Self Sufficiency
Personal Energy Independence
Personal energy independence is possible and this video describes an ebook which can show you how to achieve it. Not only can you have free electricity, but you this books tells you how to make money by selling your surplus to the electric companies.
Posted in Earth, Frugality, Self Sufficiency | 
Tags: alternative energy, energy independence, free electricity, Self Sufficiency
You Can Beat the Bank Legally and Stop Your Foreclosure
Foreclosure can be devastating to your finances and your mental health. If you find yourself in a situation which may result in the foreclosure or your property, don’t despair; take action. There are things you can do to stall, or even avoid foreclosure. The bank’s case is not infallible. You can win and you can keep your home. David is a foreclosure attorney. His report, Foreclosure Defense Secrets, can save your home, your future finances and your sanity.
Posted in Frugality, How To, Self Sufficiency | Tags: attorney, court, defense, foreclosure, keep your house, stop forclosure
The Medicinal Magic of Garlic
GARLIC – a natural remedy…
Garlic, the magical Herb, is used in the prevention and treatment of many health issues. Some of these include infections, all the way to heart disease. If the taste is not to your liking, there are several odorless pills to choose from. Garlic has been used to treat ailments for over 4000 years. Use Garlic for common colds and flu, bronchial infections, anemia, depression, chronic fatigue, menopausal symptoms, digestion, oral problems, and even some forms of arthritis.
Eat raw Garlic and Onion to boost up your immune system. This will help your body fight infection. These Herbs have tons of anti-bacterial properties. Add Echinacea to the mix and you’ll find your symptoms are fewer and will bring relief. This particular combination increases levels of a natural compound already found in the body called Properdin; take these year round and not just during cold and flu season. A healthy and elevated immune system helps your body at a cellular level. Unhealthy tissue formations are also unlikely to occur.
Garlic is wonderful for keeping your heart healthy! I chew 1 raw Garlic Clove every morning, followed by a glass of Lemon water or Apple Cider Vinegar water. My Mom says Lemon water and Vinegar water help to neutralize the Garlic breath. I grew up with eating tons of Garlic, both raw and cooked. I use lots of Garlic in my cooking and find I need less salt. My children have gotten the benefits of Garlic for many years and they haven’t even realized it. Slow cooked Garlic Cloves have a smooth and light taste…little ones actually like it. I have very few Herbs I could say are my favorites, but, Garlic has always been in the top 3. I’m not apposed to Herbal pills, but I just feel keeping really pure and natural is the way to go. My Mom would also make hot Garlic water with Honey, Whiskey and Apple Cider Vinegar to treat our colds and flu. We hardly got sick when we were small and maybe visited a doctor a couple of times.
Some of the benefits to the heart that Garlic brings are: a reduction in blood pressure, cholesterol, used in the prevention of clogged arteries and arterial disease, a reduction in stroke and heart attack, raises immune system function, helps to balance hormones, prevents and treats infections, opens nasal passages as well as reduces symptoms of asthma and keeps the entire body prime functioning. I’ve also read that Garlic actually has anti-aging properties. You won’t look your age in later years and you’ll notice your skin retains its elasticity and therefore less wrinkling. I’ve actually used raw Garlic in the treatment of foot fungus, pimples and disinfect and help heal insect bites.
Garlic also helps to prevent colon cancer and other deadly cancers as well as help fight certain throat infections. Warm Garlic Oil is wonderful for the treatment of ear infections and the pain associated with it in young children. I have to say this though, although I do believe Herbs are here for our use in preventing and curing ailments, you must always seek you doctor’s advice and get any major infection checked out – especially if it’s not getting better. Be especially cautious with young children and the elderly. Just because something is natural, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a severe reaction to the Herb. And as we all know, there are quite a number of Herbs that can even lead to death. Always consult a professional if you’re not sure about man made medicines or natural Herbs.
