Posted on 02/10/2010 7:29:27 PM PST by Kartographer
I want people to store food not only for their sake, but for mine as well. I dont want to decide which of my kids have to go hungry when you and your unprepared kin come knocking on my door. Contrary to progressive-collectivist thinking, every individual who takes care of themselves and their families benefits society by not becoming a burden. So take responsibility now and start today. Dont expect the Feds to come by to hand you your ration of government-rationed cheese. You could be in for a long wait. Wait too long, and you may end up with a green-stained mouth from eating grass, like the poor Irish during the potato famine in the mid 1800s. Or seriously reevaluate your aversion to cannibalism. Compared to those desperate methods, dumpster diving comes off as luxury cuisine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalexpositor.com ...
Two important things.
Plants like warm feet. If you can get the soil warmed, they will do better.
Empty soda bottles (3 liter) work really well as caps. Just cut out the bottom. You plant the seedling and pop a bottle on top of it. If you feel you need the top, it is too cold to plant.
Church yard sales. Don't bother with Goodwill etc., they charge more than for brand new ones.
Bookmark
You hit upon the crux. Most folks do not want to even entertain those tough decisions. It is too painful to even comprehend, but it must be addressed.
The thing I notice is that women, who operate according to feelings and emotions moreso than men, are appalled when I proffer this exact concept; they cannot rap their brains around an actuality so horrible as this. My wife is the same way. I ran her through several scenarios similar to your scenario, then ran through them again with our (not yet in existance) children in the mix. All I succeeded in doing was to make her sad.
I’m thinking that the cold frames would help warm the soil better.
But I’m talking about starting in late April or early May. The soil is generally warm enough at that point, it’s the late frosts and freezes that are the problem.
It doesn’t sound too early for some, but would give us a month on the growing season.
You need a pressure gauge on a pressure canner for canning foods otherwise, you don’t know if you got the contents hot enough.
Looks for sales and coupons for jars as people who garage sale them often ask too much for used jars. At that point, I’d rather buy new ones.
If you get used ones, examine them carefully for nicks and chips in the rim or cracks in the jar.
Another resource you might try, is find some older grandmotherly type and ask them if they know anyone who has canning supplies. Often I’ve found that if they’re not canning themselves any more, they are more than happy to give it to someone who will use them. They would rather give them away to someone like you than throw them out. Asking around about canning supplies usually gets you somewhere.
You can also safely can fruits, applesauce, and jams and jellies using a hot water bath method, just like tomatoes.
I’ve planted tomatoes in NC in February using the soda bottles.
metmon, nina thanks for the info, guess I’ll bite the bullet and buy a real canner. thanks again.
This is central NY.
Our technical last date of frost is May 15-31.
Technically.....
We can’t even see the ground yet. In a good year, we MIGHT see some crocuses showing in late Feb.
The only thing I’ve used it for so far is pressure canning soup stock and corn.
You can pressure can meat, but I haven’t tried that yet. But if the electric ever goes out for what looks like a long time, I can pressure can the meat I have in the freezer to save it.
You need to get something that is a pressure CANNER. You can also use it to pressure cook, but can’t use a cooker to can.
Have you ever done any regular hot water bath canning?
I’d suggest trying that first to get used to it.
I’d be glad to offer any advice. I’ve been canning since I was a teen and helped my mother with it, so have it down to pretty much a science now.
Personally, I have them all, PSG, handguns, rifles and plenty of ammo for all. Then again I live right in the middle of 500 acres and don't plan on going anywhere.
I did. I read it. Very helpful.
If I may add to the base of wisdom: at the bottom of that page on survivalblog is a link that says "The Defense of Duffer's Drift". Although written in 1905, it really opened my eyes to the military concepts of cover, concealment, and preparation of the battle space. I highly recommend it.
The author goes through the same scenario 5 times, and each time he improves his defenses and more thouroughly thinks out his predicament. In the first 4 rounds, he loses (to the Boers).
Because you can put a Faraday cage around the stuff stored in the garage.
need advice from the experienced with vacuum food storage:
what are the best makes and models?
I’m looking to do storage for medium to long-term for food
I have dehydrated.
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/emp_and_faraday_cages.htm
With radio’s and smaller appliances, a Faraday cage can be built by using two cardboard boxes: one should fit tightly inside the other, and the item to be covered should itself fit reasonably well inside the smaller box. That is about the most work involved—finding the right size boxes! The outer box is then covered with aluminum foil or Mylar, as from a cheap “space blanket.” A grounding wire is then taped to the foil. I then cover the foil with black 6 mil plastic, taped securely in place, to protect the foil from ripping. At the end of the ground wire I attach a cheap small alligator clip from Radio Shack. The item to be protected is placed inside the inner box, which acts as insulation from the outer box, and any EMP hitting the foil and is bled away by the ground wire.
OK-thanks. I will check ebay for prices.
Don’t tell me, you asked the question and I answered it. I know about Faraday cages.
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