The Homestead

My family and I live on an acre of property in the middle of the desert.  We have 2 goats, 2 dogs, 16 chickens, a traditional garden about the size of the garden my grandma had in Colorado, and a container garden.  This year we're going to can or dry as much as we possibly can. 

We have started seeds in the house, 3 different types of tomatos, 2 different types of sweet peppers, 2 different kinds of hot peppers, we are planting corn, both pole beans and bush beans, winter squash, yellow crook neck squash, zucchini, cucumbers for salad and pickling, and luffa.  We also have some blackberry plants, and we are planting raspberries,we currently have 3 apple trees and plan on a couple of more, and will continue developing our small property to feed our family.  Lastly we also have 3 grape plants and are adding more. 

Now why am I explaining all this you ask?  My goal if we stay on this property is to expand the gardens, the number of fruit trees and bushes and animals to the point that we get most of our food from our own hands and have little to no reliance on stores.  Again, why you ask?  In answer I will say I'm like a boy scout and I believe in always being prepared.  This means having some food stored in case I can't afford to buy food, and knowing how to feed myself and my family without stores and through hunting and foraging.

You see I believe our economy is currently in a long slow slide and eventually we are going to see hyper-inflation.  The barter economy is there, but not for food and staples.  I could be completely wrong about this and I am fully aware and agree that God is in control of history.  I also know that He instructed Joseph to put back for seven years of famine. 

My suggestion, to you:  Pray about what you should do and if you feel led to put back some food then do so.

Just my rambling of the day.

National Defense Resources Preparedness

Yesterday I found an executive order that on the face of it and based on the title doesn't look so bad.  Then I read the executive order.  It lays a foundation where the government controls everything, it is martial law for peace time.  Couple this executive order with the NDAA and we have a foundation for this administration to do anything it wants.  We have to draw a line somewhere, and a society that does not respect personal private property will fall, will fail.

I urge all of the people reading this blog to read the executive order and to then contact their senator and congressman.  This is important...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness

The Weekend

I was all set to work from home yesterday.  The gateway to work was down and I had a dental appointment later in the day so I took the day off.  I ended up going to the dentist, finding out that my insurance didn't cover an extraction, nor did it cover a bone graft that needed to be done after the extraction.  The tooth had to come out because it cracked and split so it was not salvageable with a root call/crown procedure.  The dentist told me that it would be a twenty minute procedure.  Three hours later I walked out of the dentists office one less tooth, a lot less money and a mouth full of blood.  I also had 3 prescriptions and instructions to take it easy and do nothing strenuous for the next 3 days.  Which totally bites, because on the way home from dentists office I stopped and got a yard of compost for the garden.  Of course I stupidly told my wife what the dentist said, so she and the kids let me do nothing strenuous...  It sucks being treated like an invalid.

Today was a gorgeous day and I wasn't allowed to do anything.  Tomorrow, is supposed to be cold and rainy and besides, I'm being watched like a hawk when I get anywhere near a door.... Oh well, I guess this weekend is the weekend of planning.

Chomping at the Bit

It's now mid March and today the sun is out, the leaf's are coming out and and I can't plant.  This weekend the weather forecast is cold and rainy.  Maybe Tuesday afternoon we'll be able to plant.  We're going to try a three sisters type planting in one corner of the garden with corn, pole beans and squash planted close.  A quarter of the garden will be tomato's another quarter will be bell peppers, we are also going to have a lot of bush beans. 

We had winter stuff in the garden broccoli, onions, spinach, lettuce, that's all coming out and we are going to plant.  Most of the herbs over wintered pretty well and are growing now that the weather is warming.  The grapes are leafing out and so are the elderberry bushes.

Anyway I'm ready to get to planting and canning and producing.  I'm tired of the winter activities...

Pockets and Eggs

Today my wife and I were outside taking inventory of fencing material and garden items and discussing what to plant where.  While we were out there we checked and got one egg from the single chicken that is currently laying.  My son came out and since we had more to look at my wife gave the egg to my son, who promptly put it in his front pocket.  About two hours later he found the egg, broken.  I laughed... it was hilarious to see the reaction on his face when he pulled this slimy mess out of his pocket... CLASSIC!!

Quote of the Day

"When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed."  - Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 1957

Lack of post

Hello Folks,
   I haven't posted much in the last two months.  Expect that to change.  Very soon I will be posting about a wide variety of items.  I'm glad to be back and it was a nice break.