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Post by ozarklady on Jan 22, 2011 12:10:49 GMT -5
I am trying to be self sufficient, growing more and more of our own items. We have goats for milk and meat, and chickens for meat and eggs.
We have found that we actually are beginning to prefer homegrown tobacco to the store bought, took a while but we are getting there.
And I am collecting items that have health or healing abilities, to grow. In addition to food items.
And then, I have kefir growing. This is probiotic grains that you raise in the house. One is milk based and the other is raised in sugar water. They are to strengthen our immune systems.
I am also learning some of the wild healing foods. And will learn to make them up. My husband wants to begin using the many healing items around us, so that we are familiar with their uses before it is necessity.
Did any of you see some of the expose' s on the drug companies, how things were contaminated and mislabelled? How about how Hydrogen peroxide can heal so many things but is illegal because it is cheap? And then we have contaminated foods killing folks....
To us it looks like we just have to take responsibility for our own health and food and meds or suffer the consequences. And that is whether SHTF or not, you have to do all that you can.
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Post by castanea on Jan 22, 2011 12:21:18 GMT -5
wow. big site. and huge determination! may you find what you need, affordably! on the border of Hot Spring and Garland counties. There is a water powered mill (a requirement) on the property but previous owners diverted the river (fishing ponds and an streams are also requirements) so it isn't functional at this time. Of course, that can be changed. Very cool! That is a great area. We are still looking. |
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Post by honeydew on Jan 22, 2011 13:06:02 GMT -5
I am trying to be self sufficient, growing more and more of our own items. We have goats for milk and meat, and chickens for meat and eggs. We have found that we actually are beginning to prefer homegrown tobacco to the store bought, took a while but we are getting there. And I am collecting items that have health or healing abilities, to grow. In addition to food items. And then, I have kefir growing. This is probiotic grains that you raise in the house. One is milk based and the other is raised in sugar water. They are to strengthen our immune systems. I am also learning some of the wild healing foods. And will learn to make them up. My husband wants to begin using the many healing items around us, so that we are familiar with their uses before it is necessity. Did any of you see some of the expose' s on the drug companies, how things were contaminated and mislabelled? How about how Hydrogen peroxide can heal so many things but is illegal because it is cheap? And then we have contaminated foods killing folks.... To us it looks like we just have to take responsibility for our own health and food and meds or suffer the consequences. And that is whether SHTF or not, you have to do all that you can. I finally convinced the hubby to let me have goats. He was dead set against it three years ago. He says they are hard to keep. Question - for the purpose of garden inputs - do you use your goat manure? We have 2 cows here, my hubby wants to sell them as he doesn't like keeping cattle. I don't know, as I have never had them before, but I really don't mind them (at least in the winter when they don't smell - lol) but they sure do poop a lot. And I sure do need fertilizer for my garden. Three summers of regular composting has not produced a lot in relation to our needs. The horses have acres upon acres, no luck there. The chickens of course create some, which apparently has to be VERY WELL composted, as it packs a punch. Haven't used it yet. I firmly believe that the right foods are healing. It made sense to me when I heard the Hipppocratus (I think) quotes "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." and "If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health." A little observation further drives it home. Animals selectively eat what they need. When they need a particular food because of the nutrients it holds, they choose that over something else. They instinctively know what to avoid. We can do it too. I started listening to my body, and you can "hear" or feel a quiet repulsion when you are holding or eating food that is not right for you. I have read the same can be done with understanding the healing properties of plants, but I have not experienced this myself. What is kefir? This sounds really interesting. What other items are you collecting for your health? Along with Hydrogen Peroxide, "They" do not want us to know the benefits of Vitamin D. It is an amazing immune strengthening vit. and we can get it from the sun. Apparently most everyone is deficient in this. Where we are, in the winters we can not get enough from the sun. Also, apparently darker skinned people who live in northern areas are not able to naturally absorb enough from the sun. But that's ok, you can get it from certain foods too, in smaller amounts, though, but taking cod liver oil can give you a fair amount. Taking an actual Vit.D supplement, make sure you get Vitamin D 3 not Vitamin D 2. |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 22, 2011 14:28:54 GMT -5
We actually have found a somewhat suitable site in Arkansas on the border of Hot Spring and Garland counties. There is a water powered mill (a requirement) on the property but previous owners diverted the river (fishing ponds and an streams are also requirements) so it isn't functional at this time. Of course, that can be changed. Very cool! That is a great area. We are still looking. ;D You're still looking and we are still praying!  We were hoping to give the place a look see on our way home from Indiana but life just didn't work out that way. You say that it's a great area. Do you say that because you've been there? I would love to hear some thoughts and opinions on the area. HoneyDew: I really can empathize with what you are saying/thinking/feeling. The thought process led me to the conclusion that most of us, myself primarily, are pretty stupid. OUCH! Still, I haven't found a better answer. I can get past this though, by really stripping issues down to the lowest common denominator. I get a level of understanding I can live with without needing to bash my head on the walls till I'm bruised and I adjust my own way of thinking about things as well. I think this is a vital skill for survival planning. It really helps prioritize the needs and wants. When you go into the legal insanity that creates the hydrogen peroxide/food contamination situations... I see it this way, the worst part of being obese is that you get to a point where you are no longer capable of wiping your own butt. This is rather disgusting, but it's far worse to live it (I know from personal experience) than it is to read it. Well, our government is hugely obese and it's not stopped growing yet. This is very sad for those who are caught up in the process. On the other hand... it also means that there are some things that can hide in plain sight and that is a benefit for those who can and do. It's being in plain sight that is the real trick though. |
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Post by raymondo on Jan 22, 2011 23:50:24 GMT -5
I'm sort of preparing. Five years ago I moved out of Australia's largest city, Sydney, to a smallish town (25,000 souls). Three years ago I bought a house on a large block of land (3/4 acre) in said town. I own the house outright and am very slowly converting the land to productive garden - vegetables, fruit and a woodlot. I won't get to use the woodlot much but my son, who will inherit the place, should get some good use out of it.
