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
Welcome to the thread and you are correct.
Knowledge is the ticket.
Dr. Bill Wattenberg says that in their planning for Homeland Security, that they expect 25 million people will hit the roads and have no place to go and no supplies.
And he is right, it will be a killing fields on the freeways.
One thing that he keeps in all his cars and says should be in every office desk, for those who work in an office, is walking shoes, you may have a long walk to safety.
He likes to store also in the cars food, water and a good sleeping bag, one for every family member.
He also keeps food in his office desk, Spam, Peanut butter and those sealed oatmeal breakfast bars.
For 42 years of flying I had been making small deposits of knowledge and on that one day I had enough saved up to make a large withdrawal when needed.<<<
He is a wise man and so very right.
We do need to learn and teach.
Your post was a good one.
I don’t think the HOA will allow stacking pallets for multi level gardening here.<<<
That is why I live in my old mobile in the middle of 3 acres, I can stack if I want.
I hope your trees do produce for you, we need your well fed.
Yes, itch and smell, I remember the milo dust very well.
Now that they are on their own, I feel a lot more secure about them both knowing they *have* and can use guns. I know some gals and guys like you said that just don’t seem to have the gene. They just need to stay away from the firearms. LOL <<<
Good training for them, and you can rest easy that you did a good job.
To me guns are a tool, I want it to be ready when I need it.
Everyone should be trained for safety sake and just in case.
Yes, Texas blood does show up....LOL
I can’t hide it.
Nor my choice of words, as my California born sister said “Why are you talking in those old style words?”
She doesn’t understand Texan words.
I’m over near Chattanooga. For some reason mushroom compost is abundant here. I suppose someone is using an old coal mine for growing culinary mushrooms somewhere close by. Every garden supplier around seems to have a big pile of it. Good stuff.
So, I took a teaching post at a small college and managed through the transition from high pay to low pay with my Y2K stuff. Was great fun! <<<
Good for you, it is wonderful that you had the chance and took it.
Most folks benefited from the Y2K foods they had stored.
I still have mine, and it gives me great comfort to go down to the basement and look at it all.
I feel even better knowing that everything still has another 10 to 20 years storage life.
Cheapest insurance we ever purchased, and it was a one time cost. We are thinking of buying more, to extend our shelf-life.
http://www.littlecountryvillage.com/Cottage-Gardening/build-a-garden-solar-cooker.shtml
[Check her idea for a solar cooker at the end. granny]
From A Better Home and Garden
Cottage Gardening
How to Build an Easy Compost Pile, Play House, Solar Cooker in One!
© Copyright by Pearl Sanborn
Looking outside my kitchen window, I know that very soon it will be time to turn over the soil and plant my garden. I’m so excited to get started, because I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for about 6 months now (yes, we do have 6 months of “chilly” weather here in Ny ;).
Even though I love the process of planting a seed and watching it grow and give fruit, sometimes the process itself can be overwhelming.
Here in my area, we are fortunate enough to have our village built on stone ;) Of course our foundation will always be sound and I can have pretty little stone walls, but when it comes to digging a garden, I always welcome tips for making the process easier!
I was thinking of my grandpa, and how he used to garden using the “old ways.” I used to love it when he would show me his garden and teach me things that must have been passed down from his father.
After remembering how grandpa’s garden seemed to come together much easier, I decided to try some of his “old ways” in my garden this year! Here’s my plan for our kitchen garden.
Let me walk you through the process, so you can save time - energy - and your back this year! Find a good sunny location for your garden.
Make sure you will be able to see your new garden from your kitchen window - after all, that’s where we seem to spend most of our time ;) You also want it to be close enough to gather herbs and vegetables for your recipes.
We are going to build the garden with bales of hay. You can purchase them from local farmers for about $1.50 each. Place the bales in a square shape with a hole in the center. Each bale will be about 3ft long, so you can use as many as you wish to make the size you want. I will probably use 2 bales per side for a total of 8 bales per garden.
The center opening of this square will now become your compost pile. In this open square you can throw all your grass clippings, leaves, kitchen scraps, shredded papers, and other items that can be returned to the soil.
