Ground Zero Mosque...Islamaphobia, or Deliberate Provocation

Hey ya'll! Taking a break from taking a break because I feel the need to exercise my 1st amendment right.

If you haven't heard about the Islamic Center with a prayer room (aka Mosque) within visible sight of ground zero in New York, then I have to wonder which cave you've been living in.

Since 9/11, I have been very proud of my fellow Americans. 99% of us have shown great tolerance and respect toward our Muslim neighbors. A small minority have spoken out against all of Islam, but even they have used only their words. In general, I would say that it is because most Americans see a difference between liberal and moderate Muslims and the radical jerkoffs who carried out 9/11. (After all, we have the local example of liberal and moderate Christians vs. the "God hates America" radicals).

To put it plainly, we have Islamic centers all over the United States that haven't seen a bit of violence (I know of one or two instances, but that is in a sea of thousands). There is even a multi-denominational chapel near the 9/11 sight of the pentagon where Muslims pray. No one protests them. My muslim friends have only encountered one or two incidents over the past nine years. The radical muslims may believe that the United States is in a Holy War with Islam, but the people in general just haven't shown it. (And our recent charitable actions towards the disaster victims of Pakistan show different as well).

And now, suddenly, there is a nation-wide outcry of around 65% who oppose this one Islamic center. Why? Because the wound is still raw. And, in the vein of the way politics has been during this administration, the opponents are being "Islamaphobes", a word similar to racism...yes, I'm tired of simple political opposition being labeled racist as well. Its not a valid arguement...its just a way to end the arguement by saying, "sit down and shut up because we can't argue back.

Tolerance and respect are a two way street, though.

In the face of 65% opposition, one would think that the group organizing it would say, "You know...maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe we are being disrespectful. Lets move this to a place where people are less likely to be so upset." But no, they are repeating the "racist" line because they have no good reason for the center being placed where they want it.

So...are the opponents (in the face of a past that says differently) being intolerant? Or are the proponents being deliberately provocative?

Ethicist: Should this be the last generation?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/should-this-be-the-last-generation/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Go ahead. Read it. I can't tell if this guy is one of those environmental extremists that believe all humans should die, or if he's just so darn depressed about his own crappy childhood and adulthood that he thinks no human should ever again have children.

It seems to me that this is the direction the environmentalists are going. They are so depressed that they are practically suicidal. They simply can't go outside and enjoy the birds and trees, or enjoy digging in the dirt to plant their organic garden. They hate themselves and all of humanity so much they just want themselves, and the rest of us, to just die.

Trust me, this is a psychosis caused by the recent parenting phenom known as "children must be happy all the time". Parents and teachers, rather than expecting the child to behave, find ways to make and keep them "happy". And this crap is even filtering into the psychology of teachers and caregivers.

Hey, guys....the only people in my life who have ever been happy 24/7 were pot-smokers...and that is a big no-no. And what happens is a nervous, severly depressed adult who can't handle even the minor disappointments. They often end up on anti-depressents, self-medicating with illicit substances, or having an adult temper tantrum that turns dangerous. Or, they simply pretend to have a moral superiority over the rest of us and believe that we should all simply die to save the planet.

Well, to this group, I have one thing to say. Okay, but you first.

Amish Farmers Face Government Scrutiny

link to original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/science/earth/09amish.html

The E.P.A. has declared that the Amish version of farming (that is, using manure instead of synthetic fertilizers) is causing an environmental disaster, as it runs off into waterways.

But lets look at this from an angle the E.P.A. doesn't seem to have...common sense.

Long before mankind ever started farming....back when we were hunter-gatherers....animals created dookie. Ducks, geese, and swans poo. Deer poo. Rabbits poo. Raccoons and beaver poo. Yes, even lizards and amphibians poo. Guess what....fish poo, too. And that poo was more than likely to end up in the streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually the ocean. (Remember...sharks and whales poo, too.) Its a symbiotic relationship...animals eat the plants and breath the oxygen the plants create...in return, the animals create the carbon dioxide the plants themselves breath, and their poo in turn fertilizes the ground for the next generation of plants.

When mankind actually began farming, he realized that poo was good farming. Now, originally, this was done the cheap way....semi-nomadic herders were given the right to allow their animals to graze in fields after the grains were cut down. And, naturally, as animals poo while they are grazing, the field was fertilized.

The practice continued with crop rotation....traditional farmers would switch their fields around, and a field where animals grazed (and fertilized the ground) would be included...and the next year, the field would be wonderful for planting crops.

If you did take the time to read the article, you will notice that it is ADMITTED that synthetic fertilizers run off into the waterways as well. And yet, the E.P.A. has decided that its the ancient practice of fertilizing with manure that is causing the more recent problems.

So one has to wonder....is the E.P.A. scared of big chemical agro-business? Or are they in bed with them, and are simply trying to drive the small organic farmer out of business? Or is this just a part of the recent psychotic environmentalism that wants all humans and animals (yes, even the bunny in the forest and the dolphin in the ocean) to simply roll over and die?

I don't know. You decide for yourself.

And another urban myth floating around....

Another urban myth floating around is the belief that Census workers can enter your apartment you aren't there to count how many toothbrushes there are. Of course, people are upset about this because they fear their property being taken.

I've got good news for you....this rumor is another one that is quite simply wrong.

The specific law states that apartment managers and owners cannot prevent Census workers from going door to door in the complex (even where the law allows them to prevent door to door soliciting). If the Census workers are unable after many visits to contact the residents of the apartment, they do have the right to walk into the office and demand to see the paperwork that states who is suppose to be living there. However, they are NOT allowed to enter your apartment without your express permission. In fact, they shouldn't be "entering" your apartment at all.

----

Don't get me wrong, I'm not all cuddly about the Census. This is our third Census year...the previous two we had Census workers knock on our door to fill out the long form despite the fact that we had already filled out and sent in the short form as we were asked to by Big Brother. And frankly, I'll be really ticked if they knock on my door again (because they aren't suppose to be bothering those who have already fulfilled the obligation).

I'm just saying that we need to calm down and think about things before we go blabbing these urban myths...kay?

HOPI 2012 prophecy...a false prophecy?

To those who know me, I know I don't look it, but I am part First Nation (I tend to resemble my Norse and Celtic ancestors). But even before it was confirmed that I had a Cree ancestress, I had done extensive study on the Native American People before the arrival of whites from Europe. Of course, I also did the same for my Celtic and Norse ancestors before the arrival of the Romans, and I greatly enjoy the comparison and contrast between the cultures of both continents.

There was always one thing that stuck out in the contrast, though...as much alike as my Celtic and American ancestors were at varying degrees and levels, the Native Americans had no knowledge of metal.

Recently I came across a supposed Hopi prophecy about 2012. Well, I can tell you right now it is a FALSE prophecy with a modern author. How can I tell you this for certain? Because the prophecy speaks of "Snakes of Iron", meaning of course train tracks.

The Hopi people would have had NO IDEA what iron was until AFTER the arrival of whites from Spain, who would have also brought with them guns, cattle, and wheeled vehicles...other things that are mentioned in this so-called "prophecy".

My guess is that this prophecy was written in modern times. My guess is that it was written by some well-meaning white person who sees all white people as greedy, mean, and evil, and all brown people as angelic. Why do I say this? Well, with all of the nasty talk about the greedy white man in this prophecy, it gives a pass to any white person who grows their hair long and picks up aspects of the Native American culture. Convenient for the long-haired hippy white boy, eh?

Side Note: Trust me...human failings are universal. After all, it was the African Kings who sold their own people into slavery to the Dutch and English slavers, and it was Native American chiefs who sold their people's land thinking they were snookering the whites because they thought no one could own the land. (And no, I don't discount the human failing of the whites involved in these instances either. My point is that human failings trascend all races and creeds.) The only sweet and angelic people are the rest of us schmucks, of all races and creeds, going about our daily lives who end up getting injurred by the failings of others.

But the human failing where it concerns this prophecy is that well meaning people whose hearts are in the right place keep passing it on without using their God-given brains to even consider the fact that it is not a real prophecy. Just as with the wheel of life, the heart and mind also cannot work without one another.

For the sake of everything, people, use your frackin' heads!

Survivalism: Everyone should be a survivor

The image that people get in their minds when they think of survivalists is the same one that the media pushes...some guy sitting on a pile of MRE's and a cache of weapons waiting for the end of the world.

