Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance tools
for independent minded people…
ISSN 2161-5543
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
Organic
farming is on the rise in the U.S.
There were more than
14,000 certified organic farms in the United States in 2016, according to the
latest available data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics
Service. This
represents a 56% increase from 2011, the earliest comparable year. And while
California remains king when it comes to the number of organic farms, several
other states saw dramatic growth in organic farming over this time, particularly
in the South.
As
the number of organic farms has increased, so too have sales of certified
organic products: U.S. farms and ranches sold nearly $7.6 billion in certified
organic goods in 2016, more than double the $3.5 billion in sales in 2011.
Still,
organic farming makes up a small share of U.S. farmland overall. There were 5
million certified organic acres of farmland in 2016, representing less than 1%
of the 911 million acres of total farmland nationwide. Some states, however,
had relatively large shares of organic farmland. Vermont’s 134,000 certified
organic acres accounted for 11% of its total 1.25 million farm acres.
California, Maine and New York followed in largest shares of organic acreage –
in each, certified organic acres made up 4% of total farmland.
Learn
more about where organic foods are being grown in the U.S. – and which foods
are farmers’ top commodities:
Singing Frogs Farm
A small farm with a big name…
We've shown that no-till vegetable production is
not only possible, but can be highy productive and profitable. We've quadrupled
our soil organic matter, without nutrient leaching, while nearly tripling the
total microbial life in our soils. We've increased bird and native bee
populations and diversity. We've increased native perennial plant diversity and
density. We've dramatically reduced water usage per crop, and we're producing
roughly $100,000 in vegetable sales per crop acre per year with over half of
that revenue paying our year-round employees' salaries.
Singing Frogs Farm continues to be a living
experiment.
As we, and leading soil scientists, learn more
about the biology of the soil beneath our feet, our methods and farming systems
here at Singing Frogs Farm are constantly changing and being improved upon.
However, nearly every aspect of farm management hinges on the three basic
principles of soil management:
1) Disturb the soil as little as possible,
2) Keep a diversity of living plants in the ground
as often as possible, and
3) Keep the soil covered and protected as often as
possible.
When one understands the myriad scientific reasons
for each of these principles, one quickly sees how tillage in all its forms is
the complete antithesis of soil health.
…Current Events:
We are being endlessly bombarded
with sob stories about how much these workers are suffering after missing one
paycheck.
If people can’t handle going a
couple of weeks without pay, how are they going to handle things when a real
crisis erupts in this country?
News of Interest
Federal
Employees Missed First Paycheck (Unions
already protesting-Media acting as if people were already being thrown to the
wolves demonstrating most people in America live pay check to pay check)
Trump said at a news conference on
Friday that “I’m very proud of what I’m doing” and invited reporters to call it
“the Schumer or the Pelosi or the Trump shutdown,” referring to Senate Minority
Leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, the new House speaker.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-07/trump-faces-pressure-from-calendar-as-shutdown-stretches-on
What would you do if you lost your job and had
less than $1,000 to your name? Odds are, you’d start racking up debt or ask
someone to borrow money until you can get back on your feet. That’s why having an iron-clad emergency
fund is so important.
A massive swarm of locusts plagued
Mecca, Saudi Arabia-Once there, they didn’t want to leave, it is being reported
that they were “covering the walls of the mosque”
Dirty Dealing on Amazon-One of the Reasons I No
Longer Sell on Amazon
The examples are frightening.
Kevin’s prescriptions used to cost $50 a month. Now they cost $265. Diana’s
previous monthly cost was $70, now it has jumped to an eye-popping $4,165 a
month. The deductible on their old plan was $750. Under the new coverage, it is
$6,700 with an $8,000 out of pocket, four-times the previous one.
The average household is carrying a
$6,929 balance month to month and coughing up about $1,140 a year in interest,
according to NerdWallet.
That realization recast my recent
struggles: Why can’t I get this mundane stuff done? Because I’m burned out. Why
am I burned out? Because I’ve internalized the idea that I should be working
all the time. Why have I internalized that idea? Because everything and
everyone in my life has reinforced it — explicitly and implicitly — since I was
young. Life has always been hard, but many millennials are unequipped to deal
with the particular ways in which it’s become hard for us.
Let’s do follow the climate
money! (Why your electric bill is escalating)
Billionaire, anti-gun zealot and
potential presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg gave the Sierra Club $110
million in a six-year period to fund its campaign against coal-generated
electricity. Chesapeake Energy gave the Club $26 million in three years to
promote natural gas and attack coal. Ten wealthy liberal foundations gave
another $51 million over eight years to the Club and other environmentalist
groups to battle coal.
Over a 12-year period, the
Environmental Protection Agency gave its 15 Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee members $181 million in grants – and in exchange received quick
rubberstamp approvals of various air quality rules. It paid the American Lung
Association $20 million to support its regulations.
RIP Medical Debt is a New
York-based organization that was founded by two people who once worked in the
debt collection business. It uses charitable donations to buy and cancel debts
for patients and families who face financial charges.