We will actually plant our garden on top of the bales of hay! Simply scoop out the hay to make several holes in each bale. Add some soil to the hole and plant! Because the bales are about 2ft tall, you won’t have to be down on your knees or bending over all the time! You can treat the garden as you would any other garden, but it will take much less time, energy, water, and money!
In most gardens people spend a fortune on soil amendments for a large garden plot. In our garden we will only have to worry about the little holes that each plant is planted in. This will also keep weeding down to a minimum.
At the end of each season, simply fork the hay into the center compost pile & turn it to make sure that it’s mix well. Then, in the spring you can spread this wonderful “black gold” around your flowers, or use it as the soil to fill your new plant holes.
To start your garden each year, just add new bales!
Playhouse
If you have children or grandchildren, you might like to make a secret playhouse for the little ones. To make a playhouse, don’t add compost to the center of the garden, instead leave it open - as it will become the inside of their new hideout. Make a door by removing one bale of hay where you’d like for your door to be. Stick tall branches all around the top outside rim of the bales. Be sure to push the branches deep enough so that they will not pop out during play. Tie the tops of the poles together with twine to form a tipi.
You can plant any type of vine at the base of each pole. Some options might be; beans, peas, or morning glories. As they grow up the poles, they will grow into the “roof” of the playhouse. How wonderful it would be to play under a roof of purple morning glories!
This technique could also be used to plant your veggetable plants, making it easier to gather your harvest.
Cold Frame
For those of us who live in colder climates, we need to start our seeds 4-6 weeks early so they will have enough time to mature. For us, this same hay bale square will now become our cold frame. All you need to do is put your seed trays or small plants in the center of your garden square & cover the opening with an old storm window or piece of plastic. Make sure to check the temperature throughout the day, because even if it’s cold outside, a little sunshine can bring the temperature to 95 degrees or more inside of the cold frame.
Which brings us to another use for our “square bale garden” - a solar oven!
Solar Oven
You can purchase solar blankets for $1.99 at large department stores. These blankets are made of reflective material to help keep your body heat in. Line the inside of a smaller “square hay bale garden” with this (or any) type of reflective material, and place your food inside. Cover the opening with your old storm window and cook your meals free! To learn the basics of solar cooking, google the term online.
There you have it! For a few dollars each year, you can have an easy - no digging - no weeding - back saving; garden, compost pile, play house, or solar cooker!
http://www.littlecountryvillage.com/Cottage-Gardening/Easy-Layer-Gardening.shtml
From A Better Home and Garden
Cottage Gardening
Easy Layer Gardening - No Digging!
© Copyright by Pearl Sanborn
Digging is definitely not one of my favorite garden chores, but until now it had to be done!
Layer gardening is a garden building system that calls for no digging, no tilling, no weeding, hardly any tending - no kidding! You simply layer organic matter & plant your plants!
1. One of the great advantages of this style of gardening is, you can have your garden whereever you’d like, even if there is no soil in that spot! Because we are building the soil up & not digging down into it, good soil is not an issue! You could even have your new garden on top of a bed of stone, or an old driveway if you so choose!
2. Lay down a layer of moist newspaper or cardboard. These can be found at the recycle center, behind department stores, or at curbside - all free of charge! Not only does this help to keep weeds down, but the material also helps provide organic matter as it decomposes.
3. The next step is to layer different kinds of organic materials. There is no set rule for what type of material you “have” to use - it can be almost anything you can find:
* Animal manure - Any farmer will be more than happy to let you cart off bunches of this black gold - free!
* Compost - You most likely have a pile of compost in your yard already. This is the spot you throw your kitchen scraps, leaves, sod, etc.
* Grass clippings - Almost all summer we will soon be overrun with clippings!
* Hay - When horse farmers (or any farmer for that matter) clean out the stalls, you could take this “enriched” hay to use in your garden - free.
* Leaves - again, these can be had for the taking all around town during the leaf dropping season. You can also check with your local public works dept. They will usually have lots of clippings you can take free of charge.