They don't even remotely talk about people who have some food and water stored up in their basement in the event of a tornado.

Our country (the United States, that is) has all kinds of disaster relief agencies, as well as individuals willing to help in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The most notorious of these is FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, we must all be aware of what truly goes on here. The government agencies first priority is not helping the individual victim of a disaster. Their #1 priority will be continuity of government. And often, they hand down the orders that prevent other relief agencies and individual volunteers from entering the area and lending a hand until they are certain that the government is in tact and working.

So, you are on your own. Or, perhaps, you and your neighbors are on your own. Thus, you are responsible for your own survival or rescue until FEMA has secured the government.

So....how does one take care of one's self?


#1

Have a plan. What are your more-than-likely emergencies? Around here, we don't get hurricanes...but we get plenty of tornadoes and ice storms. So, 99 times out of 100, we are going to be sheltering in place.

However, your more-than-likely emergency might be a hurricane. Or flooding. Or perhaps earthquakes and wild fires. Your plan may have to including "bugging out". Personally, I would suggest preparing for both.


#2

List what you will need. The important things you will need are water, food, shelter, protection, supplies, and communications. One of the things I always suggest is to get a Boy Scout manual and study the camping supplies list. No, you don't have to purchase everything on the list...just have them, or something similar. Your plan, like ours, may be sheltering in place (staying at home)...however, having a bug-out bag (also known as a "G.O.O.D.", Get Out Of Dodge, bag).

And then, of course, be ready! Check your supplies minimally twice a year....make sure everything is working and the food isn't expired. If there is a hurricane coming, be ready to leave before they give the evacuation signal. Have your bug-out bags ready in the event of an earthquake, fire, or flood and your house becomes dangerous to remain in.

#3 WATER

You will need to be able to locate, carry, and purify your water. This can be as simple as having a couple of cases of bottled water that you purchased at your grocery store. It can also be as complicated as having a Berkey water filter, touted as being able to filter the nasiest of stagnant pond water. Of course, for Bug-Out bags or vehicle, you will need to scale these down a bit. (There are smaller versions of water filters for camping).


#4 Food: No, you do not need to get MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat, or Meals Rejected by Ethiopians). You can have canned food that you are use to eating, like spaghetti-o's or Cambel's soup (or the organic equivilant). There are dehydrated meals in a cup that you add boiling water to and let it sit for 3-5 minutes...usually Ramen-style noodles or soups. There is also back-packing food.

And as you are getting your food, you have to think of how you are going to prepare it and eat it. Have plenty of water on hand for those items that need water. You can get camping equipment as a means to cook your food if necessary.


#5. Shelter.

This can be your own home, your vehicle, camping supplies, or a hotel in some far off place (and the money and means to get to that hotel room). Include light and heat (or cooling) as a part of this. In the event of an ice storm which takes out your power, you will be better off staying at home with a wood-burning fireplace and kerosene lantern than braving the icy streets to search for a hotel room that still has power.


#6 Protection

I know, my more liberal of friends are probably groaning right now. I'm not asking everyone to run out and buy and AK-47. However, you need some form of reliable protection. Trust me...the predators don't care about the economy or any liberal psychology of a perfect world. Predators are predators, and they take advantage of situations where their prey are helpless and vulnerable. How many rapes and robberies went on in the GOVERNMENT APPROVED SHELTER during and after hurricane Katrina? For heaven's sake...have at least some mace on hand. Take a self-protection course. You may not be just protecting yourself...you could be protecting someone helpless.


#7 Supplies

The list of supplies could be long. I suggest you look at the boy scout camping supply lists, as well as Bug-Out or G.O.O.D lists written by survivalists. Adjust the lists to your needs, and get the most important things first. Pay attention to the needs of small children (diapers, bottles), women (sanitary needs), and those with medical conditions (battery-run nebulizers, medications, etc.) Don't take "go to the hospital" from your doctor as an answer to your medical needs in times of an emergency....the hospital may be overwhelmed....or perhaps it won't even be there.


#8 communications

This can be as simple as a battery powered radio to listen to, or it can be a solar-powered AM/FM/Weather/Television with crank power backup, and military-grade walkie-talkies for each member of the family. The truth is, during a disaster, you will want a way to get information. Not to mention that often times, listening to the radio makes great therapy during a time of disaster....you know you aren't completely alone.

Peak Moment: 4-acres and Independence

This four-acre homestead is great! The video itself has a lot of great ideas about clearing scrap land, protecting geese from coyotes, building from scrap materials, solar drying, and other self-reliant subjects.

Warning to conservatives: Peak Moment is a video series by Peak Oilers (which many conservatives lable as "liberals"). Just remember....self-reliance is self reliance. We here at Smallacre Homestead read both Mother Earth News and Backwood's Home magazines. We may not agree on the reasoning, but we can all use the same techniques.



If the video fails, you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl01au5pXm0&playnext_from=TL&videos=bBO2iFbyhyU


(p.s. to guy in video....the moths you are finding in your jar are meal moths. They lay their eggs in dry food stores. Best methods to control them are pantry pest traps as well as "seek and destroy").

Garden Girl: Making Jam

Okay, some minor tips (criticisms?) for newbies who are trying to learn from this video:

1. We use a simple food mill rather than the monster juicing machine Patti is using. It works just fine.

2. Pectin comes from apples, but it can also come from under-ripe fruits of all types. A mix of 30% under-ripe and 70% ripe should do the same trick as pectin.

3. Patti is making a big ol' freakin mess there...a soup ladel and a canning funnel would be a smart choice to use for equipment. The canning funnel can also help keep the rims of the jars clean.

4. Patti is using a pressure canner, but she is using it as a boiling water canner. For boiling water canning, all you need is a pot big enough to fit the jars in with enough water to cover the jars. A pressure canner is not necessary.



If there is trouble with the video, view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJdRa2ZAiL4&playnext_from=TL&videos=Kq-Uncl9_xg&feature=sub

If you wish, you can use your own preferred sweetener instead of sugar. Honey and (real) maple syrup have more nutrients and less calories than corn syrup (which is what is used to make commercial jams and jellies).

Making your own fruit jams and jellies are really not that difficult. As long as you follow directions, you shouldn't fail. But even if you do fail and it doesn't gel, it still tastes good...they can be used as syrup rather than jelly (strawberry syrup on pancakes....mmmmm....). And the best part is that it will be easy to see if you didn't can it right, so there is no chance of getting ill from it.

Attacking Rand Paul on Civil Rights

Yes, Rand Paul said it. The Federal government had no business enforcing the civil rights act. No, not the bill of rights, but certain civil rights such as the ability to ride anywhere you want on a bus, the ability to walk into any business, and the ability to work at particular businesses despite race, gender, orientation, etc, etc.

And Rand Paul is being attacked about this. Never mind that he said he WOULDN'T repeal it. Just that he wouldn't have endorsed it if he had been in the senate at the time.

But what these newspaper articles are NOT saying is that the enforcement of these civil rights is not the DUTY of the federal government, but rather the DUTY of the states. And if you didn't like the state you were living in because it did not enforce these civil rights, then you could hurt the state by boycotting it....don't visit, don't buy from, don't live there. Today, wealthy people boycott higher taxes by moving to a state with lower taxes, thus hurting the first state's tax revenue. States are discovering that when they raise taxes, their revenue goes down. Amazing, isn't it?

Trust me, it works. Its the power of the people. And it was the power of the people that made civil rights work far more than the power of the federal government.



My parents brought me up without racism. I have heard thousands of people saying the same thing...we were brought up without racism. And if I've heard thousands say it, then the true number is in the millions. This was the choice of our parents. It was not mandated by either the federal government or the state government. It just simply was. It was the direction our country was going at the time we were born.

And it was a good thing. Racism coming from ANYONE, whether white on black, black on white, brown on yellow, or whatever, is just wrong. Having been brought up without racism, I simply can't understand why an individual would be racist, other than the clinical overview that it is a form of primitive tribalism. My tribe good, your tribe bad.

No, folks, we are a different tribe now. We're Americans. E Pluribus Unum...One from out of the many.

But there are people now who want to KEEP racism going. And honestly...I think they are the democrats. Anyone who wants the federal government to stay within its constitutionally-mandated limits is a racist. What does that have to do with racism? Absolutely nothing. They are race pimps, race whores....just as many in the Republican party use the Faith of their constituants to herd them, the Democrats are using your race as a means to herd YOU.

