Posted on 07/05/2010 8:27:04 AM PDT by ChocChipCookie
When I'm nervous, I tend to can food. In the last two days I've canned 33 pints of mixed vegetables and 14 quarts of chicken breasts.
Because, you see, I expect the bleep to hit the fan within a year, possibly less. Mother hen that I am, I want to gather my chicks close and protect them. The frustrating thing is, those of us with concerns about the economy can't help but wonder how much of it is orchestrated. Whatever the cause, things appear to be spiraling out of control. So I'm doing the only thing I can do, and that's to prepare for hard times.
Of course, most people aren't preparing. History is full of people who ignored warning signs and put their heads in the sand (and their rumps in the air). These are the folks who derive great amusement at us who prepare, smugly calling us conspiracy nuts or lunatics. Then they'll calmly inform us of their contingency plans: "Well, we'll just come live with you if things get tough."
These are the Grasshoppers of society, and I've written about them before. These are the people who still have their jobs and homes, but seem incapable or unwilling to look beyond the shallow concerns of everyday life to read the headlines or see the storm clouds gathering on the horizon.
This attitude makes Ants very, very nervous.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
And yes, I did just finish reading "One Second After"!
Thing is, when the SHTF, grasshoppers become swarming locust.
Trying to be ready for that, too...
“they’ll calmly inform us of their contingency plans: ‘Well, we’ll just come live with you if things get tough.’”
Tithing applies. Set aside 10% of food storage for charity. A big sack of rice goes a long way cheap for helping those who didn’t prepare.
Never heard of canning chicken breasts before. How do you do that?
The real solution is to attack the problem, not the result. Unemployment is high because of too many ill-conceived gov’t programs. Cut taxes (personal, corporate, and capital gains) and get out of the way. The gov’t has screwed things up and it's time for them to get the hell out of the market place and go back to the duties as stated in the Constitution. Canning a few pints of veggies is whistling in the graveyard...
Survival/Preparedness ping!
The process is very similar to canning fruits and vegetables. Place raw meat or chicken in canning jars and use a pressure canner to not only cook the meat but seal the jars.
Here’s an article from Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1983-09-01/Canning-Meat.aspx
There are also videos on YouTube. It’s a great way to have meat or chicken as a long-term storage source of protein. Budget friendly, too, when you buy the meat on sale.
I admire the author’s prudent action to prepare a stock of food supply. ...... I hope she is just as prudent in preparing a way to defend it.
From the context of her article, it’s doubtful that is all she has canned and stored. Food storage makes a lot of sense in case of food shortages, spiraling costs, severe weather, natural disasters, loss of income, etc.
Your solutions are great on a macro level. However, other than voting, maybe attending protests, making calls, and getting the word out about government corruption, there’s nothing else to do. I can’t control what the dimwits do on a macro level, even though much of it will greatly affect me.
What I CAN do is on a micro level. I can stock up on food and supplies when they’re on sale, and when I have the extra money. There’s actually a LOT we can do. The fools in Washington and in city halls are beyond all hope, IMO, but I still have to look after my own.
The rest is in Gods hands.
Thats all that can be done.
Besides, the 33 pints of veggies and 14 quarts of chicken are just what they've canned in 2 days. I'd say given the tone of the letter, this person seems quite experienced at canning, and already has that much if not more in stock. Add to that, as time goes on they will probably get more nervous and can more.
1 pint of veggies and 1 quart of chicken is good for 1 meal for 4 people. In a years time they could have a years supply of food canned.
>> Food storage makes a lot of sense in case of food shortages, spiraling costs, severe weather, natural disasters, loss of income, etc.
Food storage makes *some* sense. But only when coupled with obtaining the means of food *production* as well (garden, chicken coop, arable land, etc.). And don’t forget energy either. Better either have a few strong backs available, a mule, some diesel laid up in store...
IMHO
Being informed and voting is also a micro approach that one can do. Personally, I don’t think most voters are informed. Indeed, I’d love to see it required that all voters must pass a current events test before they can vote. We do it for a driver’s license...is placing the nation’s leadership less important. One of my student’s once said I’d make a horrible president...but a great dictator! He might have something there...
May I ask a question? Why on earth are you telling people what you are doing?
I can chicken, turkey, bacon, pork loin, corned beef, etc.
The Ball Blue Book will help you!
I used the Mormon calculator to prepare, there is no protein on it except vegetable protein. So I stocked what it suggested (yes, that includes the wheat to grind), and then started canning meat, butter, and lard so we’ll have some animal protein and something to put on that bread, too.
You can try posting that question to the original author at the link.
“I understand the message, but just don’t agree with the premise. Even if relatives/friends don’t show up, those 33 pints of veggies and 14 of chicken aren’t going to last long enough to make a difference if her scenario comes to pass. To me, this is the “hippie-commune” culture that prevailed back in the 60’s. They didn’t work then, and they won’t work now.
The real solution is to attack the problem, not the result. Unemployment is high because of too many ill-conceived gov’t programs. Cut taxes (personal, corporate, and capital gains) and get out of the way. The gov’t has screwed things up and it’s time for them to get the hell out of the market place and go back to the duties as stated in the Constitution. Canning a few pints of veggies is whistling in the graveyard... “
Agree with first part - when you count the calories in 33 pints of food, you’ll find, at most, a week’s worth. It’s better than nothing, but not much. It’s much more practical to simply buy canned food and store it - and then if you count the calories again, you find that you need to fill something like a bedroom, to the ceiling, to feed a family of 4 people for a year. Personally, I’ve thrown in the towel on that on that. I keep a lot of rice and noodles (one 20 lb. bag has just about enough calories for one person, for one month - for example), and some other stuff. As I see it, we will not run out of food - but it will be quite expensive and rice may well become a luxury.
As to you point - all good and well, but our control over that is just slightly above zero. Anyway - thing will get very ugly, very soon, once we get our 20% VAT (just after the election), and then the dollar crashes - or vice versa. There may be food, but it won’t be pretty.
A 5 gallon pail holds about 35# of rice, or 80 cups uncooked rice. So 50# = approx. 115 cups of uncooked rice.
I buy pop when its on sale, and buy a number of cases, not for survival, but for cost. 30-60 days of a comfort if TSHTF is EASY to do. But for today, it means I never have to buy pop at regular prices, and save $2-$4 per case.
If you have an Aldis by you you can get a flat of canned goods, 12 cans, for about $0.30 a can, I think. 1 flat a week for $3.60
I agree, but the strategery to defeat the Marxist-inLaw is going to be very difficult.
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