* Peat Moss - One of the cheapest items in the garden center.
* Sawdust - A local sawmill will have a bountiful supply, probably free for the asking. (never use pressure treated wood or sawdust in your food garden)
* Seaweed - If you live near water, gather the unsightly seaweed to feed your garden!
* Wood Ashes - Do you or a friend have a fireplace/woodstove? If so, there is probably a mound of ashes somewhere in the yard, that would welcome removal!
Layer the items as you get them, then moisten the pile. It is best to let this pile “rest” for a few weeks, turning it if you can, to keep your plant’s roots from getting “burned” by direct contact with some of the items such as ashes from your woodstove.
After a few weeks, the only thing left to do is plant your plants! To plant, simply pull back the contents to make small holes in the top of your garden & insert the plant. Then, push everything back around the rootball. If you would like to plant seeds directly into this garden, scatter some sifted soil in the area that you’d like to plant - then sow the seeds.
Throughout the season, you can continue to build up this layer garden by adding more ingredients as you come by them. It’s also a great idea to start more garden beds for next year!
Layer gardening is very contagious when you see how easy it is to grow luscious produce with such little effort! I know you won’t want to stop!
http://www.littlecountryvillage.com/Cottage-Gardening/Creative_Gardening_Ideas.shtml
From A Better Home and Garden
Cottage Gardening
Use These Creative Gardening Ideas not Your Dollars
© Copyright by Alison Proteau
On Saturday my friend and neighbor Edith and I built our cold frames. Its still kind of chilly here in NS, Canada but it has been surprisingly warm for March and April so we had some south facing areas in our gardens and yards that were workable. We used left over rough cut lumber, salvaged cedar from a friends dismantled deck, and windows from an old derelict bus to create rough looking but quite functional cold frames. We planted cold tolerant veggies for salads and now are waiting for our work to pay off. The cost was practically nil except for a pounded thumb and stretched muscles.
I started my parsley plants indoors this year rather than buying them later and I am saving a mint!! For less than $5 I have 48 parsley plants in their little cell packs in a south window propagating box (made from a card board box and tinfoil.) and they are doing great. I started the seeds themselves by soaking over night and then sowing in plain potting soil in a milk carton cut lengthwise in half. Recycled plastic spoons taped to the carton supported the large freezer bag I put the whole thing into to create a greenhouse effect. In 11 days I had sprouts like crazy and when they got their first true leaves I transplanted them into cell packs. I potted up 56 and discarded the very last few because they were scraggly. I gave 8 to Edith and kept 48 for myself and for giving away or selling at a yardsale this spring. And for less than that $5 I still have soil and cell packs left for the calendula I have coming up in that milk carton in a closet (calendula like darkness when sprouting) and the veggies I am starting soon (tomatoes, melons, cukes etc) and some flower starting. Gardening really doesn’t have to be expensive if you employ your own time and some patience!
Keep that news coming, Pearl. You are living my dream!
Sincerely, Alison
* Alison - we love your ideas! We’d also love to see pictures of all your work! This goes for you all! Anytime you have something to share that will help us live better for less, send it in!
Nah, the existing government will take care of most people if it is a real disaster like a meteor strike or major earthquake. They’ll just have to strip down to get into the facility.
Imagine the Gulf Coast if it got hit with two major hurricanes in a row like Florida sees on occaison. That would be a TSHTF situation. Two Cat 4/5’s in a month and it is lights out for a long time down there. We never considered that until Katrina and you saw what happened to those people.
Realistically, I am in good shape. We don’t have natural disasters in the Appalachian Mtns and gangs/crime is very low. We’ve even had Y2K communities spin up here (and spin down after Y2K). I know a whole lot more than I knew 10 years ago about how to survive with just a pack on my back.
Oddly, they just closed down a prison in Pulaski County next door. Who closes a prison??