Both sides want us seperate. They want us fighting. They are shaking the red cape in front of the bull so that we attack the red cape. They don't want us coming together and realizing that while we are chasing the red cape, they are holding a sword to our backs. And while they glibly talk of civil rights, they are taking away ALL of our natural born rights (also known as the bill of rights, or amendments 1-10). And they want to take these rights away equally, from black, white, brown, yellow, pink and purple.

Freedom, folks. That's what it all boils down to. Freedom. Rand Paul is sticking up for the very document that made this country great, and they DO NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CONTROL YOU LIKE A FREAKIN ROBOT! You aren't a robot. You are an American. You were born free. Now go out there and act like it.

That's my rant for today. Thank you for reading.

Meet the Wilder Boys!

A blog run by three boys, ages 6 to 12, who are being raised on a Kansas Homestead. Call them Small, Medium, and Large. Very sweet, with pockets of information. Follow them!

http://thewilderboys.blogspot.com/

What you need to survive Financial Collapse

Via Millenium Ark http://www.standeyo.com/index1.html (My comments in blue)

20 Things You Will Need to Survive When the Economy Collapses and the Next Great Depression Begins

Today, millions of Americans say that they believe that the United States is on the verge of a major economic collapse and will soon be entering another Great Depression. But only a small percentage of those same people are prepared for that to happen. The sad truth is that the vast majority of Americans would last little more than a month on what they have stored up in their homes. Most of us are so used to running out to the supermarket or to Wal-Mart for whatever we need that we never even stop to consider what would happen if suddenly we were not able to do that. Already the U.S. economy is starting to stumble about like a drunken frat boy. All it would take for the entire U.S. to resemble New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina would be for a major war, a terror attack, a deadly pandemic or a massive natural disaster to strike at just the right time and push the teetering U.S. economy over the edge. So just how would you survive if you suddenly could not rely on the huge international corporate giants to feed, clothe and supply you and your family? Do you have a plan?

Unless you already live in a cave or you are a complete and total mindless follower of the establishment media, you should be able to see very clearly that our society is more vulnerable now than it ever has been. This year there have been an unprecedented number of large earthquakes around the world and volcanoes all over the globe are awakening. You can just take a look at what has happened in Haiti and in Iceland to see how devastating a natural disaster can be. Not only that, but we have a world that is full of lunatics in positions of power, and if one of them decides to set off a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon in a major city it could paralyze an entire region. War could erupt in the Middle East at literally any moment, and if it does the price of oil will double or triple (at least) and there is the possibility that much of the entire world could be drawn into the conflict. Scientists tell us that a massive high-altitude EMP (electromagnetic pulse) blast could send large portions of the United States back to the stone age in an instant. In addition, there is the constant threat that the outbreak of a major viral pandemic (such as what happened with the 1918 Spanish Flu) could kill tens of millions of people around the globe and paralyze the economies of the world. But even without all of that, the truth is that the U.S. economy is going to collapse. So just think of what will happen if one (or more) of those things does happen on top of all the economic problems that we are having.

Are you prepared?

The following is a list of 20 things you and your family will need to survive when the economy totally collapses and the next Great Depression begins....

#1) Storable FoodFood is going to instantly become one of the most valuable commodities in existence in the event of an economic collapse. If you do not have food you are not going to survive. Most American families could not last much longer than a month on what they have in their house right now. So what about you? If disaster struck right now, how long could you survive on what you have? The truth is that we all need to start storing up food. If you and your family run out of food, you will suddenly find yourselves competing with the hordes of hungry people who are looting the stores and roaming the streets looking for something to eat.

Of course you can grow your own food, but that is going to take time. So you need to have enough food stored up until the food that you plant has time to grow. But if you have not stored up any seeds you might as well forget it. When the economy totally collapses, the remaining seeds will disappear very quickly. So if you think that you are going to need seeds, now is the time to get them.

While the food preparedness companies are great, they are often costly, not to mention that a "year's" worth of food is often not a year for every person. (Although Big John Lipscomb has some decently priced survival food). I have found most of the seeds these companies sell to be a much better price than the crapola one gets at the hardware store or Walmart. However, the motto of many of these storable food companies is "If you don't get it from us, get it somewhere. Just get it."

And yes, this includes bags of rice, cases of Ramen Noodles, boxes of Mac N Cheese and cans of Chef Boyardee from your local grocery store. They aren't perfect, but it beats starving to death, or having to wait with a restless mob for someone to throw MRE's (Meals Rejected by Ethiopians) out of the back of a truck.

Also, its a good idea to begin researching wild food, and (if local law allows it) have a BB or air rifle (pump action, not the ones that require air canisters) for hunting pigeons and the like. In Germany during WWII, many people survived on the wild food around them...but most people back then had a BB gun or a regular gun. Most Americans and Europeans today do not.

#2) Clean Water Most people can survive for a number of weeks without food, but without water you will die in just a few days. So where would you get water if the water suddenly stopped flowing out of your taps? Do you have a plan? Is there an abundant supply of clean water near your home? Would you be able to boil water if you need to?Besides storing water and figuring out how you are going to gather water if society breaks down, another thing to consider is water purification tablets. The water you are able to gather during a time of crisis may not be suitable for drinking. So you may find that water purification tablets come in very, very handy.

Get a water filter. Of some kind. Of any kind. Have buckets or kiddie-pools for when it rains.

#3) Shelter You can't sleep on the streets, can you? Well, some people will be able to get by living on the streets, but the vast majority of us will need some form of shelter to survive for long. So what would you do if you and your family lost your home or suddenly were forced from your home? Where would you go? The best thing to do is to come up with several plans. Do you have relatives that you can bunk with in case of emergency? Do you own a tent and sleeping bags if you had to rough it? If one day everything hits the fan and you and your family have to "bug out" somewhere, where would that be? You need to have a plan.

Coleman has some decent, yet not too expensive, camping equipment. They aren't the greatest, but they do work. The sleeping bags are also great for covering windows (to block out light or cold), or (completely unzipped) laying down atop one's bed during the winter.

#4) Warm Clothing If you plan to survive for long in a nightmare economic situation, you are probably going to need some warm, functional clothing. If you live in a cold climate, this is going to mean storing up plenty of blankets and cold weather clothes. If you live in an area where it rains a lot, you will need to be sure to store up some rain gear. If you think you may have to survive outdoors in an emergency situation, make sure that you and your family have something warm to put on your heads. Someday after the economy has collapsed and people are scrambling to survive, a lot of folks are going to end up freezing to death. In fact, in the coldest areas it is actually possible to freeze to death in your own home. Don't let that happen to you.

Two words: Wool socks! A good blend of lamb's wool and synthetic fibers are nice and warm (even when wet), and don't have that itchy feeling (although I've been told that the itch caused by wool is actually chemicals used to process it, not the wool itself.)

#5) An Axe Staying along the theme of staying warm, you may want to consider investing in a good axe. In the event of a major emergency, gathering firewood will be a priority. Without a good tool to cut the wood with that will be much more difficult.

Beware Asian Steel! Its weak as crap. Also, have a plan for sharpening one's tools.

#6) Lighters Or Matches You will also want something to start a fire with. If you can start a fire, you can cook food, you can boil water and you can stay warm. So in a true emergency situation, how do you plan to start a fire? By rubbing sticks together? Now is the time to put away a supply of lighters or matches so that you will be prepared when you really need them. In addition, you may want to consider storing up a good supply of candles. Candles come in quite handy whenever the electricity goes out, and in the event of a long-term economic nightmare we will all see why our forefathers relied on candles so much.

Lehman's catalogue has some excellent olive oil candle kits. Olive oil, while flammable, is not combustable in case you are a little wary of keeping Kerosene in your house. If Kerosene doesn't bother you, Lehman's has a wide range of lighting options.

#7) Hiking Boots Or Comfortable Shoes When you ask most people to list things necessary for survival, this is not the first or the second thing that comes to mind. But having hiking boots or very comfortable and functional shoes will be absolutely critical. You may very well find yourself in a situation where you and your family must walk everywhere you want to go. So how far do you think you will get in high heels? You will want footwear that you would feel comfortable walking in for hours if necessary. You will also want footwear that will last a long time, because when the economy truly collapses you may not be able to run out to the shoe store and get what you need at that point.

