Posted on 03/23/2008 11:36:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Americans finding soaring food prices hard to stomach can battle back by growing their own food. [Click image for a larger version] Dean Fosdick Dean Fosdick
Home vegetable gardens appear to be booming as a result of the twin movements to eat local and pinch pennies.
At the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta this winter, D. Landreth Seed Co. of New Freedom, Pa., sold three to four times more seed packets than last year, says Barb Melera, president. "This is the first time I've ever heard people say, 'I can grow this more cheaply than I can buy it in the supermarket.' That's a 180-degree turn from the norm."
Roger Doiron, a gardener and fresh-food advocate from Scarborough, Maine, said he turned $85 worth of seeds into more than six months of vegetables for his family of five.
A year later, he says, the family still had "several quarts of tomato sauce, bags of mixed vegetables and ice-cube trays of pesto in the freezer; 20 heads of garlic, a five-gallon crock of sauerkraut, more homegrown hot-pepper sauce than one family could comfortably eat in a year and three sorts of squash, which we make into soups, stews and bread."
[snipped]
She compares the current period of market uncertainty with that of the early- to mid-20th century when the concept of victory gardens became popular.
"A lot of companies during the world wars and the Great Depression era encouraged vegetable gardening as a way of addressing layoffs, reduced wages and such," she says. "Some companies, like U.S. Steel, made gardens available at the workplace. Railroads provided easements they'd rent to employees and others for gardening."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
I can't explain the feeling I get when I get into the garden. I come out tired, sweaty, and feel like a million bucks. We all "blame" our mom for giving us the fever.
I gave up on ordering the cool weather seeds yoday. I went to Walmart and got in on the 20 cent seeds, as well as a few that were $1.00 a pack. I'm looking for the flourescent lights I used last year, and planning how to make a nice area to start everything.
What about soil testing? I looked at the USDA map that listed my soil as "Sandy Loam", but unless sandy loam looks like poor dirt with a vein of gray clay and full of rocks, they missed it this time. I used up all of my compost last year, and added sand and some finely chopped leaves. I turned under as much as I could from last year. Every little bit helps! As far as I could tell, everything grew quite well last year, so I might pass on the soil test.
Have any of you used diatomaceous earth to control pests? For crawling pests, I haven't found anything that works better. You can also worm the pets by adding it to their food (Get the food grade). Mom absolutely massacred the ants that had been getting into her home for 35 years! Two summers of treating around the outside of the house and visible anthills, and they're almost all gone!
Again, thanks for the tips. I'll use that as a base for more research. Some of the things on the list I already planted in the fall to give the vegetables and apples a better chance to pollinate this spring. Well, I'm off to get started..........Back surgery or not, the gardening must go on.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/18658386/detail.html
Crackers Cleanup Shuts Down Springs School
Salmonella Case Reported At Corpus Christi School
POSTED: 12:18 pm MST February 6, 2009
UPDATED: 12:45 pm MST February 6, 2009
[Peanut butter that was brought from home]
I second that, very thankful for Bob.
I had a fright this afternoon, I bought a new keyboard at the thrift shop and hooked it up and my computer went black and wouldn't start I kept trying everything, checking the cords, put the old keyboard back in and it wouldn't boot up. Finally, I got it to boot in safe mode and it quit. So, I turned it off and then back on and it's fine now. Computers are so frustrating.
THE GANG THREAT
Get Educated
02/06/09
National Gang Threat Assessment 2009
Gangs are morphing, multiplying, and migrating—entrenching themselves not just in our inner cites but increasingly in our ever-sprawling suburbs and wide-open rural spaces.
In some communities, they are responsible for as much as a staggering 80 percent of all crimes. They are selling drugs to your kids, shooting up your neighborhoods, invading your homes, robbing your banks and stores, stealing your identities and money, and sowing plenty of fear and violence along the way.
share.gif
There are gangs in the military…gangs in prison…gangs all over the Internet (recruiting, communicating, intimidating)…gangs on Native American reservations…and gangs on motorcycles roving the countryside. More and more women are joining gangs, too, sometimes leading their own subsets of larger criminal groups.