Here is a product I highly recommend:
Willow/Garlic Ear Oil – I really love this product. Although it’s not as cheap as making your own Garlic Oil, this product is especially made for children and it’s infused (very concentrated) with other known anti-bacterial Herbs. It helps fight the ear infection (if you catch it early enough) as well as relieves the extreme pain associated with an ear- ache! I use this myself. I use lots of products that are specifically designed for children. There’s nothing wrong in doing that and for the most part, I end up with hardly any allergic reactions. I find that some adult products are actually too strong and concentrated for my liking.
Later,g
Posted in Home Remedies, Self Sufficiency | Tags: ear infection, fungus, garlic, home remedy, medicinal uses for garlic, natural remedy, prevent heart disease, prevent stroke
Education and Money
Education and money…
I just got back from picking up my son from school. I had to write this as soon as I got in. I was speaking with one of the other mothers whose child is in the same first grade level. She was telling me how stressed she was as a reslut of she’s been running all over the place while driving her child to extra curricular activities.
Well, children really don’t need all that after school activity. We should let them go at their own pace and have lots of down time to re-coop from the day’s events. This helps bring a sense of balance and calmness to a child. I find that most of these activities are brought on by the parents themselves, and most times, the kids aren’t really that happy to participate…not to mention all the money one has to shell out.
Anyway, back to my main point. She spends around 50.00 a week to have her child tutored. That’s the problem these days. We put our children in expensive private schools and somehow think they’ll end up learning more. Some people even go as far as military schools for young ones and even boarding schools. These parents seem to want to get rid of their children, or are not willing to take a little time and help their children themselves. Before there were schools, parents taught at home and soon special study programs were being offered through the mail. Home schooling came long before public schools.
One of the ways this woman could cut cost and have a little extra time is to simply get rid of some of the after school activities, thereby, allowing her a bit more time to spend tutoring her child herself…not to mention she’d save herself over 200.00 dollars a month!
We really need to bring education to a simple and frugal level. It’s gotten very commercialized from baby Einstein to special pre schools that offer special accelerated educational programs. I’ve even read about some pre schools in the Los Angeles area that interview your baby before they’re ACCEPTED…and then they end up costing you an arm and a leg anyway. It’s become a status symbol and parents somehow feel on top expressing to other parents that their child attends a certain school. Whatever happened to basic reading and writing? We as parents are certainly able to help with at least the primary grades. There’s a ton of help out there from the internet, to your local library, on guidelines for helping your child. Believe me, I know, I do it myself, each and everyday.
I know there are exceptions and there are times your child will need specialized care you are unable to provide, but if you are able to do it, you’ll not only save money but be rewarded time and time again. There is no one better than you to teach or tutor your child, and it will be something he or she will remember for the rest of their lives. You’re also setting up an important and valuable pattern of self- sufficiency and smart, simple, frugal alternatives for future generations to come.
Here are some ways to help your child succeed no matter what school they attend. Remember, education does begin at home and the tools and guidelines can be both simple and money saving. If you are interested in home schooling your child, your local county should offer FREE home school courses based on public schools county curriculum.
1) Involve yourself with your child’s school and teachers. Keep up with special events and volunteer whenever possible. I volunteer quite a bit, as it requires no money out of pocket. Most times, the volunteer parents are much more appreciated than the ones who flash the cash and don’t really care. Your child will also develop a more positive attitude towards learning in school. They come to realize how hard you’ve worked with them and learn to appreciate and value learning. I love when my Son looks into my eyes, and with very loving eyes of his own, smiles and says ”thank you mommy, for helping me…you’re the best teacher and I love you so much.” That’s all the reward I need right there.
2) Keep a printed out copy of the grade’s expectations throughout the whole year. I got an expectation sheet from Scholastic and printed it out. I keep it nearby when we work together at the table. From time to time I review certain sections that might be forgotten. Don’t teach subjects ahead of time as this might cause the child to become bored and feel out of place. Unless your child has been tested for Gifted, for example (as my daughter was and ended up being Gifted), just go with the flow.