Keep a look out for factory seconds of police or military boots. I got a pair of women's police-grade desert boots (meaning they are tan instead of green or black), made in America, for only $10 several years ago. I use them for work and hiking. They even work great on ice and snow.

#8) A Flashlight And/Or Lantern When the power goes off in your home, what is the first thing that you grab? Just think about it. A flashlight or a lantern of course. In a major emergency, a flashlight or a lantern is going to be a necessity - especially if you need to go anywhere at night. Solar powered or "crank style" flashlights or lanterns will probably be best during a long-term emergency. If you have battery-powered units you will want to begin storing up lots and lots of batteries.

See #6 above.

#9) A RadioIf a major crisis does hit the United States, what will you and your family want? Among other things, you will all want to know what in the world is going on. A radio can be an invaluable tool for keeping up with the news. Once again, solar powered or "crank style" radios will probably work best for the long term. A battery-powered until would work as well - but only for as long as your batteries are able to last.

#10) Communication Equipment When things really hit the fan you are going to want to communicate with your family and friends. You will also want to be able to contact an ambulance or law enforcement if necessary. Having an emergency cell phone is great, but it may or may not work during a time of crisis. The Internet also may or may not be available. Be sure to have a plan (whether it be high-tech or low-tech) for staying in communication with others during a major emergency.

#11) A Swiss Army Knife If you have ever owned a Swiss Army knife you probably already know how incredibly handy they can be. It can be a very valuable and versatile tool. In a true survival situation, a Swiss Army knife can literally do dozens of different things for you. Make sure that you have at least one stored up for emergencies.

Again, be choosy. We are getting low grade crap from Asia that are dull and cannot be sharpened.

#12) Personal Hygiene Items While these may not be absolute "essentials", the truth is that life will get very unpleasant very quickly without them. For example, what would you do without toilet paper? Just think about it. Imagine that you just finished your last roll of toilet paper and now you can't get any more. What would you do? The truth is that soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and other hygiene products are things that we completely take for granted in society today. So what would happen if we could not go out and buy them any longer?

Think about children and women's products, too.

#13) A First Aid Kit And Other Medical Supplies One a more serious note, you may not be able to access a hospital or a doctor during a major crisis. In your survival supplies, be absolutely certain that you have a good first aid kit and any other medical supplies that you think you may need.

#14) Extra Gasoline There may come a day when gasoline is rationed or is simply not available at all. If that happens, how will you get around? Be certain to have some extra gasoline stored away just in case you find yourself really needing to get somewhere someday.

#15) A Sewing Kit If you were not able to run out and buy new clothes for you and your family, what would you do? Well, you would want to repair the clothes that you have and make them last as long as possible. Without a good sewing kit that will be very difficult to do.

#16) Self-Defense Equipment Whether it is pepper spray to fend off wild animals or something more "robust" to fend off wild humans, millions of Americans will one day be thankful that they have something to defend themselves with.

#17) A Compass In the event of a major emergency, you and your family may find yourselves having to be on the move. If you are in a wilderness area, it will be very hard to tell what direction you are heading without a compass. It is always a good idea to have at least one compass stored up.

#18) A Hiking Backpack If you and your family suddenly have to "bug out", what will you carry all of your survival supplies in? Having a good hiking backpack or "survival bag" for everyone in your family is extremely important. If something happened in the city where you live and you suddenly had to "go", what would you put your most important stuff in? How would you carry it all if you had to travel by foot? These are very important things to think about.

#19) A CommunityDuring a long-term crisis, it is those who are willing to work together that will have the best chance of making it. Whether it is your family, your friends, a church or a local group of people that you know, make sure that you have some people that you can rely on and work together with in the event that everything hits the fan. Loners are going to have a really hard time of surviving for long.

#20) A Backup Plan Lastly, it is always, always, always important to have a backup plan for everything.

If someone comes in and steals all the food that you have stored up, what are you going to do?

If travel is restricted and your can't get to your "bug out" location immediately do you have a Plan B?

If you have built your house into an impregnable survival fortress but circumstances force you to leave do you have an alternate plan?

The truth is that crisis situations rarely unfold just as we envision. It is important to be flexible and to be ready with backup plans when disaster strikes.

You don't want to end up like the folks in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. You don't want to have to rely on the government to take care of you if something really bad happens.

Right now the U.S. strategic grain reserve contains only enough wheat to make half a loaf of bread for each of the approximately 300 million people in the United States.

How long do you think that is going to last?

Now is the time to get ready.

Now is the time to prepare.

The United States economy is going to collapse and incredibly hard times are coming.

Will you be able to survive when it happens?

Sterlizing water cheaply

Yes, this is true! The picture I have here is one African villages solution to sterilizing water, called the Sodis solution. Simply take water that isn't brown, put it in a pop bottle, place the pop bottle over something metal for six hours. Viola! The UV light has destroyed any pathogen that might be inside the bottle.

Please note: this does not remove any chemical or radiological contaminants that may be in your drinking water.

For brown water, you can make a variety of simple water filters using charcoal and sand. One version that I saw used two buckets, one hanging over the other. The top bucket was filled with charcoal and sand, and had one or several holes drilled in the bottom. The bottom bucket was empty, ready to catch the filtered water. Be sure and changed the charcoal and sand when needed to prevent bacterial build-up (our commercial water filter says the change is needed every three months.)

Just two great ideas if you do not have a Katadyn, Berkey, or other commercially built water filter.

Update: Well, there might not have been any tornado sirens, but SOMETHING ripped through our town (and a town south of us). Less than a mile from here, trees and fences were ripped to shreds. A friend of ours in the smaller town to the south said it went through his neighborhood, too. It was even on the news....trees into roofs, walls ripped off the side of houses, cars thrown into each other or into garage doors. Our buddy was lucky he had no damage to his property. No one was hurt by this "strong wind" (as the news called it).

Urban Homestead Update: Sad face is sad....

Okay, maybe not so much.

We've had record rain around here, and its a bit chilly (odd for this time of year), so going out and working in the garden is not exactly on the list. I don't feel like hypothermia. Not to mention that the pathways between the beds are flooded. So, naturally, I turn to the internet....and my gurus just seem to be dropping off the face of the earth. Oh, I know...I'm not THAT spoiled. I understand fully that if it wasn't chilly and raining here I'd be outside working too.

Man, but we've had some whopper of thunderstorms, though. Its a bit crazy...Mr. Man (our oldest child) and I had a movie going to distract the little ones. A wave of thunderstorms came and went. Five minutes after it passed through, I noticed (even over the movie) that it suddenly got dead silent outside. Mr. Man and I just looked at each other. "I don't like that." Two minutes later, BOOM BOOM BOOM! Needless to say, hubby and I had a Little Man sleeping between us last night. Oh, joy, cannot wait until the pretty princess goes through this stage....she snores. I just hope the one gets over it before the other starts it up. Our bed isn't big enough. But all is well that ends well...no tornado sirens went off, and no lightning hit our roof.

I can look out the kitchen window and see that our potatoes are getting HUGE. Good Lord in Heaven, what have I done? We can't produce enough compost to keep these suckers buried. Looks like we'll have to steal the neighbor's grass clippings. I guess we'll just have to see whether these monster plants actually produces decent-sized potatoes.

Our peach trees have dozens of little peaches on them. Since we planted them two years ago (and last year we had extreme frost) we have no idea how many of these peaches will survive to maturity, and how many we'll have to share with the local wildlife. It also looks like we may end up with a bumber crop of grapes. It reminds me so much of sitting at my great-aunt's counter top, completely spoiling my dinner with an entire bowl of her grapes. The new grape vine, which replaces the Wysteria that never flowered, seems to be growing like crazy, too.

I can also see the lettuce from our kitchen window...a beautiful landscape of greens and reds. And I was outside long enough a couple of days ago to see that the tomatoes and peppers look happy in their little spaces, and that the corn is popping up. And soon as these thunderstorms go away (or I'll brave sloshing through the flooded landscape to get to the semi-raised beds), we'll be planting beans.




The hubby approached me yesterday with this weird look on his face. "The price of tomatoes has jumped."

Yes, dear, I know. And when we get our 1 cent tomatoes on the table, I'm sure you will appreciate the effort.

Mrs. Palin is WRONG.

Call me a Right-Winger if you want to. After all, I do agree with a lot of the conservative rhetoric. However, when it comes to religion and the governments involvement in it....awe, heck no!