At last count (this past September), our nation had at least 20,000 gangs with at least one million total members from coast to coast.
podcast icon Podcast: Inside the FBI
FBI agents discuss gangs.
These conclusions—and many more—are all part of the just released National Gang Threat Assessment 2009.
Now matter how you slice it—locally, regionally, nationally—it’s a sobering portrait. And well worth reading for its insights, statistics, and predictions…whether you are a law enforcement professional, a community leader, an educator, a social services provider, or just a concerned citizen.
Mouse over each gang to learn more about them. And see the full report for more details.
The report is based on law enforcement’s collective intelligence—the product specifically of the National Gang Intelligence Center, the National Drug Intelligence Center, and a host of other local, state, and federal agencies.
Besides contributing to this report, we in the FBI—working with our partners more closely than ever—continue to put a lot of time, energy, and resources into tackling the growing gang threat. That includes:
* Synthesizing information on gangs from around the nation and even from around the globe (largely through the National Gang Intelligence Center) and pushing that out as intelligence assessments to our law enforcement partners to help them make cases and get a better handle on local threats;
* Leading the multi-agency MS-13 National Gang Task Force, which coordinates investigations and prosecutions of this extremely violent gang, including with law enforcement officials in Central America, its birthplace overseas;
*
Taking part in the Department of Justice’s National Gang Targeting Enforcement and Coordination Center, or GangTECC, a task force that looks for ways to make the most impact through multi-jurisdictional investigations involving federal law enforcement; and
*
Putting boots on the ground, so speak—hundreds of highly trained special agents nationwide who work to dismantle gangs from the top down through more than 200 multi-agency Safe Streets Task Forces, including about 150 that specifically target gangs.
Of course, we need your help. Please report crimes and potential criminal activity to us. Please be alert to common gang warning signs in your children and in your neighborhoods. And please get involved and stay involved in anti-gang activities and proactive outreach initiatives in your community.
Resources:
- FBI Violent Street Gangs website
- Department of Justice Resources and Publications
- Advice from an Expert on Street Gangs
Headline Archives home
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/feb09/ngta_020609.html
Insecticides Found In Peanut Plant In 2001
Inspectors say a Georgia peanut plant linked to a deadly salmonella outbreak
exposed equipment to insecticides in 2001.
MORE DETAILS: http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5Eoo7OP0c.html
Just another reason to do your own.
GROSS!!!!
We do have a Dollar Store here I will have to check there next week when I’m off again.
I guess we could horde seeds which may become more valuable than gold when times get really tough.
How long do seeds last in the package?
FDA: Ga. Plant Knowingly Sent Tainted Products
The FDA says Peanut Corp. of America knowingly shipped salmonella-tainted
products.
MORE DETAILS: http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5EovU2X0Q.html
Excalibur, that’s good enough for me. Thanks!!
“One night, I had a lot of veg peelings for the geese, so went out about 9 pm, nice and dark and felt like singing and did so.
“They loved it, acted like real people, paid attention, were quiet and when I stopped, would make sounds like “Ohh sing one more, please”.
“Bill got worried about me and came to see what I was doing.
“I did get him to go and play his harmonica for them a couple times and they did enjoy it.
“Hard to guess how large the crowd was, at least 20 ducks and 10 or 15 geese.”
What a cute story!
Self ping
A hummingbird was hovering just a few inches from my foot last Saturday as I sat outside on the front porch with my hubby. It didn’t realize we were there, I guess we sat still enough not to scare it away.
People say if farmers don’t want problems from Monsanto, just don’t buy their GMO seeds.
Not so simple. Where are farmers supposed to get normal seed these days? How are they supposed to avoid contamination of their fields from GM-crops? How are they supposed to stop Monsanto detectives from trespassing or Monsanto from using helicopters to fly over spying on them?
Monsanto contaminates the fields, trespasses onto the land taking samples and if they find any GMO plants growing there (or say they have), they then sue, saying they own the crop. It’s a way to make money since farmers can’t fight back and court and they settle because they have no choice.
.
