Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? [Survival Today - an On going Thread #2]

May 05th,2008

[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

[nw_arizona_granny]

SALMONELLOSIS, SEROTYPE TYPHIMURIUM - USA (11): PEANUT BUTTER
*************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

In this update:
[1] CDC: updated statistics
[2] timeline of events
[3] FDA recalls

******
[1] CDC: Updated statistics
Date: Mon 9 Feb 2009
Source: CDC [edited]
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/update.html

As of 9PM EDT, Sun 8 Feb 2009, 600 persons infected with the outbreak
strain of _Salmonella_ Typhimurium have been reported from 44 states. The
number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2),
Arizona (13), Arkansas (6), California (74), Colorado (15), Connecticut
(10), Florida (1), Georgia (6), Hawaii (4), Idaho (15), Illinois (6),
Indiana (9), Iowa (3), Kansas (2), Kentucky (3), Maine (4), Maryland (8),
Massachusetts (48), Michigan (35), Minnesota (39), Missouri (12),
Mississippi (7), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (12), New Jersey (23), New
York (22), Nevada (6), North Carolina (6), North Dakota (13), Ohio (80),
Oklahoma (3), Oregon (12), Pennsylvania (17), Rhode Island (4), South
Dakota (4), Tennessee (12), Texas (7), Utah (5), Vermont (4), Virginia
(21), Washington (18), West Virginia (2), Wisconsin (4), and Wyoming (2).
In addition, 1 ill person was reported from Canada.

Among the persons with confirmed, reported dates available, illnesses began
between 1 Sep 2008 and 23 Jan 2009. Patients range in age from less than 1
to 98 years. The median age of patients is 16 years, which means that half
of ill persons are younger than 16 years. 21 per cent are aged less than 5
years, 15 per cent are less than 59 years. 48 per cent of patients are
female. Among persons with available information, 23 per cent reported
being hospitalized. Infection may have contributed to 8 deaths: Idaho (1),
Minnesota (3), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), and Virginia (2).

—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org

[Since ProMED-mail’s last posting on this still growing outbreak of
salmonellosis on 3 Feb 2009, there have been 50 new cases linked to the
epidemic strain and cases have been found beginning symptoms a week later.
- Mod.LL]

******
[2] Timeline of events
Date: Mon 9 Feb 2009
Source: Associated Press [edited]
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gQYuCheM8PNFc_4o2Opa_qnDdoMgD967VB080

A timeline of important events in the salmonella outbreak linked to tainted
peanuts at a Blakely, GA, plant.

- 2006: 4 inspections by the Georgia Department of Agriculture cite
numerous, repeated violations at the Blakely, GA, plant of the Peanut Corp.
of America (PCA), a peanut processing company and maker of peanut butter
for bulk distribution to institutions, food service industries, and private
label food companies. The violations include food residue buildup, storage
on floors and the improper use of duct tape.

[continued, lots of dates and information, but Freeper says must not post...granny]

—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org

******
[3] FDA recalls
Date: Mon 9 Feb 2009
Source: FDA [edited]
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

[Currently 1844 products are on the list and can be found at the above URL
which is updated frequently. - Mod.LL]

[azishot]

Thanks, granny. Many years ago my dad made one of those “wire stars” that he shaped from a coat hanger. I only had to use it on the one burner that never got low enough and always burned food.

Maybe someday I’ll muster up some courage and try that.

[azishot]

I try to restrain myself and so far have done a pretty good job.

I really am a “news junkie,” though. Can’t help it. I should make one of “dammit dolls!” That might help.

[azishot]

Good thinking. That’s why I’m so glad to have found this thread. But I’m a glutton for punishment and will see what’s happening “out there.”

[WestCoastGal]

“I have a new leak at the head of the bed, almost and my sleeping bag was wet,”

Sending prayers. I have prayed today anyway knowing you were cold last night. Wet is much worse than cold for causing hypothermia so take care of yourself. Do you think at some point that Bob can fix this leak for you? And will you stay dry tonight?>>>>>>

I too worry about you granny every day. If only we could help dang it. I will pray again as usual.

[WestCoastGal]

Thank you, that drawing really shows the help that trees can provide.

[azishot]

We have a fifth wheel and try to get out of here in mid June. Our son, his wife and two of the most beautiful (I’m not biased) grandchildren live in Albany, Oregon and we go up there for at least two months. We stay in an RV park that doesn’t allow open fires. Any other travel is usually to see other friends and/or family and we’ll stay at a FlyingJ, etc. until we arrive where we check into another park.

Somewhere along the way, someone told my husband about a site called RV.net. They have a section called “camp cooks.”

They talk about using dutch ovens, pie irons, etc. Wish I had the opportunity to use one. :(

[Wneighbor]

Wonderful, sprouting tomato seeds, proves that spring will come.

I am stepping lighter and having more of a smile since I found those!

And wishing you had a share of the warmth here. Thinking of you often today which makes me think I should send a prayer each time. I hate cold.

[Wneighbor]

Don’t you wish we all lived on one gigantic piece of land with our gardens and stuff. :)

YES! (hidden away from the nosey do-nothing types)

[Wneighbor]

Although, I think of the pioneer women and they really had it tough.