Governor Palin was on the O'Reilly Factor talking about the National Day of Prayer, but she went a bit further than her usual party line of calling America a Christian Nation. "I think we should keep this clean, keep it simple, go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant," she said. "They're quite clear that we would create law based on the God of the Bible and the 10 commandments, its pretty simple."

Well....THERE GOES THE SABBATH.

Let me reiterate that. The 10 commandments strictly forbids working on the sabbath. This would mean that there is one day of the week in which there would be no doctors, no nurses, no EMT's, no firefighters, and no police working at all. If you are raped, robbed, or have a heart attack on this day....oh well. This would also mean that gas stations would be closed, and anyone caught mowing their lawn on that particular day would get hung.

But lets look at this even more logically...lets ignore the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom and pretend that the first amendment was based solely for the religious freedom of Christians. So now we have to ask....which Christians? Every Christian, even those who attend the same church, interprets the Bible differently. This was the cause of much consternation in Europe well before the American Continent was discovered. It was the reason why the pilgrims and puritans came here in the first place...because someone deemed that they weren't the *right* type of Christian. When it came to ratifying the Constitution (with its making a test of religion for office illegal) and the bill of rights (with its strictness in individual religious liberty) , they were, again, an extreme minority...so they whole heartedly accepted the fact that there would be religious freedom.

But lets look at a current example of religious interpretation....Israel is the perfect example. Its obvious that Judaism is the national faith, and that Jewish laws are observed. Unfortunately, people who do not follow the Hasidic (fundamentalist) interpretation are often finding themselves the victims of such law interpretation. As an example....an orthodox Jewish woman was beaten and kicked in the face because she refused to give up her seat for several ultra-orthodox men....even though it was not one of the busses that segregated the men and women. Not to mention that the particular Jewish law these men are claiming to follow only demands that women sit in the back of the synogogue, not the bus. So who is right? The attackers, or the victim?

Of course, I never heard of such a law among the Christians. But lets take prayer for example. The same people that Mrs. Palin is pandering to (in other words, trying to get their vote) are the same ones who want prayer put into the school ciriculum. However, I happen to be one of those who follows Mathew 6:5...only hypocrits pray in public. Would I or my children be beaten because we refuse to pray in public?

Is this what you want for the United States, Mrs. Palin? Where Christians come to blows because of interpretation? Where a Baptist child is paddled in school because he believes paying homage to the flag is idolatry? Where a half-Jewish child is attacked by an adult because his mother simply asked for the teachers to be sensitive to the needs of children who do not practice Christmas? Because this is what you are asking for. And yes...these two latter incidents did occur right here in the United States in the past 10 years.

And I guarantee you...if you attempt to create a state-run (or even state-sponsered) religion, these incidents will increase. Is that right? Is that Christian? No, its no more Christian than getting thousands of people to believe the lie that our Founding Fathers were Puritans and wanted a Christian Theocracy. In fact, the latter act breaks at least TWO (if not three) of the 10 commandments that these liars claim to hold so high. (They, like most Christians who vehemently defend the 10 commandments, probably can't even repeat more than one or two).

But more than this....I don't WANT the state telling me what to believe, or how and when I should bend my knee and bow my head, and to whom I should bend and bow to. After all....is it really Jesus the state is promoting? Every time a puritan-faithed preacher or senator is caught with drugs, caught not paying their taxes, caught with female prostitutes and male prostitutes...it diminishes any thought that these people have our best interest in heart when they preach from the pulpit or the town hall meeting. It just drives home the fact that these power mongers are using our faith against us to gain more money and more power.

Please, people...don't let these whore mongers prostitute your faith. Follow the law and the faith as God tells you to follow it. Never let another human use your faith against you, or stand between you and your God. And rebuke any religious leader who wants you to do the opposite. Chances are, they are being paid to change their theology to what the state demands them to.

Okay....so now I'm a liberal for wanting the state to stay the F*** out of my beliefs as well as out of my underwear drawer. *Yawn*. Whatever. Go eat some grass.

The Maple Tree

Anyone who has tried to have a garden with one of these trees in the area knows how utterly annoying they (or more correctly, their seeds) can be. The seeds fall off the tree and helicopter down...usually after the garden has been tilled for summer planting. They also like to propagate along fences, houses, and any other structure where the lawn mower just can't reach.

However, maple trees are quite useful to humankind. The wood is used for building as well as for smoking meats. As they produce pollen earlier than many other plants out there, they are a very important source of pollen for honey bees.

All maple trees can make maple syrup, but that from the sugar maple is far, far superior to the rest. It takes about 40 liters of maple sap to make maple syrup. The original brown sugar was made out of maple syrup (today, it is usually cane sugar with maple flavoring added). Native Americans and pioneers would boil the sap down to make both syrup and sugar, and candy was made by dropping globs of hot maple syrup into snow. The syrup is usually gathered very early spring (often when there is still some snow on the ground), when the sap first begins to run after the tree's winter nap.

The leaves of the maple tree were traditionally packed around apples and other root cellar crops to help preserve them.

The seeds, as annoying as they are to those who take care of gardens or landscapes, are edible. They taste somewhere between peas and hominy. The more mature the seed is, the more tannin it contains, making it increasingly bitter the more mature they are. The general rule is smaller is sweeter, bigger is bitter. However, the bitterness can be removed by boiling them in a manner similar to that of acorns. They can be served not to differently from peas or hominy, or they can be dried or roasted and used like nuts. Dried Maple seeds can be ground into flour...however, like acorns, the flour may be too heavy, and it would be best to use it to stretch out flour supplies.

Real maple syrup is high in manganese and zinc, and has a decent amount of iron and calcium. Unfortunately, most of the "pancake" syrup we get today is simply corn syrup with maple flavoring added. I've been looking at the nutritional counter for 100 g of maple syrup and 100 g of corn syrup (with maple flavoring added), and found that not only does maple syrup have far surperior nutritional value (corn syrup has almost none), it also has fewer calories! Of course, it is far more expensive.

Caution The following is for your entertainment and informational purposes only. We are not doctors. We do not play on television. And we certainly do not offer medical advice. Please use your best judgment and make your own decisions.

Maple tree bark is mildly toxic. However, a tea made from the bark is often used to treat snake bites, or to help new mothers produce milk. However, with the toxicity of the bark, I would not use it for the latter.

Acorns, the nutty flour

It may be in the 50's outside, but...dang! After getting use to the warmer weather, it feels like its freezing! No one is in the mood to do much of anything. So, I've been using Mother's Day to put together a bunch of posts (see below).

No, I'm not slacking....I AM the mom, so these people should be waiting on me and foot today....lol!

Acorns are the nuts of the oak tree. Acorns are an important forage food for many animals (and humans)...in fact, pigs use to be pastured under oak trees to fatten them up without any problems. However, in large amounts, acorns are not good for horses, cattle, goats, and sheep...and yes, even humans.... due to the high amount of tannin in them, possibly causing liver damage. Despite being bad for them, though, these animals will actually crave acorns. (You will need to process acorns for them as you would for yourself).

I'll warn you....its an awful lot of work, but in a survival situation, it beats starving.

However, despite all of this, acorns were once considered an important food to humans, and still is some cultures. Koreans even make acorn jelly and acorn noodles. The Japanese once used them to make acorn cakes. They were also an important food to the native Americans, especially in California. Some even claim that the ancient Celts made a cookie-like yeast bread out of them, but that information is suspect to me.

Avoid any acorn that has a damaged shell or a dark hole...these will have worms in them (unless you like that sort of thing). White oak acorns are notably low on tannin, and require little if any processing...but that makes it a preferred food, and thus white oaks are few and far between. Everybody seems to have a different method of processing them.

Today's California native Americans gather black oak acorns that have dropped on the ground and will fill any container (even an entire room) with them. They then stir them at least a couple of times a week. (The lady who's aunt kept a room full of them said that they would send a child or two into the room to do the "stirring", not unlike playing in a ball pit, because bigger people would crack the shells. I am told they let them dry for an entire year before using them! Of course, we modern people don't have that great of patience, and emergency measures are often immediate. European Americans tend to shell and dry the nut...a lot of work...while others find that the shells of some varieties will crack and split open if heat dried.

