Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)
Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.
To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.
The Frugal Roundup
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)
Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)
Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)
Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)
40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)
Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)
5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)
A Few Others I Enjoyed
* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance
>>>“Such blatant waste just to appease Big Brother.”
Makes me absolutely heartsick... :(<<<
Well, here we go......
Just received card from our County Ag. Extension Office -
Produce Food Safety Training Session Schedule....
To satisfy wholesale buyer requirements, for those expecting to go through an audit, to develop your food safety plan -
Wholesale growers must attend 6 hour training to be certified.
Smaller growers that do not market wholesale need only a 3 hour training - like farmer’s market sellers, roadside marketing, etc.
The control begins..... (What happened to the small farm exemption the Dems touted? - Oh, that’s right, you have to qualify to prove you are exempt.)
Bump & Bookmark!
you know i think they really are trying to make us need them to make it
we do not
By whatever means, they are trying to make us DEPENDENT on them. One example of the lengths they will go to deceive in order to lull people into a stupor instead of preparing is:
" The USDA forecasts a 2 percent to 3 percent hike in the cost of all foods in 2011. Higher corn and soybean prices are the main force behind the increase. Remember, farm animals have to be fed and when those costs go up, so does what you pay. Expect a big spike in the dairy case and meat counter, where pork alone is forecast to rise between 3 percent and 4 percent."
This is one I think is absolutely nutz. We are going to see at least 30% increases overall. Or, more correctly, we are going to see at least 30% inflation. Probably much more on food (which they eliminate from the CPI).
What alternative universe do these people live in? (really, I hate to suggest conspiracy) Corn that we were burning in pellet stoves two years ago because it was about $2 a bushel now goes for more than $7 - soybeans have more than doubled. Mandates are trying to double the amount of corn alcohol added to gasoline.(now what to you think that does to price?) Nations around the world are in a panic over grain shortages, stockpiles of grains are shrinking below levels of 30 years ago while population is 40% greater than it was then.
My suggestion - grow all the food you can - preserve it - use it regularly - prepare to do it again! Don't worry if you save too much - there may be lots of hungry people to help you keep it from going to waste.
I don't think you will be sorry.
No. We do not! :)
I’m so glad I’ve lived simply for such a very long time; I know I can outlast all them City Slickers. :)
Just the fact that I have no problem shooting ‘something for dinner’ will serve me well in the long run, LOL!
anyone know anything about granny she doing ok
Heard ‘dem city slickers taste awfull bitter...
(sorry, couldn’t resist that) ;)
You need a very slow oven (200 degrees) and a lot of onions and cream soup and all day to cook ‘em to make them the LEAST bit edible, LOL!
LOL, At least they are plentiful...
What is so urgent that FEMA is spending a billion dollars on survival
February 22, 2011 | 05:33 PM
From Off the Grid News Letter
“It really is a small world ... especially in the preparedness and survival industries. With a community that prides itself on staying informed, you can’t really keep things secret for long. So it’s no surprise that we were among the first to get wind of some very unsettling news. In fact, it was so disturbing that we felt it was only right to share with you what we’ve learned.
One of the nation’s largest suppliers of dehydrated food has cut loose 99% of their dealers and distributors. And it’s not because of the poor economy. It’s because this particular industry leader can no longer supply their regular distribution channels. Why not? Because they’re using every bit of manufacturing capacity they have to fulfill massive new government contracts. Look, the government has always been a customer of the industry to some extent. But according to our sources, this latest development doesn’t represent simply a change of vendor on the government’s part. It’s a whole new magnitude of business.
And that’s not all.
Apparently, even though they’ve cut off their regular consumer markets, the industry leader I’ve just mentioned still can’t produce enough survival food to meet the government’s vast requirements. How do we know? Earlier this month, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) put out a Request for Proposal, or RFP, for even more dehydrated food. The RFP called for a 10-day supply of meals - for 14 million people. That’s 420 million meals. Typically, FEMA maintains a stockpile of about 6 million meals. Why the sudden need to increase the stockpile by 420 million more? (And that’s in addition to whatever our aforementioned industry leader is supplying.) It almost seems like they’re trying to stock a modern day “Noah’s Ark,” doesn’t it?
By the way, just days after the RFP went online, it suddenly went “poof” ... vanished. Could it be that some high level official suddenly realized he was letting the cat out of the bag? That people aren’t stupid, and would recognize the implications of 420 million emergency meals? Has the government removed the RFP from the public process and approached potential suppliers privately instead? We may never know.