Only about 8 miles from where I sit is the little patch of land that my great great grandparents farmed from about 1849 and on. It's very rocky and nothing grows there now except scrub cedar. And I think of them raising 11 kids there and feeding them! It makes me feel really lazy and inept. Although I know that by today's standards I am neither.

[DelaWhere]

Hey, I can relate to the ‘news junkie’ part!

Way back when I was in college I had a shortwave radio in my dorm room. Had to know what was going on all around the world. (even had a cleaning lady turn me in as a possible spy because she heard foreign sounding things on my short wave...)

Then in the Army, I was in Communications Intelligence. Motto: “The First To Know!”

So from an early age, it was always what’s happening, where, who, how, etc. Even on the computer, I have my homepage as my own Drudge Report type page with all the links to what’s going on, and have FR in one screen and news in another and in the corner I have a TV window going... Gotta know... Then my son-in-law who got back from Iraq in September now works full time at the National Guard Emergency Operations Coordinating Center. And my wife works in telecommunications at the local hospital... So, I have lots of connections... Oh, and even have a crank short wave emergency radio along with AM/FM(grin)

I think the news junkie fits here too.

[gardengirl]

Sounds like a lot of fun!

Not biased either, but I happen to have the cutest grandson in the world! LOL

[Wneighbor]

So join the free cycle groups, with the work address.

We are self-employed so that won't work. Current client that Lloyd has would not think too much of the idea and if he gave the address it would be pretty obvious as it is in an industrial park.

As I told WCG, he did find me an alternative to freecycle. Sounded like the same kind of thing. But, ... I forgot what he said it was.

Really I used to could remember things!

[Wneighbor]

My mind went on “tilt” a few weeks before the election.

Now I think about surviving the disasters.

I'm not sure what it says about us, but thinking about surviving disasters is a much more upbeat thing to me.

[gardengirl]

Take care, Granny, and stay warm. Wish I could help. :(

[Wneighbor]

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.

I know someone already. A guy I went to third grade with took over his family business of bees. He's 3rd generation at it. I have wanted bees since that kid's dad came and talked to our 3rd grade class about beekeeping! I just gotta get that land to put them on!!!! That's all that's holdin' me up!

[Wneighbor]

I had 80 acres on Rte 66, north of Ed’s Camp, near Oatman.

That sounds like paradise! I too want no one to be able to find my entrance unless I tell 'em.

[Red_Devil 232]

This is my mother's recipe copied just as she wrote it for me.

Raised Potato Doughnuts

 

2 pkgs. Dry Yeast                                                                     1 tsp. Salt

½ Cup Warm Water                                                                 1 Cup Warm Mashed Potatoes

½ Cup Scalded Milk (cool)                                                       3 or 4 Eggs

2/3 Cup Crisco                                                                          6 ½ Cups Flour (approx)

2/3 Cup Sugar

Mix yeast in warm water, set aside. Cream sugar and Crisco. Add unbeaten eggs, warm potatoes, and yeast w/water. Add part of the flour, milk, salt and use hands to mix thoroughly then add rest and mix it in. Turn out on a board and continue to knead for about 5 min.

Grease a large bowl, place dough in and let rise ½ way. Punch down the dough and cover the top of bowl, use plastic or similar so it will be airtight. Store in the refrigerator over-night or at least 8 hours. You must open and punch the dough down several times, before it finally cools down.

Four thirty doughnuts take about ½ of dough. Keep rest stored as before, can be kept this way for a week. Warm dough to room temperature. Knead, till bubbles appear, use flour sparingly while kneading.  Roll out to about ¼ inch thick. Cut with doughnut cutter. Place cut doughnuts on wax paper and let rise, about double in size.

Fry in deep fryer 2-4 min. at 375 degrees. Turn them over about half way thru. Use Crisco in the deep fryer it makes a difference in your doughnuts.

 

GLAZE

2 Cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

About ¼ cup boiling water.

Add hot water to sugar and vanilla while stirring – add the water a little at a time (the glaze must be thick as the hot doughnuts will thin it out).

As you remove the doughnuts from the fryer lay them in the glaze and turn over in glaze and then drain over a pan so you can scrape the dripped glaze back into the bowl.

This is Basic Dough for any type of snail, butterhorn, cinnamon rolls, etc.  Also dinner rolls, the use of 4 eggs makes for nicer dough, for rolls or snails 3 eggs are ok.

[azishot]

Wow! You’ve got alot going on! I have FR, Fox News, Rush, Hannity and J. D. Hayworth. (Wish he was still in Congress...on local radio here)

God bless your son-in-law. Our son was a Marine Reservist and was activated during the Gulf War. I was a basket case until he came back.

Never read newspapers except to cut out the coupons on Sunday and look at the ads.

[gardengirl]

See? Whad I tell you? Low calorie! LOL

Sounds yummy! Sure your mom didn’t work for Krispy Kreme?

I think I’ll make a half recipe and try some cinnamon/dinner rolls. Thanks!

This sounds like a refrigerator yeast roll recipe I used to have/make.