I still have some debts but they should be cleared by the end of this year with any luck. I desperately want to build up some reserves though if money becomes useless then this will be a waste of time.
Perhaps we'd all be better off looking for an edge, something to barter with - Garnetmoth has rabbit meat and fur for example.
I am involved in the local Transition Town movement so know quite a number of people locally who think along similar lines. If the S really does HTF, I want to be in a rural community who are already moving towards some notion of self-reliance. We have just restarted a long defunct LETS and hope to build a local currency along with it. A self-relient community needs a local economy, the two go together like peaches and cream. A well functioning local economy can help a community weather all sorts of dramas.
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Post by garnetmoth on Jan 23, 2011 0:15:57 GMT -5
I think the biggest question is total societal change, or just a step back from our current 1st world prosperity? Is subsistence farming the best we can hope for? or will many of us have access to gasoline and electricity?
We just started with meat, rabbits are the only mammals we can keep on our tiny lot, but are deciding which poultry to try this year. would love to start a LETS/barter system.
We are composting and using the rabbit manure to improve the garden. Im going to increase the size of the garden (into the side yard I share with apartments, with decorative edibles) but since we are in the city, really dont think wed weather any type of crisis here.
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Post by lmonty on Jan 23, 2011 3:05:59 GMT -5
honeydew, I think you are already doing one of the most important things anyone can do to prepare for bad times- mentally preparing. Every time you consider possible scenarios, and then the options and solutions, you are making a preparation. First, you r mind wont be as paralyzed by change asmost people will be, because it isntsuch as unbelievable shock! And then, youve already thought out many things that can happen, so are already prepared to step up with s solution or idea. And if youve already taken physical action to do the preps you thought of as solutions, then you may already have what you need. Thats huge! MOST peopel wont be anywhere near ready for that kind of action for quite someime, if at all. Many arent even flxible enough to survive it mentally.
I guess I feel there are mental. physical and spiritual preparations and getting as far down the path of each one as we are able is always a good thing. A baby step every day gets us there. Another pack of seeds, and other set of caning jar lids on the shelf. Another skill learned, now I can make some cheese- cheesepress is here, and ready to go, have cultures and wax, so thats the mental prep of seeing the need for a skill, learning it and then the physical prep of getting the raw material to practice it done. The basics anyway, its not gourmet stuff yet! another prayer, another idea, a new book put up- hey it all matters and it all makes us more responsible, relaible and effective people. Gotta love it.
Cash is another consideration. One Im personally having trouble with. Never seems to be enough of it, that is LOL. If I had any extra money would sure be buying silver. Only way I know for sure the average people like me might be able to "Store a little wealth" against taxes and future emergency needs if there is an economic collapse. As it is I am hoping that I'll have enough extra produce, goats meat, cheese, milk, etc to sell that will allow me to exchange it for other peoples money. Not the best strategy but one I'll have to content myself with.