Before you use them, you need to crush them and soak the pieces to remove the tannin. Change the water constantly until it no longer turns brown (which is the tannin). However, others have observed that this can often take weeks of daily water replacing. Other people recommend boiling the crushed acorns for several hours (changing the water once it turns brown) to quickly leach the tannin, but some people believe this might actually "fix" the tannin within the nut. One person claimed that only transferring from boiling water to cold water causes this, and thus you should always switch the nuts from one pot of boiling water to another pot of boiling water. Use your own judgment and taste buds for this.

A third method is to grind them and turn them into mush. Drape a cotton cloth over a deep bowl, pour in the acorn mush, and rinse it with warm (not boiling) water. Bring the corners of the cloth together and wring it out. The native Californians used a method similar to this, using mildly running water for several to leach the tannin out. The cloth method is a modern version of this.
No matter which method you use, test the acorn, pieces, or mush...if it is bitter tasting, it still has tannin in it. If it is sweet, the tannin is gone.

Once it is no longer bitter, allow the mush or pieces to dry out. It can be used like a nut, or finely ground and turned into flour.

The native Americans would turn it into a porridge or soup, usually cooked using hot rocks inside of the cooking pot (which was often a wood basket, not metallic, so it couldn't be used directly over a fire). When Europeans arrived, they used a method similar to that of Korea...they would mix it 50/50 with another grain, like wheat flour or oatmeal, and then cooked into pancakes or breads. Acorn flour is too heavy by itself to be used as the sole flour, and the bread will fall apart.
But wait! Don't toss out that tannin water just yet! Tannin water has been used as a skin wash for rashes, skin irritations, burns, poison ivy, and cuts. It has been gargled for sore throats. It has been used to tan hides. I've even read that it can be used to wash clothes, although I wouldn't recommend it for white clothing (the tannin would turn them a light tan).

As I said, its a lot of work. However, if you are desperate for a food source, then you are desperate for a food source. And many property owners that also have oaks tend to have no problem with you picking up acorns from the ground, as these things become big, fat bullets when caught up by a lawn mower!

And doesn't it suck that I have put in the following to keep myself from being hunted and hung by the FDA?

Any medicinal-sounding writing in this post is purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. We are not doctors, do not play one on television, and give out no medical advice.

Wild Carrot, Queen Anne's Lace

The wild carrot, also called bird's nest, bishop's lace, and Queen Anne's lace, is native to Europe, but has been naturalized in the U.S. and Australia. It is related to the cultivated carrot. The USDA lists it as a noxious weed. However, it can be useful to us.

This plant looks very similar to the Water Hemlock and fools parsley...both related to the wild carrot and parsley, but both poisonous plants. Be sure and look for the red or purple flower in the very center (see picture above...it may look like an ant or gnat to you at first glance) and a carrot-like smell to the root. It is hairy as well...hemlock is not hairy, and smells bad. And, as with all wild-food gathering, it is best to stay away from plants that may have been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, plants along the side of rows or streams, and plants near noxious industrial plants.

The root of the wild carrot is edible while it is young, but can quickly become too woody if allowed to mature. Dried and roasted, it can be used as a substitute for coffee. However, most of the plant is edible, lending a carrot-like flavor to soups and stews. Spring-time leaves can do the same for salads (although by summer, they become bitter). (We had the flowers in a salad once...an odd texture, but awesome flavor). Once the flowers are gone, the flower head curls up into a bird's nest appearance....the seeds can be collected and used like caraway seeds. It contains vitamins B, C, pectin, lecithin, flaonoids, and cartotin, a vitamin A precursor.

It is used as a companion plant to crops. It attracts predatory wasps, which will eat other insects. It is also said to boost tomato plant production, and help keep the microclimate cooler and moister when planted near lettuce.

Caution: The following is for your entertainment and informational purposes only. We are not doctors, nor do we play one on television. We do not give out medical advice.

The crushed seeds were first documented by Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago as a form of birth control. Recent Chinese research conducted on mice shows that it can disrupt the implantation process, and can be used as a "morning after" pill (although we can not assure its 100% effectiveness). Seeds have been used also as a remedy for hangovers. The seeds and leaves are both said to settle the stomach. The grated root has been used for healing external wounds and internal ulcers. The thick sap has been used for cough and congestion. Other research has shown it to have diuretic, bactericidal, and anti-parasitic properties (The Chinese use it to expel worms). For use on sores, apply leaves with honey.

Although I am not a doctor, I do highly recommend that women who are pregnant, think they might be, or are trying to become pregnant consume absolutely NONE of this plant, as the uterine contractions it creates may cause a miscarriage. Go with the red clover instead.

Red Clover: Not a Pest Weed!

One of the healthiest "weeds" that an organic gardener (or even a low-chemical gardener) can encourage in their garden is the red clover. One should be able to identify this plant easily, as I'm sure most of us looked through our parent's yards for that four-leafed clover. Of the various clovers out there, the red clover is preferred by gardeners and herbalists.

Red clover generally grows around here in early spring, and is distinguished from its cousins by its pinkish-purplish flower. White clover tends to flower later in warmer weather and while equally beneficial in the garden, it is not as equally preferred by many herbalists.

The red clover is, believe it or not, a legume...a plant that actually removes nitrogen from the air and puts it into the soil, thus feeding the plants around it. Many organic gardeners use this as a winter cover crop to replace any nitrogen that other plants use. We don't get technical like that...we just let it grow wild wherever it feels like, only cutting it back when it gets too out of hand.

.....Note to absolute noobs...nitrogen is like carbohydrates to the plant world. They can't live without them. Natural sources of nitrogen, such as legumes (which includes beans and peas), fish meal, blood meal, bone meal, and compost are like feeding your "kids" wheat bread, oatmeal, meat and potatoes. Unnatural sources of nitrogen (fertilizers with a number rating over 12), or high nitrogen manures like un-composted chicken muck, are like feeding your kids nothing but sugar....and too much can cause them to "burn" and die.

Red clover is edible. It contains calcium and magnesium, vitamin C, and a host of many other beneficial vitamins and minerals. It also contains isoflavones, which are estrogen-like compounds. It is often used as an animal feed, but can also be added to salads, or a tea made out of it. It is one of the ingredients in 8-herb essiac tea. Use the leaves and flowers. The lightly sweet-tasting flowers can be gathered in the spring and fall. The leaves can be difficult to digest (causing gas like all other legumes), and are best dried and made into a tea.

Be sure to gather red-clover from "clean" sources....stay away from areas that may be sprayed with herbacides or insecticides, and do not gather from road sides (where they may have absorbed toxins produced by vehicles). I would also stay away from stream beds (you never know what is coming down stream) or near industrial areas.

WARNING: The following is for your entertainment and information purposes only. We are not doctors, nor do we play one on television, and we do not give out medical advice.

Traditional uses of red clover are for women's troubles, due to its estrogen-like compounds...it is said to help improve fertility, aid in regulating menstruation, and as an aid for menopause. While the use of isoflavens as a hormone replacer has been known to cause other problems, the isoflavones in this plant are generally considered fairly low, lower in fact than soy products.

Other traditional uses for red clover are as anti-mucus, anti-spasmotic, and mild sedative for asthma, bronchitis, and ulcers. It has been used externally to help with skin troubles, like burns or acne. It is also said that a twice-daily cup of tea made of red clover has been known to not only stop but completely cure cancer...I've heard this from many sources, including a former EMT who claims her uncle was cured of terminal cancer by this plant. But we can't have a medicine that we can pull out of our back yard for free, can we? No profit in that.

But, as I said...this is for your entertainment purposes only. Do with it as you will.

LadyBugs (or LadyBirds), your garden friend

One of the most beneficial insects to have in your garden is the Coccinellidae, otherwise known as the Ladybug or Ladybird.

This animal's name originates during the Middle Ages when it was called "The Beetle of Our Lady", named because early pictures of the Virgin Mary often depicted her wearing a red or pink cloak (although some argue that this is Sophia, otherwise known as "Wisdom", an early Gnostic anthropomorphism of the Holy Ghost.) It was shortened in Europe to "Ladybird", and eventually morphed into the American "Ladybug". We know this bug primarily from its own red cloak, although there are species that have orange or yellow wings.

