nearest Amish country Bulk Food Store...(Actually run by Mennonites)
If you don’t think that people starting to prepare, better guess again.
Their parking lot was full - had to wait for someone to leave so we could park. Inside the store people were buying larger quantities of staples to where many of the larger packaged items were out of stock. They had more employees stocking the shelves than they usually had running the whole store. This store usually only has 1 or at most 2 cashiers- today they were using all 6 of their registers running full tilt and they had added baggers to each line to keep them moving faster. Even with that, the lines were 5 to 6 deep waiting to check out.
Fortunately, I was able to get everything I needed - 2# yeast, 2 large butter tub size packages of Bay Leaves, Sesame seeds for bread topping, large bag of shelled pecans. Just under $20. It sure is nice to have preparations far enough along to only need a few basic items from time to time to replenish stock.
The success of a preparedness stockpile is to be using it regularly and managing it. As an example, I still have 2 half pint jars of yeast, but I try to keep a supply for a minimum of 6 months (only because I know I can culture more yeast if needed for a longer need).
Bay Leaves are an absolute necessity for long term grain/flour/rice/pasta storage to control insects. See Granny’s info earlier.
Anyway, just wanted to remind people that others are seriously preparing and to remind you that MRE’s are nice for short term - high energy food, but a steady diet of MRE’s while possible, is not conducive to the feeling of well-being that you have when you are able to vary your diet, including the comfort foods, high nutrition foods, and treats that add the normalcy to your everyday life. Daily eating from your stockpile and replenishing routinely can provide the security you need with the normality you want.
Much of the airplane maintenance is done in other countries.
***Can you believe it! I read about that a while ago and my mouth dropped.
The porkulus bill passed the Senate just now. Get your supplies in order now!!
Oh, NO!! I can’t believe The Three Stooges actually did this to us. I was away from the computer and tv for one lousy hour and come back to find this.
Thanks, TAC...I’m glad I at least found out about this from a friend.
Guess I’ll be spending more time on this thread.
Thank you, TAC, for the ping! This is GREAT!!!
If you’re interested in good food at a reasonable price check out Walton Feed. Granny swears by their quality. You can download their catalog in spreadsheet format.
I am rejoicing as well.
My sister in law lives over in Gold Canyon Ranch. I like that part of the valley. I do miss the desert sometimes.
Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out tomorrow.
Don’t mind me. I’m having my own little pity party. Except this one involves the country and that’s alot to take in.
Good night, TAC.
One of the Republicans defected back to the R side, but two still managed to betray us. My guess is Specter and Snowe.
Yes. Take heart, God is in control. Talk tomorrow!
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