3) Print out next year’s expectations and do some summer fun work.
4) Sit daily with your little one and help him or her with homework. Use the homework itself as a learning tool. Make sure they truly comprehend the lesson and review it on other days if necessary.
5) Try being creative at home and come up with some educational fun things to do such as, cooking, and baking. These are excellent tools for encouraging science and mathematics.
6) Work with them on the fundamentals such as making their bed or helping with the yard work. You can’t really learn life lessons and responsibilities at school.
7) Create a social base for your child. Manners and good choices really do begin at home. Have a family board game night and reduce television time or even non- educational computer and or video games and go for a walk to talk about the events of the day. Have a special dinner night that introduces foods from different countries and discuss its people and cultures. Help the child see how very connected he or she is with the planet. This is a great social studies lesson time and most of these fun activities will not be taken has having to learn something.
Keep important papers such as upcoming tests, sight words and reading or writing logs so your child’s reading abilities expand, their comprehension as well as writing skills. You have to remember that at every turn you are re enforcing what academically they are learning in school. Children who were on the way to being held back from a certain grade have turned it around with these few easy steps. Find creative ways to enforce school learning…be an extension of the teacher so to speak.
9) Read every day with your child. Use weekends to review lessons learned and keep them fresh in their minds.
10) Try giving mini tests on subjects covered at school and always make sure they’re prepared for upcoming tests such as spelling words or even a math quiz.
11) Take advantage of your local library and its many programs offered for free. Sign up for free summer workshops for your child as well as yourself. Take advantage of local community centers. They will at times offer a yoga class, for example, at a much cheaper rate than a private owner would.
12) Go to the park and learn about the animals and plants in nature.
13) Go grocery shopping together and figure out a budget. Buy your kids a piggy bank or get an old shoe- box and encourage them to save and count their money monthly. That’s a great math lesson in itself.
14) Go to as many free workshops at their local school and take them along. For example, Literacy nite or Math nite. You’ll both learn tips on learning methods. It doesn’t hurt either to let the school notice your attendance and involvement.
15) And to round it all off, try taking your child with you when you volunteer with the poor or encourage them to make up a care basket for needy children. This will encourage empathy and acceptance of diversity – which is what we need more of in this world. Their teachers will notice the difference and they will be so proud of themselves and build up their self-esteem, which in turn, will push them to believe they can accomplish anything with a little hard work, a willingness and positive attitude towards themselves and others as well. And all of this is TOTALLY FREE!…so, don’t feel you need the latest most expensive learning tools or gadgets, if you really want to help your child, you can do it in a frugal and simple way.
Later-g
A Friend's Herbal Remedies
I have a Mennonite friend who gave me a list of the herbal remedies she uses. What she basically gave me was a list of ailments and herbs uses to make remedies. You can consult an herbalist or holistic care practitioner to inquire about doses and applications. A health food store should also be quite helpful.
My friend wishes to remain anonymous due to her religious beliefs.
Some of these remedies were actually passed down from some of her Amish sisters. The Amish and Mennonites have treated ailments with herbs for hundreds of years. Doctors were not always available. These remedies are tried and true, but do use common sense, and possibly take the time to research any specific remedies or herbs you might choose to use.
Thank you so very much, my Mennonite friend, for sharing all of the wonderful things you know. I do so enjoy learning about you, your life and family. Speak to you soon and peace be with you…
Common Allergies – Yarrow Root and Elderberry
Bedwetting – Licorice Root
Insect Bites – Black Cohosh
Minor Burns – Feverfew and Whitewillow
Colds or Flu – Elderberry and Yarrow
Stomach Gas – Peppermint and Chamomile
Minor Fungal Infections – Echinacea and Thyme
Head Pain – Feverfew and Whitewillow
Stress and Nerve Disorders – Chamomile and Peppermint
Bronchial Infections and Cough – Thyme, Elderberry, Yarrow Root and Echinacea
Baby Teething Pain – Peppermint
Asthma – Coltsfoot, Yerba Santa, Rosemary, Juniper Berries and Mullein
Herbs for pregnancy…
Morning sickness – Ginger, Lemon Balm, German Chamomile, Red Raspberry and Peach Leaf.