From A Better Home and Garden
Cottage Gardening
Tomatoes - Growing a Tomato Arbor in Your Kitchen Garden
© Copyright by Pearl Sanborn
I decided that for one year, I would try to grow my tomatoes as vines. I vaguely remember hearing the idea somewhere in the past, but I was in no way sure that the idea would work since I had never seen it personally. But, I was willing to give it a try... for one season anyway :)
My goal was to build a 12ft long arbor down the middle of the cottage garden. The outside would be shaded with the fruiting tomato vines, while the inside was to provide a shady sanctuary from the summer sun. Under this arbor would have also been a great place to grow some crops such as lettuce, which do not like the hot summer sun. The concept was a wonderful one, but now I needed to find a way to make it happen - especially on a very low gardening budget!
Here’s what we decided to do.
- We basically built a large rectangle shaped box using 2X4s. You can pick these up pretty cheap at a local saw mill! We connected 2 long rectangles measuring 12ft long & 6ft high by a 6ft board (stabilizing brace) at the top and bottom of each end. This gave us a 6ft. wide path inside the arbor.
You could use wood you already have, some sturdy branches (that’s what I would use now - due to the fact that I have so many here in the woods!), free pallets, rough cut lumber from a local saw mill, etc.
* Never use pressure treated wood for your food garden, as there is a possibility of the chemicals leaching out into the surrounding soil.
- Long nails were nailed into both the top & bottom boards at 12 inch intervals on each side of the arbor.
- To make the tomato supports on the sides of the arbor, we used a heavy string that can be purchased from any $1 store. We tied it to the first nail on the bottom, then going from bottom to top, we looped the string around each nail (it’s nice to go around each nail 2X for added strength) until the whole side was covered with string. We did this on both sides and across the top.
You can use many things to make your side supports such as; garden netting, or wire with large openings. At the time, we just needed to use the most frugal option available, and string happened to be it :)
Tomatoes were planted along each side of the arbor, spaced 12 inches apart. This placed each plant in front of the string support it would need to climb up the arbor. Each planting hole is prepared just as you would in any ordinary garden - filled with lots of rich soil & compost.
I know what you’re saying... besides the arbor, it looks like any other tomato garden to me!
Here’s where things start to change.
As your tomato plants grow, they will begin to develop new branches out from the center stalk. At every elbow (the section where a branch meets the center stalk) of these new branches, a new 2nd branch will begin. This 2nd set of new growth is called a sucker. This extra growth causes the plant to stay shorter and take the shape of a bush instead of a vine. As you see the new 2nd set of branches starting to form, simply snap them out. Doing this will cause the plant to grow up instead of out. As the plant gets taller, you will need to support it by gently wrapping it around the string as it grows.
I found that the plants grew very quickly, and after a few months, the vines were over 8ft tall and had covered the sides and the top of the arbor! Not only had the plants grown to cover the arbor, but they were filled with beautiful tomatoes, some of which were 3lbs each! You see, as you remove the suckers and allow the plant to grow taller, you also allow more of the plant’s energy to shift towards producing fruit for the plant.
You could also use this technique on a smaller scale. For example - you could grow a single tomato plant on your patio using a pot and a trellis. Also don’t forget the huge variety of tomatoes that there are to choose from! I choose an old variety that my pap-paw always used called - Big Tom (which might explain the 3lb tomatoes!)
Our little experiment turned out so successful, that we had enough tomatoes to last us the entire year!
From A Better Home and Garden
Cottage Gardening
Make Your Own Bird Bath or Flower Pot - CHEAP!
© Copyright by Pearl Sanborn
With the sun shinning - green grass - and the warmer air, we know it’s time to prepare for this year’s blossoms.
This weekend I went to my local garden center to find some pretty urns & containers to plant my flowers in.
Well...I was not about to spend a years worth of garden expenses just to buy the pots! I guess if I want the natural looking containers, I will have to make them myself - on the “cheap” of course =)
To experiment with a few vessels, buy a bag of quick mix (cement mix). You will need a large bucket or wheel barrow to mix the cement.
This technique will allow you to make beautiful rounded bird baths, or flower bowls.