jo- theres wonderful property here cheap up in the Ozarks in NW AR, I think you'd like it here if you like NC. Only its not as humid! And the taxes are super low compared to most places. We pay about 350 yr real estate tax on 17 acres with outbuildings and the house. Cant really beat that. There are some big properties just north of Harrison AR and between Harrison and Branson. Far enough out to be safe, but close enough to "town" to market garden, etc. Oh and dependign on where you look- some places, like Marion County where I live, unless you are right in town, they dont even having building codes-you dont need permits, etc for most stuff. Another HUGE savings.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 23, 2011 8:28:34 GMT -5
The mental prep is very important. Part of the mental prep is the idea that money has value. Even now, money is losing it's hold on our family and on the families around us. Why? Because since we've been here we've engaged with others on a purely barter basis. Little by little we've proven ourselves with our skills and the generosity of our talents. Giving away homemade bread, cakes, and candies. Giving a cord of wood, delivered and stacked. Giving... giving... giving... Now we are receiving. And, we are receiving more and more. We also have a growing reputation among our neighbors. The guy who owns the scrap of land right next to us has put up 5 little rentals on that land. Not good in our opinion, but hey, it's his land. He wanted to buy ours and when we said no, you could tell he wanted to be hostile about it but couldn't. Why? He got the land from his Daddy and my husband and his Daddy are close friends. I'm also developing a close relationship with his Mom. So, instead of building right next to us, there is going to be free space. Maybe he'll even let us use it or give it to us. Who knows. The point is, we don't pay attention to money. We have some, just enough to pay the bills. We own the larger portion of our property outright, but the 1/2 acre in the middle with the house on it belongs to the bank. We pay on that. But money won't mean a damn thing when society crumbles. Well, it's a cotton/linen blend... you could use it in a lasagna mulch I suppose... The mental turning point for me was when I contemplated, thoroughly, the difference between a want and a need. We NEED only 5 things. 1. Air 2. Food 3. Earth (not land, the earth as a whole) 4. Water 5. Time Everything else is superfluous. Even toilet paper.  |
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Post by johno on Jan 23, 2011 11:02:06 GMT -5
jo- theres wonderful property here cheap up in the Ozarks in NW AR, I think you'd like it here if you like NC. Only its not as humid! And the taxes are super low compared to most places. We pay about 350 yr real estate tax on 17 acres with outbuildings and the house. Cant really beat that. There are some big properties just north of Harrison AR and between Harrison and Branson. Far enough out to be safe, but close enough to "town" to market garden, etc. Oh and dependign on where you look- some places, like Marion County where I live, unless you are right in town, they dont even having building codes-you dont need permits, etc for most stuff. Another HUGE savings. As a former home builder in AR, I must point out that there ARE state building codes, but yes, for the most part they are ignored. The main thing not to ignore is septic systems. Otherwise I agree 100%. (I live next door in Baxter county.) |
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Post by castanea on Jan 23, 2011 23:17:06 GMT -5
Very cool! That is a great area. We are still looking. ;D You're still looking and we are still praying! We were hoping to give the place a look see on our way home from Indiana but life just didn't work out that way. You say that it's a great area. Do you say that because you've been there? I would love to hear some thoughts and opinions on the area. I grew up in the SW corner of Missouri, my sister lived in Tulsa, OK for many years, and I went to college in Fayetteville, AR. Beautiful areas, nice people. We have also looked for properties from Fort Smith down toward Poteau, OK. One of the better areas to live in the US in my opinion. |
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Post by castanea on Jan 23, 2011 23:19:38 GMT -5
jo- theres wonderful property here cheap up in the Ozarks in NW AR, I think you'd like it here if you like NC. Only its not as humid! And the taxes are super low compared to most places. We pay about 350 yr real estate tax on 17 acres with outbuildings and the house. Cant really beat that. There are some big properties just north of Harrison AR and between Harrison and Branson. Far enough out to be safe, but close enough to "town" to market garden, etc. Oh and dependign on where you look- some places, like Marion County where I live, unless you are right in town, they dont even having building codes-you dont need permits, etc for most stuff. Another HUGE savings. The farher east you get of Fayettevile/Bentonville, the cheaper the property gets, except for Eureka Springs, and the looser the building codes get. Some of the prettiest country in the US. |
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Post by ozarklady on Jan 24, 2011 1:18:21 GMT -5
I live in Benton county, and I would suggest: Carroll county. Benton county is too much of a nanny government. We moved here from Baxter county, by way of Missouri, for a couple years, but still, Baxter, was less restrictive than Benton is, course, times change.
We did our own septic and didn't have it inspected. I always tell the county guys that we just don't use the bathroom. They sent the EPA out and they could find nothing... no outhouse, no odor, no standing sewage, nothing.
In our early years, my husband was a plumber, and put in hundreds of septic systems, so he did it right... except, we didn't pay the fees to have it inspected.
Many neighbors with "approved septics" were written up by the same EPA person!
One bad note, you would be close enough to visit with many of us here! I could go see Johno in a bit over an hour, due to driving through Eureka and Harrison.
Castanea you show California, is that temporary? When are you coming home?
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Post by castanea on Jan 24, 2011 1:39:16 GMT -5
Castanea you show California, is that temporary? When are you coming home? Good question. As soon as I can. I've been in California for 25 years and that's long enough. |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 24, 2011 7:38:44 GMT -5
One bad note, you would be close enough to visit with many of us here! I could go see Johno in a bit over an hour, due to driving through Eureka and Harrison. Hey, I might come over and take over your kitchen! Among my friends, I'm known to do that. Truly though, I'm not worried about the governments, like cash value, they are susceptible to outside influence. I'm much more concerned about the size of the property, soil fertility, deep water source, I'd like to have some established fruit and nut trees, stocked ponds and year round streams, outbuildings and equipment if possible. I'm also requesting a bit of old growth forest. My boys are asking that it be free of crocodiles and alligators, so nothing to far south and we won't be moving to Egypt. ;D |
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Post by garnetmoth on Feb 3, 2011 17:25:43 GMT -5
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We were hoping to give the place a look see on our way home from Indiana but life just didn't work out that way. You say that it's a great area. Do you say that because you've been there? I would love to hear some thoughts and opinions on the area.