Ladybugs are beneficial to the garden, as they eat one of the smallest, but most daunting of pests...the aphid. They also eat scale insects and the larvae and eggs of many other types. Aphids are particularly bad for a garden, causing a lot of damage to plants...but worse because ant colonies often herd them like cows directly to your plants in order to get the sugary nectar that Aphids produce (betcha didn't know insects were so like humans!) If you look closely at an aphid infestation, you might see ants actually running up and down the plant as well. Thus, if you have an aphid infestation, you may also have to put down a good ant bait, like TerroAnt (this is the most effective one we've come across that does not harm other insects).

However, Ladybugs also require pollen to eat, and its often best to attract them by having some of these in your garden. Their favorites are buckwheat, cilantro, red clover, and mustard. Also liked by them are fennel, dill, wild carrot, white cosmos, dandelion, and geraniums.

Wild Food...it literally grows EVERYWHERE!

Last summer, I was listening to the Power Hour (a Missouri-based radio talk show) when someone called in and made the claim that people in Kansas City were starving. Later that day, we jumped in the car and went...somewhere (heck, it was 9 months ago!), and we drove past acres and acres of food that no one owned. Okay, we aren't exactly in the heart of down-town. In fact, people are confused as to whether our little town is even considered to be part of the Kansas City area or not. The point is...I saw food free for the grabbing.

One of the things that Ms. Cordi Howell (Cordite Country...you can listen to her archives and read her show-notes here: http://corditecountry.com/ ) inspired me to do last year was to look at the "weeds" in my own neighborhood.

First and foremost is something that actually drives me a bit batty...my neighbor's Maple Tree. Every frackin year the seeds parachute off the tree and helicopter down into our garden....usually right AFTER we've cleaned and tilled everything up. As a kid, you probably played with these seeds....pick them off the ground, throw them in the air, and watch the whirligig's helicopter back down to the ground. These seeds are edible! A caution, though...if they are not picked green, they are more likely to be bitter. That bitterness is caused by tannin (yes, that same stuff that tans leather). It can be relieved by soaking them in water. You can essentially use them the same way you use any other nut (including pine nut).

The second is the oak tree. There are a LOT of oak trees in our neighborhood and my mother's. Every fall, you fairly much have to mind your head...those acorns dropping out of the tree might as well be acting like a war zone. Native Americans use to eat acorns, and turned them into flour. (You might be able to find a Native American recipe or two on the internet). Like the maple tree seeds, acorns may be a bit bitter if not picked green, so soak them in water to remove the tannin.

Third is another "pest". Dandelions. Best if picked when they are still small. Every part of the dandelion is edible, although the flower might be akin to eating cotton if it is too mature. (When I told my now-ten-year-old that dandelions were edible, he went outside and started to graze. Goofy monkey.)

Mulberry. These trees are growing frickin EVERYWHERE here. Right now, the two mulberries in our vicinity have little green fruits starting on them. It is a small to medium size tree (depending upon its age). The fruit looks like a small raspberry, and tastes somewhere between a raspberry and a blackberry. Its thick stem prevents it from being a commercially-preferred fruit. However, we pick the berries every year and either eat them raw or turn them into jelly.

Barnyard grass. I first noticed this growing up among our corn last year. Then I realized it was growing everywhere. It confounded me at first...the stalk looked like a skinny corn stalk, but it had a seed fountain at the top much like wheat. It took me forever to figure out what it was. Barnyard grass is a primitive millit...not commercially preferred even as a millet, but still edible.

Sorghum. Less than an eighth of a mile away, we a park with a stream running through it (the stream is also used as storm drainage). And every year, the stream bank is literally COVERED in deep crimson of sorghum. The city mows the park, but they can't get the mowers down into the stream itself. If they didn't mow the park, I predict the park would be a wild sorghum field by now. Sorghum is a grain popularly grown in Africa. Throw some in a dry pan over heat, and it will pop up like pop-corn (one of the ways it is cooked and eaten in Africa).

Wild carrot. This stuff also literally grows everywhere. This was the very plant that I saw during the time of the radio show. Every empty lot was covered in them....acre after acre after acre of beautiful white flowers. The leaves resemble that of carrots. It has a very lacey cluster of white flowers on a long stalk, with one tiny red or purple flower in the center (it almost looks like a little ant sitting in the center of the cluster). If it does not have this little flower in the center, it may be something else that isn't quite as good for you, so look for that little 'ant'. It smells and tastes a lot like carrot. Its root isn't nearly as big as its cultivated cousin, but the entire plant does have a taste that resembles carrot.

These are just a few of the things I found. Take a look around your place...research literally every tree and every weed you see. You might just find twenty or thirty things that could prevent you from starving to death.

Giving more reasons to garden than ever....

Earlier this year, Florida was in a deep freeze. It was almost as if Mother Nature was saying, "Global Warming, huh? Psych! Try the Ice Age, sucka!" Of course, the result to the American people....higher food prices.

Currently, Tennessee and other parts of the southeast are under water...its doubtful that they will replant the fields that are currently under water. The result? Higher food prices.

California is suffering the worst man-made drought in history, all to save a fish that (frankly) isn't native to the man-made lake. The result? Higher food prices.

And to add to all of this, we are going through a fourth year of bee die-off, and it is now being reported that round-up resistant weeds have popping up. (Tell me about it...seeing that roundup wasn't really working years ago was the main reason why we gave up on chemicals and went organic).

What does all of this add up to? Hitting your wallet during a time when a majority of Americans (not to mention the rest of the world) are already struggling financially.

But there is inspiration around the corner. Just yesterday, the Power Hour (hosted by Joyce Riley) had author and urban homesteader Eric Knutzen on to discuss living the good life in the city. (Eric's blog can be found at http://www.homegrownevolution.com/ ). Fellow Californian urban homesteaders "Path To Freedom" were just recently hosts to the Food Network. (You can find their blog on http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/ ).

No, what we're doing around here isn't original. Nor is it anything new...my mother's side of the family were all suburban gardeners. I have fond memories of sitting at my great-aunt's kitchen counter eating tons of blue, red, and purple grapes (at a time when all grocery store grapes were green) that grew up on my great-aunt's tiny little urban lot, or pulling weeds from her and her neighbor's veggie garden.

Face it, folks....things are getting bad. And who are going to fix it? The very same idiots who created the problems in the first place! During any disaster, their first priority is continuity of government, NOT YOU! Its time we re-learn self-reliance.

This is what the entire urban homestead and survivalist lifestyle is all about. Self reliance. No, not self-sufficiency....I, like Eric Knutzen, don't agree with this word. After all, mankind is a cooperative creature. It is by our very cooperation and interconnected motivation that allowed us, an evolutionarily weak creature, to survive natural selection (or, if you prefer, God made us a cooperative species). Self reliance allows for that mutual cooperation, but still allows us to make do for ourselves first instead of relying on an overblown bureacracy that is about 40 years behind the rest of society.

Gardening is just one of the aspects of a self-reliant lifestyle. So strap on your boots, ladies (and gentlemen). Lets take a step forward by taking a step backward.

Backyard Gardening More Important Than Ever

You may have watched the headlines. Late frosts in Florida, killing off much of their fruit crops. Horrendous flooding in Tennessee. Food prices jump....again!

Having a backyard garden is your greatest hedge against the high food prices caused by shortages. A couple of dollars for a pack of tomatoes that will give you many, many pounds of fresh maters. Or even better...a couple of dollars for an entire pack of seeds. Afraid of buying seeds because you would get too much? In my experience, there is only a 25% loss of fertility over the next year....if you keep them in the refridgerator or freezer, there is almost NO loss of fertility by the next year. )

In the past week, we planted sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers. Coming up will be cucumbers, zucchini, melons, and a second planting of lettuce...soon after, we'll plant green beans as soon as the corn pops out of the ground. Our peas are climbing up the trellis. The first planting of lettuce is looking beautiful (a wonderful mixture of reds and greens). Our potatoes grown in compost is proving a great success so far....we almost can provide them compost fast enough. We even have mustard greens growing like crazy, and cilantro is popping up in nearly every garden bed.

No, I don't expect any noobs (gamer-speak for persons new to something) to plant 40-50 tomato plants as we do. After all, I've been back-yard gardening for over a decade now, and grew up with farmers and victory-gardeners as relatives. However, if you like fresh tomatoes on your salad or sandwich, this just might be the year for you put out a six pack. Tomatoes are the easist and most forgiving of garden plants to try. And trust me...tomatoes picked ripe off the vine are far superior than grocery store tomatoes, which are always picked green and ripened during shipping).