"I Survived Communism – Are
You Ready For Your Turn?" (Most
Dems historically pro-Communist)
“It was scientifically proven that
communism is the only social-economic system providing the masses with justice
and equality – 100% of scientists agree on this. The topic is not up for
debate!”, so proclaimed my professor during one of his lectures on the subject
‘scientific communism’, while the country of Czechoslovakia was still under
communist control. I was reminded of his blustery pronouncement the first time
I encountered the spurious claim that “a consensus of 97% of scientists agree
global warming is man-made.” Most people don’t question scientific statements
because they think they are facts. They do not understand that scientific
statements must always be challenged, because Science is not about ‘consensus’;
ideology is.
Finally…a news flash on our local NBC
affiliate mentioned that COSTCO had sold out all of their 25-gal buckets of
Mac-n-Cheese which has a 20 year life-span!
The Homestead Act is back.
Different towns, like Flagler, Colorado, are offering free
land. There are two stipulations: You need to be at least 21 years of age and
live on that land for an agreed-upon amount of time. Some of the agreements
maintain that you must build a home, some of them have a home on them, and some
are fine if you simply park an RV there. Of course, homesteading incentives are
nothing new. They date back to 1862, when the original Homestead Act helped settle
harder-to-reach areas of the States. Here are a few resources you’ll find
useful if you’re interested in claiming some free land for yourself. Quick
intro to homesteading:
www.eartheasy.com/blog/2011/10/free-land-are-you-readyto-try-homesteading Free Land
Locations: imperfectlyhappy.com/free-land
SolPowerPeople offers free
live monthly lectures by some of the world’s top solar experts. These experts
provide great training that you can follow at your own pace. Free solar panel
course: www.solpowerpeople.com/solarmooc-academy
Freedom. Self-Reliance. Action.
Special Offer for
our Readers
72-hour Emergency Meal
kit that's being offered contains 16 total servings of such delicious meals as
Blue Ribbon Creamy Chicken Rice, the always-loved Granny's Homestyle Potato
Soup and the stick-to-your-ribs breakfast favorite Maple Grove Oatmeal.
This kit normally sells for $27, plus shipping and handling and
is rated 4½ out of five stars by customers.
While supplies last, these kits are available for only $21.95
and that includes Priority Shipping [we were force to increase prices due to
another round of USPS price hikes]. Go here for this deal:
Yours for
smarter living,
Bruce ‘the
Poor Man’
Additional FREE Resources
Household Items That Do Go Bad
Examples: Cleaning
supplies start to degrade once they’re opened-laundry detergent for
instance, retains full power for 6-12 months, Motor Oil breaks down when stored
once opened. Toiletries & cosmetics
such as mascara can go bad in as little as three months, oil-free foundation in
a year, lipstick in two to three years, deodorant in three years.
Wood stains, whether oil-based or water-based are
generally good for only one year after being opened.
More
notes of interest…
Living Frugally In Suburbia
You live differently than your neighbors.
You live differently than your neighbors.
14
Frugal Food-Rescuing Tips from Grandma
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
8 Simple Ways to Put More Money in Your Pocket
Have more money without working harder!
Have more money without working harder!
Knowing
When and How to Stockpile Groceries
Stocking up could save your grocery budget!
Stocking up could save your grocery budget!
Develop a Well-Rounded Prepper
Library
When the topic of a prepping library comes up,
what do most people talk about? Chances are the U.S. Air
Force survival manual, SAS survival manual, Army Field Manual 21-76, or something from Ragnor Benson.
When
people get into prepping they typically start with stockpiling, then may
gravitate towards self-sufficiency. For example, someone may start off with
stockpiling canned goods, then move towards mylar bags and
freeze dried foods, then finally arrive at prepsteading, farming, and
gardening.
Most people who live in the suburbs can have a small garden, maybe
some laying hens, and fruit trees. This allows just about anyone to grow some
of their own food.
As preppers progress from stockpiling to prepsteading, shouldn’t
their library also progress?
Chances are a lot of preppers do not have a single book on
gardening, homesteading, canning and preserving food… etc. Even less will have
books on literature, science, and math.
If we are prepping for a complete collapse of society, shouldn’t
we also stockpile books for future generations? If something were to happen
today – plague, nuclear war.. etc – what types of books would the reader have
on hand to teach their children, or grandchildren?
What good does it do to survive the next plague, nuclear war… if
future generations do not have access to resources? This means real books
made from paper and not electronic books for e-readers.
Why real books?
·
A real book can be dropped, and dropped several times without
damage.
·
Real books do not require electricity.
You’ve got 2 hours until disaster strikes. Are you prepared?
If you’ve watched any apocalyptic movie ever, you’re familiar
with the grocery store scene.
You know which one I’m talking about. Anxious dad rushes isle by isle gathering
water and canned food for his family while everyone around him gradually turns
from innocent customer to aggressive looter.
At my little farmstead, we have used tarps in
gardening, to cover wood, as a shade area for our chickens, and to protect our
outdoor equipment. Tarps are very useful and when you invest in the higher
quality types, they last! Read more and make sure you you add these to your
preparedness supplies!
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A Smoking Frog Feature, Shallow Planet Production
2 comments:
It's winter here but this was a blast of green we needed & in light of the rash of news regarding many who were broke after missing one paycheck [how sad a statement about Americans is that] including info on creating an emergency fund was a good idea as I know EVERY financial planner tells us to put money away for a rainy day.
I still question if I can justify the cost difference between organic vegetables and regular vegetables at Kroger on my tight budget? During the summer, I just grow what I can but even those costs continue to go up by comparison to my local farmers market.
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