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#Post#: 3275--------------------------------------------------
Re: Abby Martin | US's STUNNING Hypocrisy in Ukraine War
By: Digwe Must Date: April 19, 2022, 2:12 pm
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K Dog
I don't know if this is the right thread for this but you can
always move it.
I agree with Mr Potts that there are several good reads to be
had on your site. I also agree that this war is just another
move in an ongoing larger conflict. A shrinking global resource
base will be fought over. (of course much of it risks
destruction in the process)
I've been reading some of the analysis of Peter Ziehan (when the
time exists) regarding the crisis Russia finds itself in. Their
demographic problem is huge.
I'd like to see a discussion here about the necessary homestead
skills and everyone's strategy for the coming food shortages. I
tried that before and got no interest - (except for Phil) but
perhaps it was my approach.
Since the war started and the effect on food production became
obvious we've redoubled our efforts here. I would say to the
point where we are flirting with exhaustion. Absolutely no time
to waste. This is why I haven't been contributing much here
lately. That, and Permaculture Design magazine asked me for a
submission. After the dark tone of what I sent them they may
never ask me again.
We've also purchased some equipment that was budgeted out a few
years but we jammed it in now to fight inflation and shortages.
Has anyone else increased their preps and done any additional
strategizing and planning? Or am I the only crazy old bird out
there?
I've been very busy with pruning and taking cuttings for
propagation, (grapes, currants, hardy kiwi and black elderberry)
digging holes and planting fruit trees. I tried to teach myself
grafting with only limited success. I will be air layering and
tip layering more fruit trees I can't get rootstock for. Also,
I've been taking down trees in preparation for running the
little sawmill. Much of the native fir, lodgepole and western
larch are in bad shape. The goats and sheep debark the trees
and clean up the needles before I skid the logs.
Been planting onions, favas, peas, Dutch shallots and hauling
manure to the garden, making biochar and preparing the warm
season beds. The perennial greens are up as are the self
seeders like orach and kale. The tomato, pepper and cannabis
starts are doing well.
I bought a buzz saw for the tractor which I am about to run for
the first time as soon as I can finish using the little backhoe
that is on it now. I need to dig and level a pad for the
greenhouse and a few small garden ponds. Also, some reservoirs
for lining and holding water for wildfire fighting. (oh yeah,
that) The buzz saw is Italian because they are not manufactured
in the US anymore. I had to go to Canada for this one, shipped
at huge expense from Ontario. At one time every major US
tractor manufacturer had a shop making saws specific to their
tractors - but they were known as mankillers and the liability
issues stopped production. Balfor is the name of the saw. I
got the 750mm blade which they say will take a 13" stick. I
wish it didn't have a shark's mouth painted on the blade guard,
but getting it without the shark was not an option. We have
stacks of small diameter logs that I put aside for firewood and
we'll also use the buzz saw for cutting sawmill slabs into
firewood. Much less stress on my back and the chainsaws.
In anticipation of an expected spike in grain prices and
potential availability issues, I have been doing research on
feeding the chickens. So far, we've managed to cut down on
grain use by the chickens by fermenting it. We're saving 25 -
30% but some of that may be the increased forage available to
them now. So far the egg production is up as you would expect
in the spring. Duckweed, worms, mealworms and soldier fly
larvae are the options I'm exploring for chicken feed. Over
time, as the fruit trees increase yield we will be able to feed
the residue from processing to make up a good slice of the
poultry feed. (also seeds from the legume trees.) For now I'm
going to start on the worms, duckweed and mealworms. Hopefully
by the end of summer we will be seriously cutting our need for
imported feed. A laying hen needs (roughly) 80 lbs of feed per
year. Some of that comes to our hens via forage and household
waste already.
The problem for us here in raising our own hen food is the
winter. All the bug and worm and aquatic sources require
temperatures within a certain, relatively high, range. So I
will need to keep a space heated for all this in the winter.
This, of course, will be more effort and expense. A space that
does double or triple duty will make it more economical. (Yes I
will heat this space with wood - but that isn't free - just
cheap with manual labor involved.) I guess the alternative
would be to raise 3x the feed in the summer and dry it. Right
now I'll heat the space.
I see many people giving advice to new preppers to keep
chickens. Generally, it's a good idea, but in only a few months
getting feed for them will be a real issue. You can avoid the
worms and fly larvae by raising them directly on compost as part
of the process - but that might be a little challenging for a
newbie to get right.
If I can, I want to start on raising fish in tanks very soon.
More on that later - but raising the bugs works there too.
We are in the woods so I really do not have ground I can convert
to hay meadow. We have summer pasture, of course, but to keep
sheep, goats or cattle on this place will always require winter
feed. It looks now as if hay availability will be ... okay.
I'm sure it will be very expensive. I have 5 tons of alfalfa
and 5 tons of oat hay reserved along with a couple of tons of
oats. That's good - but "meat's not meat until it's in the
pan." In time, local farmers will adapt to new market
conditions. But in the meantime we have to eat.
Good to visit with you. I have to go find a home for some
gooseberry transplants and dig more holes.
After all...Digwe Must
#Post#: 3280--------------------------------------------------
Re: Abby Martin | US's STUNNING Hypocrisy in Ukraine War
By: RE Date: April 21, 2022, 6:50 pm
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[quote author=Digwe Must link=topic=107.msg3275#msg3275
date=1650395550]
I'd like to see a discussion here about the necessary homestead
skills and everyone's strategy for the coming food shortages. I
tried that before and got no interest - (except for Phil) but
perhaps it was my approach.
[/quote]
Not having a place to grow much food, nor being physically
capable of doing the work, my solution is long lasting foods
that do not need refrigeration.
If you include what I have in my storage conex, I personally
could probably last 5 years or more. That is longer than my
expected lifespan. If I make another 5, it would be nothing
short of miraculous. lol.
I don't expect to eat it all tho. most of it I will give away
to younger people with a greater life expectancy.
RE
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