Live in an apartment? Well...do you have a window or a balcony? Many people have had great success with the upside-down growing tomatoes.

Yes, gardening is work. But as I was messaging my arms yesterday (from pulling weeds and planting about 80 seedlings), it occurred to me that it was satisfying work. It costs money, but unlike many other hobbies, it is one that actually gives back....often 2 or 3 times more than it costs...unless, of course, you go crazy at the hardware store.

For those in zone 5 (Kansas City area and like climates), now is the time for planting your tomtoes and peppers. More northern areas will be coming up fast. Good planting, and good luck.



I would like to take this time to say goodbye to someone I've mentioned on this blog before....Ms. Cordi Howell of Cordite Country (Previously Oracle radio Network, most recently American Freedom Radio). Cordi has recently had her sixth child, and hubby Reb has been forced to take a second job just to pay their horrendous property tax bill...between the babe and taking up Reb's chores on their farm, she's just too stretched and has had to put her radio show on hold.

We love you Cordi, and we have learned a lot from you. I will never look at a dandelion or clover in quite the same way. Keep truckin', girl. Congrats on the birth of baby Willow. I expect to be seeing pictures!!!

May Day Protestors/Celebrants

Anyone out there going? I just wanted to warn my Hispanic friends out there who are taking part in any of these celebrations and/or protests to keep an eye out for agent provocateurs: Police officers dressed as protestors (or counter protestors) who will purposely start something just to allow the uniformed police officers to attack.

It doesn't matter which side of the spectrum we are....Left, Right, Up, Down, Black, White....there are elements in power that simply want the American people to sit down, shut up, and be a zombie sitting in front of the boob tube. The Patriot Act was not for foreign terrorists. American Troops are not training to take on Muslim Extremist boogey men. Its all for you, the American Slob who actually stands up on his/her hind legs and walks around.

So stop any violence before it gets out of hand. And anyone planning/acting violent? Get them on video. Expose them. Show their faces to the world. Let them know we still have a first amendment.

Illegal immigration

The argument over illegal immigration has exploded with the passing of Arizona's new immigration law.

Now lets put aside the typical arguments and take a look at this from a stand point both sides (conservatives and liberals) can agree upon. Slavery is illegal in these 50 states. The illegal immigrant is the modern slave. They are under-paid, often being paid less than minimum wage. They work hours of overtime without compensation. They get no unemployment insurance, no health insurance, no PTO (vacation or sick days). Technically, between the business and the government, they do not exist as a person. Often times, these poor people are beaten, raped, and kept imprisoned by the "coyotes" who bring them across the border. Some of them are thrown into slavery sweat shops, others are pressed into the sex trade.

And all because they are simply looking to save up enough to have a decent life when they return back home. Or to have a little extra money in case a family member actually does get kidnapped.

Mexico is a rich country, full of hard-working, family-oriented, wonderful people. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most corrupt countries in the world right now. With the drug wars (which we are sure are partially fueled by the CIA and their drug business), it is also a very dangerous place to be. Kidnappings are so common that many people even believe the newest scam...fake kidnapping calls. There are so many reasons why they would wish to come here and get a better life for themselves. But even if life for the illegal immigrant is better here, the way they are treated compared to the life we have built is SLAVERY. And that is what I am against.

It would be wonderful if the hard-working people of Mexico, those who come here illegally meerely looking for an extra quarter, could simply go back home and take their country back from the criminals that have run in for centuries. But after working 80 hours a week for less than minimum wage...I can't blame them for not having the energy to do so. And with our Corporate Representatives in Washington...I doubt that this horrible practice will ever change.

Slavery is dead? Hell, no. Have some compassion for these poor people. Realize that they come here looking for a better wage and better life. And then go after the jerks that enslave them.

Taxes, taxes, and more taxes

I had been wanting to write, but I was having difficulty finding anything I wanted to write about. There are so many good things to write about, to be outraged about, and nearly every blogger out there has jumped the gun and blogged about it. Well, thanks to Bison Survival Blog, I finally picked a subject. While he only wrote one paragraph on the subject, my sentiments seem to match his own.

About a week ago, people were all abuzz about an article estimating that nearly 50% of people will not be paying federal income taxes. One headline even suggested that 50% of us were "robbing" our neighbors.

Bison's simple answer was, "First of all, it means all those poor idiots aren’t making enough to live on. Are you envious of a fast food worker with twenty hours a week minimum wage?" And there is the gist of it. And of course, he also had a small rant about "hidden" taxes.

So lets look at some of these hidden taxes. First, lets look at gasoline taxes. Some states have gasoline tax as high as 32 cents per gallon. The feds also add another 18 cents per gallon. This means that any person who utilizes gasoline are paying this tax. At current gasoline prices, you are paying 15-25% sales tax on gasoline depending upon one's state. Any human being who utilizes a gasoline-based form of transportation (including the bus and taxis) are paying this tax. And think about the college kid who cuts lawns in the summer to earn a little cash (or worse yet, the guy who does this 40 hours a week).

Social security and medicare...if you are making any amount of money at all and pay taxes on it, you put money into your social security and medicare. For the working poor working 40 hours a week, these two taxes combined are as high as 15% of their income. On top of that, there is no guarantee that they will get anything for this tax. After all, 3 out of every 4 people who apply for social security (either because of the death of a spouse or because of injury) are denied. And not everyone lives to the now obligatory age of 67.

How about property taxes? The only person who avoids property taxes is the person who lives in a carboard box. Even if you rent, a portion of your rent not only goes towards the rental property's tax, but it also goes to pay for the income taxes of the property owner. Oh, please...do you really think he pays that out of his own pocket?

Then there are other hidden taxes we are generally unaware of. Unemployment tax, which is never shown on your paycheck. Extra taxes on certain products, like coffee or sugar. Taxes on your water, your heat, your electricity. On top of that, lets not forget the actual in-your-face sales tax....the working poor pay a greater amount of their income in necessities, such as food, natural gas for heat, or electricity for lights than those who make enough to pay federal income taxes.

The average schmuck in the United States pays an average of 35% of their income in taxes, whether they see these taxes or not. And there is no "tax return" for most of these taxes. Its all well and good, you think...we should pay our taxes....until you discover that the "taxes" that serfs paid to their Lord and Master was less than 20% of their labor. SERFS! The medieval version of slavery.

So, before you get mad at that schmuck working at McDonalds for slave wages...think about all of the "other" taxes he is already paying. And then realize that you and he aren't too far apart in your serfdom.

I got duped

Yes, I admit it. I got duped. When members of congress claimed, on their way to vote "yes" on the healthcare bill, that they were spat upon and called names, I was willing to believe them. After all, it does live in the realm of possibility. While most people today are neither racist nor violent, there is always one or two idiots in any crowd who will spoil it for the rest of us.

Then I watched the video. Several times. Not once did I hear a racial slur. In fact, I couldn't hear anything more than at least a couple hundred voices chanting, "Kill the bill!"

Then I watched the "spit take" several times. If you watch closely, you see the congressman jerk back, and then start yelling at the guy....unfortunately for him, the guy had his hands around his mouth the entire time. By the angle of the alledged spitter's face, hands, and where the congressman stands...well, any spit would have hit the alledged spitter's hands.

Then someone else pointed out another interesting fact to me...for security reasons, members of congress have a tunnel through which they can reach the building. So, why did they purposely wade through a hostile crowd in order to get to the building? Mighty suspicious, don't you think?

Now, I believe just the opposite. I believe they purposely went through the crowd in an effort to actually get someone to call them names, to spit on them, or even to physically attack them. But as the video shows...no one did. These protestors shouted "kill the bill", but were otherwise well behaved. And the spit take? Poor job of acting, if you ask me.

Both democrats and republicans have, in the past, vandalized their own offices, and have been caught doing it. Its called the sympathy lie. I've seen churches busted for the doing the exact same thing. If I make myself sound like a victim, then you will be on my side.

But we all grew up on the story of the young man who cried wolf. Well, congress....this is one villager who isn't going to race out to the field. Frankly, I'm getting really sick of the accusations of racism where there are none. And yes, it has gotten to the point where I'm willing to dismiss any accusation of racism offhand as being a hoax.

Yes, there is the occasional racist individual out there. And yes, there is the occasional wacko ready to committ murder for their ideal. And I do pity them....I couldn't imagine living with that much anger and hate.

But the race-baiting has gotten out of hand. And Mama don't play that game anymore.