The rain has come down in buckets around here and the garden has responded. Everything exploded and now I have to put on my canning hat. Add in that I was offered two bushels of peaches and two of tomatoes and I will be canning day and night for the next several days. Thank goodness for the canning kitchen as it keeps the heat and humidity out of the house.
While we got rain here in Western Mass, much of the rest of the country is still suffering from a sustained drought and the heat continues to break records. Corn needs water but it also needs temperatures to stay in a range. If it gets too hot the kernels won’t pollinate, even if you irrigate. I think we can assume that increased food prices will strain family finances this winter at the same time reduced ethanol production may increase costs for gasoline. Now is the time to think ahead about food. I want to be sure to have enough to feed my family and some extra to put aside for charity. Food pantries were already hurting and need is up.
I want to give some updates on what’s been going on around here. First. I’m not going to Mother Earth News this year. I’m a bit sad about it as it’s so much fun but new authors need to be given an opportunity to attend. Next is that I’m working on a new book. I want to write something on Plan B-How regular, non-gun toting, non-bunker dwelling, non-OMG-this is the apocalypse families are handling our descent into an energy constrained future. I hate to disappoint the people who look forward to Mad Max scenarios but I don’t think the mutant zombie bikers are coming any time soon. I think it far more likely, albeit less dramatic, that we are going to see a continued slide into more poverty for many. I think there is a wealth of knowledge out there about how to make do when times get tough. I am thinking of a kind of poverty primer, even if you aren’t poor now. And poor is a relative term. I spent yesterday with my family. My brothers and sister and their respective spouses came for the day as did all my local kids. It was a great day with music and food and laughter and story sharing. I could have spent a lot of money and taken everybody to Six Flags but we would have had less fun and only generic memories. The children will always remember this day spent with their cousins, running in the rain and enjoying Uncle Rob’s chicken wings. Anyway, I’ll be asking for help on this project. If you are willing to be interviewed about how you get by I would love to here from you. Like all things worthwhile, a community is necessary.
One great piece of news is that I have been asked to blog for Lehman’s Non-Electric catalog. I’ll be blogging twice aweek about life on a small holding. There is a lot of good information on there web site so stop on over and say hello.
For the more local folks, I’m hoping to do some canning classes at my house starting in September. The canning kitchen will be in full operation by then and I’m thinking of offering the use of my equipment and experience, not to mention an extra pair of hands, for a donation to offset the cost of propane for running the stove.
The sun is shining and the air feels like velvet. I’m going to try to get in a load of peaches before the children call.
August 6, 2012 at 7:15 am
Canning is such a big job but don’t you just love to see all tose cans lined up at the end of the day. Good luck with your new book, can’t wait to gey my hands on it.
August 6, 2012 at 9:17 am
I am going to call a friend who knows how to stretch a penney until it screams for mercy, and yet enjoys a full life of fun activities as well as a job. I will ask her to sign up to help you out. Her frugality is second nature to her and I have always admired her tenacity. We also have had adequate rains here in the Twin Cities region. This year our friends from around the country have reminded us to appreciate our green and lush landscape. This is the year that I am going to start seriously preserving food. It doesn’t look good for the food supplies for this coming winter.
August 6, 2012 at 9:46 am
Hi Kathy,
Loved your post today.
We are a homeschooling homesteading family of five in southern Rensselaer Co. and I would be willing to talk to you about what “we do”, if you are interested, for the book.
I have deep envy for your outdoor kitchen…I think my husband may have a new item on the honey-do list. Especially since we’ve just dismantled our outdoor bread oven and I have a covered space just WAITING to be filled!!
Off to deal with the utility fruit…
Heidi
August 6, 2012 at 11:16 am
Please let us known when you will be offering canning classes. I know four local people who are interested in participating.
I would agree that the food pantries are in need and the numbers are rising. How wonderful that you are already assisting! We all need to offer something, as every little bit is helpful.
August 6, 2012 at 3:57 pm
I love that you’re writing about prepping without the defensive/offensive posture that it seems to take on in so many forums. I’m prepping for a slow slide into the abyss. The more I know now, the better. Someone has to know how to do everything without the grid!