Infertility – Squaw Vine, Black Haw, Ginger and Unicorn Root.
Mastitis – German Chamomile, Red Root, Yarrow and Elderflower.
Insomnia – Passion Flower, German Chamomile, Valerian and Linden Flower.
Here is a list of some books that helped her and, she feels, will help you too:
The Seasons of America Past by: Eric Sloane
Nourishing Traditions – by: Sally Fallon
Meals in Minutes by: Sue Gregg
Holiday Menus for Busy Women by: Sue Gregg
Homemade Baby Food Pure and Simple – by: Connie Linardakis
Simply in Season by: Mary Beth Lind
Natural Meals in Minutes – by: Rita Bingham
Here are some books she recommends for teaching children to cook:
Lunches and Snacks by: Sue Gregg
Marmee’s Kitchen Primer by: Martha Greene
Whole Foods for Kids to Cook by: La Leche League International
Health etc…
Naturally Healthy Skin by: Stephanie Tourles
Natural Soap Book by: Susan Miller
The Herbal Body Book by: Stephanie Tourles
How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by: Dr. Robert Mendelsohn MD
The How to Herb Book by: Velma Keith
Herbal Antibiotics by: Stephen Buhner
Nature’s Antiseptics by: CJ Puotinen
Herbal Teas for Lifelong Health by: Kathleen Brown
Celebrate Simply by: Nancy Twigg
Living More With Less – by: Doris Jansen
Clean and Green by: Annie Berthold-Bond
The Naturally Clean Home by: Karyn Siegel-Maier
Storey’s Basic Country Skills by: John and Martha Storey
She also gave me a few tips on eating according to the seasons….
Beware of less expensive foods because you do get what you pay for.
A farmer’s market is one of the best places to buy your food. Investigate which foods are grown locally and seasonally. By purchasing the food directly from a farmer’s market, you’re eliminating the middle man, you pay less, the food is fresher and most of the time organically grown and you will be supporting a family rather than a huge supermarket chain.
Try to grow at least one food item for yourself. Even if you live in suburbia, there’s always a little patch of land to plant something that is native to your area.
Since it is more difficult to produce milk, meat and eggs on your own…definitely purchase these items from a local farmer’s market. Don’t forget to inquire the way the animals are raised. The meats should be grass fed and the eggs should come from free range chickens!
The USDA offers free information and reading material showing items that are grown seasonally in your part of the nation. They can also supply you with menu options.
Till next time…peace always, Gigi
Primitive Simple-Living
Primitive Simple Living is an entirely different animal, although, for those who have already chosen to simplify, it can be a much easier transition and can be a totally unique and satisfying experience. Primitive is just what the name says, being totally self reliant and self-sufficient, ready for any emergencies and or dangers that may come your way.
This way of life certainly speaks to a chosen few men and women who’s heart and soul carry a sense of adventure, hard work ethics and essential pioneering skills. Loving nature is not enough.
Don’t try to go out there without any knowledge of wilderness survival skills and expect to make it. Country living or even living on a farm is pretty much self-sufficiency in action, but… wilderness living doesn’t offer much in ready-made supplies.
Before you try and set off on this new and exciting adventure watch as many documentaries as possible. Take a few wilderness courses and read lots of books. Alibris.com has one of the largest selections of wilderness books, stories and training manuals.
If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they’ll find it! Get familiar with a few catalogs that offer survival gear and remember. Nowadays you don’t have to walk into the wilderness alone without training or supplies – be smart.
The web has lots of information as well and you could even sign up for the more popular courses. Mother Earth News offers information on schools and businesses related to wilderness survival.
You can also go to www.motherearthnewsmagazine.com. Earth Knack offers classes in stone-age skills. For further information you can go to www.earthknack.com or get in touch with Bart or Robin Blankenship at: PO Box 508, Crestone, CO 81131 or call – 719-256-4909.