But here’s what we do know. This kind of spending by a minor government agency in this economy just doesn’t make sense ... unless there are extraordinary circumstances behind it, circumstances we aren’t privy to. Because Congress has failed to pass a budget, the government is now operating under what’s called a continuing resolution. The practical effect of this continuing resolution is that the government stays in business, but all extras are curtailed. Agencies spend far less on travel and training expenses, for instance. And they certainly don’t start stockpiling supplies.
In this economic climate, you would expect FEMA also to be minimizing expenses. But clearly, they’re not. If you do the math, the approximate tab for 420 million meals comes to about a billion dollars.
What is so urgent that FEMA is spending a billion dollars on survival food?
Could officials be worried about extensive power grid damage from solar flares? (A big one hit last week and took out communications in China.) Are they worried about riots and demonstrations causing gridlock in communities? (The demonstrations in Wisconsin and Ohio have been peaceful so far ... but look what happened in Egypt.) Are they worried about terrorist attacks? (Some reports say that there’s been more “chatter” lately on terrorist communication networks.)
But here’s the most important question. No matter what it is - are you ready for it?
Are the cans of soup and the extra jar of peanut butter in your pantry going to be enough? How long will it last you? Because let’s face it, in a true emergency, forget about finding what you need at the store. You know what it’s like when there’s even a moderate snowstorm in the forecast - no bottled water, no toilet paper, no bread to be found anywhere. The shelves are stripped bare in hours. Most people simply don’t realize how fragile the food distribution system is in this country. In order to squeeze out every penny of profits, most stores now use just-in-time inventory systems, which leave no margin for error. Any kind of natural or manmade catastrophe would cut supply lines to the stores and leave millions of people with no way of getting food. And it could be anything. Power outages. Riots. A terrorist attack. Flooding. Blizzards. Hurricanes.
If you’ve never gotten around to buying an emergency food supply,
now is the time.”
Frances
Source: Editorial: World Bank predicts a major food crisis in the coming months
http://www.beaufortobserver.net/1FeedbackAllbody.lasso?-token.specificitem=21535.112112
Just a brief note to let everyone know that our Granny is facing extreme health issues. She spends very little time at her computer these days. Please pray that her days will be full of peace and free of pain. What a blessing she has been to us all.
If you wish to post a prayer or thought on this thread, I will copy them and mail them to her.
Just a brief note to let everyone know that our Granny is facing extreme health issues. She spends very little time at her computer these days. Please pray that her days will be full of peace and free of pain. What a blessing she has been to us all.
If you wish to post a prayer or thought on this thread, I will copy them and mail them to her. (betsyross60)
I’m praying for Ruth in Jesus’ Holy Name.
Amen.
Thank you for pinging me.
Here’s my note and prayer -
Ruth - you are in my thoughts and prayers; thank you so much for what you’ve given, to so many here.
I pray that every day you increasingly feel the loving arms of the Lord holding you tight, and His love and mercy surrounding you. His love and protection never fail and I pray that you experience this always.
Love,
little jeremiah
Dear Granny, may God’s merciful light and healing
comfort, embrace you and give you His abundant peace.
Thank you so much for all you’ve done and given here.
Your fans are so numerous, and we’re so appreciative
of all your wisdom and kindness.
The way I make the soap is I freeze most of the distilled water into ice cubes. I put the cubes in a glass bowl with just a little liquid water that was not frozen.
When the lye (poured slowly) hits the ice cubes the heat melts the cubes into water. As a result, the lye water is fairly cool when you mix it with the melted lard. Try to keep both ingredients as cool as possible to cause a quicker set up of the fat.
After I mix the lye water and lard in an enamel pan I take the mix and place it in a chest type freezer. With a glove and covered arm I use a long shim (purchased at a lumber yard)to stir the mix as a wood spoon has a tendency to break.
The cold in the freezer causes the lard and water to set up quicker. You may have to change hands as it does get cold with the lid open.
What you said, lj.....
“Thank you for pinging me.
Here’s my note and prayer -
Ruth - you are in my thoughts and prayers; thank you so much for what you’ve given, to so many here.
I pray that every day you increasingly feel the loving arms of the Lord holding you tight, and His love and mercy surrounding you. His love and protection never fail and I pray that you experience this always.
Love,
little jeremiah”
AMEN!!!!!
It’s really weird. I’ve felt very prompted to pray for her recently and was wondering why and how she was doing.
I will continue to pray.
May God grant you peace, Ruth. You have been such a blessing to so many here on FR.
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