* A pile of sand will be your mold
* Decide what size you want the finished bowl to be
* Dig a hole that size in the sand hill. Make sure the inside surface of the mold is smooth
* Prepare the concrete mix
* Use a scoop or garden tool & press the mixed cement into the hole. You must work fast, because the mix will set up fast
* Smooth out the surface as you would icing on a cake
* If you’d like to add a few decorative touches, you can do that at this time. I would suggest things such as: pressing a few marbles into the surface - small stones - colored glass - little mirrors - bits of tile - broken bits of china, etc. The designs possible are only limited by your imagination
* Allow to dry for a few days. In hot weather, you may want to cover the bowl with a piece of plastic to let it cure a bit slower
* Remove bowl from sand - hose off & put it to use
You’ll have so much fun watching all the new visitors to your garden
* You can buy a huge 94lb bag of portland cement for under $6! At this price why not make several & sell a few for extra money!? They cost between $35 - $60 in garden centers & your getting away with approx. $2 each!
[Old chicken wire would make it stronger, if it is very large.
Also poke a hole in it for drainage...even an inch or so of old pipe or the mouth of a soda bottle, would give you a drainage hole..granny]
http://www.littlecountryvillage.com/kitchen-ideas/foodstorage.shtml
From A Better Home and Garden
In the Kitchen
Food Storage for Small Places
© Copyright by Pearl Sanborn
Finding space for food storage can be a real problem in the modern kitchen.
Here are a few ideas to help you find new places to stash your goods!
Stack cases of can goods - cover with a square of wood or heavy cardboard (slightly larger than cases) then top with a piece of fabric (I like to add a lace doily, or a 2nd coordinating fabric).
You can have the unit serve as an end table or night stand. As you use the cans & it gets shorter, use it as a coffee table!
You’ll be surprised how many cans of food you can store this way - I’ve heard of over 290 in 1 single unit!
You could also use this same technique to make entry tables, or long couch tables.
According to what type of fabric you use, you could have a piece that is very formal, or very country!
I’ve also seen plastic trash cans used to store food. Just leave the top of (because they are not flat in the center), and add a square of wood and the fabric as described above!
The space behind a door could also be utilized. You could simply build narrow shelves right behind a door - large enough to accommodate rows of canned goods.
[I had my bed put on cement blocks, stood on end, used 6 of them, and store under it.
granny]
” they take a big trash bag and cut a head opening and the arm openings and make an instant rain coat and it would be warm too.”
But it makes you sweat. Sweat + cold = death. We used to just put them over our heads without holes like a ghost costume. You can see through the non-black ones.
But plastic is a killer in the woods. Plastic and cotton. Fleece is the best for staying warm.
We did an event recently when it was -6F outside (not windchill). We learned alot about keeping warm. The looser the socks and boots, the warmer the feet. A tight fit cuts down circulation and causes cold feet. If you have mutiple sock layers and your feet get cold, remove a sock layer. It’s the same with hands. Mittens are best because your fingers stay together and warm each other.
~~Very worthwhile, BE PREPARED, JUST IN CASE Thread ........ PING!
Thank you, nw_arizona-granny! I’m in the city now, but I so wish I was back on my fenced acre in the country.
I think an old trusty pickup truck would be vital.
God bless and protect America, while the folks take care
of business.
bump to read later
Thanks! I am told the Texas mentality offends some. I try to be nice about it. The Alamo is drilled into us from birth and to this day the original John Wayne version of the movie can pick me up from anything.
Only a handful of those guys at the Alamo were actually born in Texas. They came here from all the other good states. (and some other countries) But, they had a dream before MLK was ever thought of. A dream they thought was worth dying for. For me, my life is about end results that are worth dying for. My God, my family and my country. I am not fool enough to think that's only a Texas attitude, but we do soak up a lot of the "Alamo mentality" when we're kids. If it's worth doin' it's likely worth dyin' tryin' to get there.
OH! I got my cantaloupe soakin’ under some sugar now. I’m gonna let it sit for 24 hours and then make jelly drivin’ by the seat of my pants. I’ll let ya know if it works. This is how I came up with my really good herbed wine jellies so I’m at least hopeful I’ll get it right after a few tries.
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