Regardless of how you feel about the election, there were a few bright spots. Around here, a town near us is allowing the keeping of backyard chickens for the first time. I overheard some conversation about at a class I’m teaching. It was really interesting to hear how excited people were although the excitement was tinged with worry about rising food prices. I did one woman say that getting permission to keep a few goats was the next thing she was hoping for.
I helped a neighbor clean her barn out this week to make room for a new milk house. As we are buying a share of the cow I felt it was only fair that I participate in the work. In the midst of hauling out many year’s worth of junk, I found a box of books. In going through them I found a three of the Foxfire series. What treasures! I haven’t read them before. Now I have to get the rest of the series. They are full of Appalachian wisdom, folklore and instruction for just about anything you might need to know how to do someday. I was very interested in food preservation, especially the smoking and salting of pork.
Next week is going to be a tough one for posting. I have to be out-of-town for a couple of days (thursday and friday) and then I have wedding and a fundraiser to attend. After that, my life settles down. I have turned down all other speaking engagements and I’m concentrating on food security trainings that are within 100 miles of home. If I have to fly, I’m not going. If I have to be away over night, I’m not going. If it doesn’t matter to me beyond the paycheck, I’m not going. If Bruce can’t come with me, I’m not going, That makes it easy.
I spoke with a few families last night and worry rising is just as fast as prices. What are the things you will need, no matter what? What could you buy ahead that will hold value? I’m thinking tangibles here beyond food. How about shoes, socks and underwear? Nearly all are made overseas and will be affected by rising fuel costs. I have coats for my girls for several years. Bought second-hand, these set me back very little (as in under $5.00 for Columbia parkas and LL Bean boots). Work gloves and long underwear, sheets and blankets, bikes and umbrellas, toothbrushes and shovels. Nothing on my own list is exotic. It’s just the stuff of my life that I want to have. It makes holiday shopping pretty easy as all of my adult kids are getting a box of necessities this year. My grandkids have plenty of “stuff”. They are also getting boxes of necessities like shoes and shirts, mittens and bathrobes. They will never miss another toy and may well be mighty glad for the warm sweater.
November 5, 2010 at 7:52 am
Wednesday night, several commentators on a new channel I watch, as well as several economists that blog, made mention of the rising food prices. It was suggested that people shop now and store up a bit.
Thursday I went grocery shopping (a planned trip) and as I grabbed some sale items, the man stocking the shelves said “all week it’s been real slow, then today it seems like I can’t keep the shelves stocked”. I told him about the news and he said that made sense, and he agree’d that prices were going up sharply soon.
One of my daughters works in a Thrift Store and Food Shelf…she’s finding a lot of items for her family there and is thrilled to see that the quality of what she gets for pennies is better than what is in the stores she can afford.
Have a good and safe trip!
November 5, 2010 at 10:45 am
I’m excited/nervous to see what comes of our local elections. Ohio elected a conservative governor with an iffy 2nd Amendment voting history in place of a liberal who strongly supported gun owners rights. Does that seem backwards to anyone but me? This is going to be very, very interesting!
November 5, 2010 at 1:19 pm
For the first time I heard on local broadcast news that food prices will be going up in stores soon. it’s been repeated on more tha one channel and all of the reporters on the story had some small degree of dread in their face and voice.
I think they said nationwide it would be 2-3%.
Some bloggers I’ve been reading the past few months have said this was coming. they’re of the opinion that it will be as sharp a rise (or shrinking of packages) as it was in 2008. That was pretty dramatic I thought.
I signed up for a yeast bread class at a local cooking place a couple of months ago. I’m hoping to learn some thing to help my bread making improve.
peace to all,
shamba
November 5, 2010 at 3:31 pm
The Federal Reserve is dumping another 600 BILLION dollars into the money supply. This follows the 1.2 TRILLION earlier in the year. With this kind of dilution, it is ienvitable that prices go up. This is a classic case of forced inflation. It is likely to get much worse before we see any relief.
An inventory of durable goods, commodities, bullets, non-perishables are all better places to have your money than in dollars.
November 6, 2010 at 7:19 am
What is the Foxfire series books?
November 6, 2010 at 11:35 am
There were only a few bright spots in the election. I’m not sure how it played out in other states, but in Minnesota the central cities elected all Democrats and the reverse took place in greater MN. This looks a lot like polarization of communities – you certainly don’t get a feeling of a diversity of opinion. In many places the “chickens elected Colonel Saunders”.
November 6, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Drive safe and have fun!
November 6, 2010 at 11:02 pm
I live in BC Canada, our food prices are already astronomical and also predicted to rise. BC harvests have largely failed this year due to rain. It stuns me whenever we cross the border how much less you pay for food and other staples, it has to change, the level of subsidy and the pouring of millions into the economy cant be good. I have some money in supplies and am seriouslly considering diverting a little more in that direction.