And they have done and are doing a bucket load of things to keep farmers and everyone else from having any access at all to buying, collecting, and saving of NORMAL seeds.
More>>>>
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-multiple-ways-Monsanto-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090203-854.html
I read something today (either on a seed site or seed package, don’t remember) that said vegetable seeds were good for 5 years.
* Vegetable and flower seeds may be kept for one year without appreciable decrease in germination.
* Storage may be extended to 10 or more years under proper conditions.
* Seed moisture and storage temperature are the most important factors in determining how long seed can be stored.
* The drier the seeds are, the longer they will store.
Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds (Colorado State University)
I would be really careful about using heat to dry them though. Just a bit too hot and poof.....
To give you an idea how long they will store, just consider that they have found viable wheat and flax seeds in the pyramids in Egypt. I store mine in a mason jar vacuum sealed (using vacuum pump not heat processed) and store them in a second fridge.
I also use the used lids for dried beans, peas, rice, etc. and I also use those second hand lids for water (I always finish filling my pressure cooker with jars of water - keeps them clean and sterile inside and gives me a stock of sterilized drinking water in an emergency. Yes, I pretty much keep all my jars full - 'An empty jar saves nothing.')
Thank you both.
Some good advice there on using the canning jars.
I hate to admit, but I’ve never canned anything.
Maybe we could have one day a week where we learn something new and do it - all of us. :)
You do NOT know what you are missing!!!
Granted it might seem daunting when you are first starting, but once you catch the fever, it is almost second-nature.
Right now I probably have about 80 cases of home canned food on hand. No Pesticides, Herbicides, additives - nothing but good food and I know what is in every jar!
Just this year I have canned the following: Dill Pickles, Bread & Butter Pickles, Pickled Green Tomatoes, Pickled Beets, Pickle Relish, Green Beans, Peas, Lima Beans, Sour Kraut, Apple Pie Filling, Apple Sauce, Stewed Tomatoes, Ketchup, Spaghetti Sauce, Corn, Bacon, Sausage, Ground Venison, Cubed Venison, Chicken Chunks, Chicken Broth, Zucchini, Mushrooms, Summer Squash, Pumpkin, Chili, Peaches, Strawberry Jam, Peach Preserves, Blueberries - I think that about covers it, but there may be another one or two. You cannot imagine the reassurance having pantry, closets and other stashes full. Very few quick trips to the store during the year to pick up something. My wife calls it my grocery store/warehouse.
To get your feet wet, try something easy that you like that is acidic - like pickling something or tomatoes they can be done in a hot water bath. Any pot that allows you to have water covering the top of the jar by about an inch or more will do. You can usually pick up Ball Mason Jars at yard sales really cheap. Look for any cracks and be sure to check the top edge - run your finger around it and be sure it is smooth and intact. I bought most of my jars from a store called Big Lots - They have them for about $6.50 per case, and that includes lids and bands - that figures out to 54 cents per jar - replacement lids can be bought during the end of the season at the same store for 99 cents per dozen so after the first use, all you need are the lids at 8 cents. I also re-use the lids for non critical storage like beans, rice, drinking water - I don't recommend using them over for vegies or meat (but I have done it quite successfully when I ran out of new ones)
If you really want to see what can be done with a bit of effort, I would highly recommend Jackie Clay -
If you had anything planned this weekend, you will probably hate me, because Jackie's articles are addicting to anyone the least bit interested in gardening/self sufficiency.
Wow. this is all so exciting!
We have a Big Lots about 30 minutes from here. Used to be called Pic n Save in California years ago, love that store.
How long do the canned foods last? Since there’s just me and two dogs we wouldn’t eat that much. My other problem is storage. I have every cupboard full already. I could probably get another bookcase or something with shelves to put in the dining room.
What do you do with bacon? That sounds unusual. Although I try not to eat bacon I could probably use turkey bacon.
I’m definitely going to visit that website. I am working this weekend and the Bud Shootout is tomorrow night. I always tell people on other threads, don’t ping me during race day which is usually Sunday as the posts get lost. LOL
Thanks so much for all the great information!!
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