August 6, 2012 at 8:42 pm
I’ve had the pantry and freezers full and then emptied at least twice since Jan. of this year. My husbands job slowed way down and then he got hurt. We have insurance but with him not working every minute of the day b/c of injury we’ve had small checks. I’m so thankful that i had enough to feed my family in this slow time!! We already live like we are “poor” just always been a way of life for us i guess, so it hasn’t been too stressful. Anyway im on a mission to restock and refuel. Its kind of fun for me really, trying to see how far things can be stretched and how much i can learn to do for myself…makes me feel wise and proud, and like a good momma and wife and citizen and human…..I feel like im living just exactly how God wants me to (most of the time) thanks so much for the encouragment and advice and teaching. God bless
August 6, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I’ve lived on a low grad student/university lecturer salary for many years. I suppose I’m used to living in poverty as a result (although it doesn’t really feel like it a lot of the time, and I’ve made the most of it and lived very frugally, so life is pretty good despite the relatively low income). I still worry about sliding into greater poverty, though, and what happens as more and more people find themselves with fewer resources. I love the idea of a book on how to make do when things get harder – it’s a resource that a lot of people are likely to need, and I suspect it’s best if we wrap our heads around it and start practicing and making changes now, rather than trying to adjust on the fly.
August 7, 2012 at 10:21 am
As I have mentioned several times on various blogs – I have a degree in Home Economics, graduated in 1968. We were educated during Pres. Johnson’s War on Poverty and taught how to make every penny do a nickel’s worth. Unfortunately, these skills are no longer taught and mostly considered out-dated. Why cook from scratch when you can buy already made? Mend, what’s that? Save for something, why not use a credit card? Make it myself, you have to be kidding? Many of the hints I read for making money go farther are just what I was taught (and much of what I was taught was what my mother & grandmother had already taught me). Your book will be much appreciated – as long as those reading it are willing to do what is necessary.
August 7, 2012 at 10:58 am
I grew up in a home where poverty wasn’t mentioned. We all just knew that we couldn’t have everything we wanted, and we learned to want very little even then. My motto since we have had more money is be frugal on everyday things so that we can have a big splurge if we want it. It also prevents panic if some emergency comes that takes up a big chunk of money (my root canal). We eat out only once or twice a month. Even then we tend to check prices before we order!
August 7, 2012 at 3:04 pm
What, no mutant zombie bikers? I’ve seen enough B movies I feel prepared for those! It’s the real-life stuff that has me worried. Thank goodness there are folks like you and Sharon Astyck who are willing to be resources in troubled times.
August 9, 2012 at 7:45 pm
I was a single mother with MS in the late nineties, I went through a very poor time. I did not ask for help from the state but instead learned to get by on 1000 a month ( I worked and received child support)for myself and my 8 year old son. It was at this time that I learned to grow a garden and provide for myself. Since that time my prospects have improved but I still practice many of the same skills that I learned at the time. The most valuable lesson I learned from that time is that I really can do for myself. In the process I have expanded my skills and provide many, many items for my family;saving us a lot of money each year.
We received a good rain here today. I am so excited to see tomatoes turning red. Last year we go late blight and I lost most of my crop. I am also trying out a dry corn called “painted mountain” the ears are looking really plump so hopefully we’ll get some cornmeal this year. I am saving seed from this corn so I can grow a larger crop for next year. I love that each year there are new opportunities to learn new things that expand my self-sufficiency.
August 9, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Oh, my gosh, Kathy…I love your Plan B! I keep reading your blog regularly while I’ve stopped reading the doomers’ stuff. Thank you so much for the calm yet realistic perspective.
Diana
August 10, 2012 at 7:54 pm
I just found you and thank goodness! I’ve been convinced of Peak Everything for quite some time but for some reason my half-hearted efforts seemed ridiculous after a trip to my in-law’s drought-stricken midwest. What horrible sights! So I started ramping up my self-education efforts and came across the shoot-’em-up-before-they-steal-my-stash-of-possum-jerky crowd. Not what I was looking for.
We’re having lovely rain here in PA and the garden is going gang busters. I’m planning to dial back on the freezer stuff and get busy dehydrating. Do you think dried sweet peppers would be good crumbled into soup and southwestern style stuff?
August 10, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Welcome to newcomers and thank you to responders for wonderful suggestions. I can’t think why red peppers would be anything but wonderful in anthing you would put fresh peppers in.
August 15, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I can’t wait to read the new book! Also if you’d like my input, my family gets by on not much, we’re self employed and do lots of fun and useful stuff in our inner-city neighbourhood.