This next school is actually the one I would like to sign up for myself. It’s reasonably priced and teaches everything from tanning hides to plant identification.
They actually take you on wilderness treks, with training and testing on site. They are Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School located at: 12 Quartz St., Pony, MT 59747 You can visit their website at – www.hollowtop.com.
It has some great links to other schools and reading and learning materials. If you’re really into primitive training, join The Society of Primitive Technology. I did and I’m glad I did. I have now met quite a few people through the society’s networking. Upon joining, you’re automatically signed up to receive
The Bulletin of Primitive Technology twice a year and special editions. The Bulletin offers a way to meet others with similar interests and offers information on upcoming classes and workshops. You’ll also be able to obtain information on shopping for much needed tools and supplies. The book, Primitive Technology: A book of Earth Skills had published articles by society members and editor, David Wescott. I just ordered the book and can’t wait to get it.
More books before you trek:
There are tons of wilderness books out there but here are a few of my favorites. Some of these are fiction stories but still an interesting and educating read.
Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills by: John McPherson and Geri McPherson
One Winter in the Wilderness by: Pat Cary Peek
You Can’t Wallpaper My Igloo by: Katherine Norberg
How to Live in the Woods on Pennies a Day by: Bradford Angier
The Final Fontiersman by: James Campbell (I am so upset I did not pick up the last copy they had on the shelf at a nearby store. The first time I met Haimo and his family was through a National Geographic Documentary called Braving Alaska. The documentary also contains the story of other families that have chosen to brave the Alaskan Bush. The book is about Haimo and his family years later. They were known to be one of the most isolated families in the world.)
Wilderness Wife by: Bradford Angier – loved it!
Alaska’s Wilderness Medicines by: Eleanor Viereck
Living with Nature by: Art Ludwig (this guy has a very strong argument on living primitively) I really enjoyed what he had to say.
***The Emergency Disaster Survival Handbook by: Doug King available from ABC Preparedness, PO Box 795, Sandy, UT 84091(free shipping)*** EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE ONE OF THESE WITH THE WAY THE WORLD IS BEHAVING NOWADAYS!!!***
In my opinion, the simpler you know how to exist and the more you know about survival skills, the better off you’ll be in case of an emergency or disaster. Disasters and primitive living have many similarities! Think about it, if you could live in the wilderness, those disasters might not affect you like those living in cities.
If I could get rid of Cable, I would… but my husband and kids would not be very supportive. I do understand there are certain educational shows that are good for them, but I’m happy with news and public television. Anyway, www.pbs.org offers shows, documentaries and books.
Two of my favorite documentaries take families back to both the 1600’s and 1800’s. The names of these two projects are Colonial House and Frontier House. You get to see how people live without electricity, running water and grocery stores. A few people actually wanted to remain living in the Project.
Another documentary offered through pbs.org is Alone in the Wilderness – my favorite by far.
It’s about a man named Dick Prinoeke (I think I spelled his last name correctly, if not…you can find it through the title name). There’s also a book out based on the journal he kept while living for MANY years in the Alaskan Wilderness!
He was in his 50s when he decided to leave civilization and the rat-race and set off to the wilderness to build a log cabin all by himself, fished and hunted for food, had a fresh water source and prepared animal hides for warmth and clothing. Except for a bush plane that came a couple of times a year, leaving much needed supplies, everything he needed was built by hand using only what the land had to offer. Alibris.com offers used copies at really cheap prices (as they do all there books). You can still visit Dick’s cabin if you’re ever in Alaska.
There’s a really interesting show on the Discovery Network called Survivorman – www.discoverchanel.com. This guy gets dropped of in different locations and climates all over the world, with little to no survival tools or gear. He teaches as he goes,showing the basic survival techniques applicable to the different situations.
Construction Ideas and Building Materials:
Environmental Housing Ideas – get in touch with Robert Bolman 541-344-7196; 888 Almaden St., Eugene, OR 97402.
