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
Hello, glad you plan to come and read, please join in, it is a wonderful group of Freepers.
So join the free cycle groups, with the work address.
You are welcome, I will watch for more info.
At leaast while I’m reading here it takes my mind off the political stuff that just raises my blood pressure.<<<
My mind went on “tilt” a few weeks before the election.
Now I think about surviving the disasters.
A well placed fast growing windbreak can reduce the wind effect to 1/3 of the open space wind speed.
I also grow hybrid willow and hybrid poplars. They grow 6 to 8 feet a year and will make firewood in less than 8 years.
Sometime I will have to post some pictures of the difference in growth rates - white pine vs hybrid willows.
I think we have a bee raiser on this thread, I haven’t tried to raise them, intended to do so, some day.
See if you can find a local bee grower, they will often sell honey to you by the gallon, at a fraction of the cost.
They say local honey helps folks with allergies to get over them.
In other breads you can also add milk or buttermilk both need to be scalded first (heat just below boiling) this kills enzymes in the milk that reduce yeast activity. Scald even pasturized milk.
When using buttermilk do not use more of it than half the liquid called for in the recipe. Makes the bread tender with a finer texture, helps the bread last longer and adds a nice taste.
You can add up to 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes per loaf. Makes the bread lighter and gives a finer texture.
I had 80 acres on Rte 66, north of Ed’s Camp, near Oatman.
It was wonderful, not flat land, rock mountains, and no neighbors for almost a mile.
There was only one place you could see it from the road.
Many people who thought it would be a good idea to visit me at home the one day I wasn’t in the office, couldn’t find my entry point....I had to tell you exactly where to turn.
It was wonderful while it lasted for about 10 years, I had a 12 x 60’ greenhouse built on and fantastic roses, a self seeding bed of New Zealand spinach and whatever else I grew.
Fruiting mulberry trees in the front.
Rattlesnakes by the dozen and wild burros.
And then I got sick and had to sell it.
Bob may be able to fix the leak over the bed, no one has ever been able to fix the one in the bathroom.
I am so sick of leaks.
You can add up to 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes per loaf. Makes the bread lighter and gives a finer texture. <<<
Thank you, I planned on trying the potatoes in a loaf, but had no idea what the reason was.
Good ideas you have and I thank you for sharing them, I am still learning or re-learning, as when you don’t talk to people about things, you forget them.
Granny, did those pictures work OK for you? Not too large?
Our nubian goat was Callie - she was a calico and since it fitted with my first name, the Callie name stuck. She was impossible to keep in. We wound up letting her have her roam of the farm, but a couple of times her eating habits tested our patience. Like the three big Crape Myrtles I bought for my wife on her birthday..... Yep next morning there was nothing but nubs. Then of course you saw the strawberries. She had never even shown them any attention till that day.
Callie was also a watchdog that was better than the dogs. An intruder in the evening wouldn’t even see her coming and she would rare up on her hind legs (which made her over 6’ tall), cock her head to the side and prepare to deliver a hammering blow. Many a time we have had to ‘rescue’ people who were running around their car trying to get away from her. One kid who decided to roam around our yard was screaming for help and his first question was “she won’t bite will she” (danged stupid city kids...)
Callie early on let our three dogs know that SHE was the boss of the yard. My Great Dane, our Australian Sheepdog as well as our mixed Lucky Dog. She would rare up, then bam... roll them over about three times. After a few times of that and they didn’t want to mess with her.
It used to be funny because she used to love to tease Lucky. She particularly liked his house, and she would just go in, turn around and lie in the doorway and dare him to bother her.
Goats is FUN. Really...
Don’t see why not. It won’t taste like storebought yeast, but that’s not always a bad thing!
My cooktop is 5 years old and we live almost on the beach—lots of sand, and it gets into everything. So far, so good. I have a friend who works at the trash dump and I let him know I was looking for some cast iron pots. He found me 2 dutch ovens, one old one with three feet and the curved lid, and one brand new never been seasoned flat bottomed one. #2 son sandblasted them for me and I seasoned them. They’re both beautiful. The footed one is so heavy, if it had food in it, I’d never be able to move it. The lid—feels like—it weighs as much as a manhole cover! Those two I’ll save for camping, etc. I have a bunch of different sized skillets I use all the time.
She wrote down the recipe and directions for me. I will find it and post later.
Sorry! We’ve got voles. They tunnel right down the middle of your rows and steal the plants if they’re small enough. Otherwise they wait til potatoes, peanuts, etc are ready and eat them.
Thanks folks! Learn something new everyday!
I know about feed oats and planting them for feeding deer, not people! LOL
I can't wait to get this year's garden going. Will be focusing on heirloom varieties, I think.
I beat you on that - November 2006... I moved my wife's whole 401k to the Secure investment for her. That meant only 4.5% return per year, but it sure beats the 40%+ losses staying diversified would have returned.
Been getting ready ever since.
Sounds good!
NC is known for tasty, filling, LOW CALORIE recipes. ROTFLMAO
All’s well, Granny. How about you?
I didn’t see your new thread and just did a search on your name to find where you were posting. LOL
Sitting here waiting for a meeting to commence. Either I’m early or everyone else is late.
Did some running around the last few days with the youngest to have her post-op checks. All good on that front but she’ll be bandaged up for 6 more weeks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.