A man named Ole and his wife built a totally sustainable house in Portland Oregon – www.rdrop.com/users/krishna. They specialize in low-impact living such as harvesting rainwater, building a home out of straw bale, toilets that don’t use water, heating your home with compost. growing plants and crops on your roof. Pretty amazing and I think if you get in touch with them, you can drop by for a visit.
www.hhinst.com – This site offers information on creating natural and environmentally safe dwellings.
www.homeenergy.org – they offer you ways to drastically reduce home energy bills.
www.buildinggreen.com – Lots of articles and links to alternative housing and building materials. They have a directory called GreenSpec Product Directory. This directory is loaded with information on cheap, yet safe building products!
The Fox Maple School of Traditional Building, specializes in teaching people about all kinds of building methods like straw bale, clay/adobe, earth plaster, corncob, and daub and wattle. They’re located at – Corn Hill Road, PO Box 249 Brownfield, ME 04010 – 207-935-3720 – fax: 207-935-4574.
This lady Charmaine Taylor is amazing! She publishes and produces The Dirt Cheap Builder’s Catalog and wrote The Dirt Cheap Houses Guidebook on Disk…she covers lime building, paper construction, ancient earth dwellings, collecting rainwater and even building your own cooking units. She has her own mail order business and offers an interesting and useful selection of books and videos. On these she covers building the cheap and natural way, living off the grid, earth dwellings, underground homes and my favorite – travel-trailer homesteading. There’s another section on simple and sustainable living right where you live…you don’t have to leave everything behind and buy a piece of land in the middle of nowhere to live off the grid and be totally self sufficient! You can contact her by writing to: PO Box 6985, Eureka, CA 95502 – fax and phone: 888-441-1632 or see what it’s all about at: www.dirtcheapbuilder.com.
Building With Wood:
Shelters, Shacks and Shanties by: D.C. Beard – This is a classic and the best in my opinion. Written in 1914 by one of the founders of the Boy Scouts, he’ll show you how to build primitive shelters just by using an ax and a knife.
www.logbuilding.org – shows you tons of information on building your own log home.
www.yurts.com – Yurts are tent-type dwellings that can easily be moved around. They can be used as temporary dwelling or be made into a sturdy permanent house. It originates from the Mongolian Nomadic People. They even make some now that can withstand around 100 mile an hour winds as well as 100 lb/sq ft. of snow! I’ve seen some really big and beautiful ones. They’re probably one of the cheapest dwellings around and come in an assortment of sizes and styles.
www.castearth.com – teaches all about different types of natural earth dwellings.
www.strawhomes.com – Building with straw.
For papercrete building write to Laura and Gordon Solbert: earth@zianet.com
For thatched roof information (one of my favorites) go to – www.thatching.com – he’s an Irishman that is a master roofer specializing in these ancient type roofs!
I’d like to end with some tips on living on a farm if you’re interested in more of a homesteading direction rather than a bare-bones primitive lifestyle. The cheapest way to go, nowadays, with modern conveniences is buy a cheap travel trailer and pay lot rent. Take your time choosing trailer communities especially if you have children.
1. Save as much money as you can and try not to buy on credit.
2. Keep a diary of every single expense and how you can continuously trim down.
3. Don’t be late on credit payments. This way, when you need car repairs or animal feed, the stores will know you’re trustworthy.
4. Re-invest money made from crops back to growing more crops.
5. Choose crops that sell easily and are in high demand.
6. Sell your crop when the demand is high and no one else has that particular crop. Grow crops no one else has but don’t grow strange crops that people don’t normally consume.
7. Don’t forget it’s a business like any other and you’ll have to know certain market and advertising strategies!
8. Avoid selling wholesale.
9. Your local county extension agent can furnish you with much valuable information, if you’re ever in doubt about producing and selling.
10. Buy cheap, when purchasing anything to do with operational support – save the difference.
11. Buy animals and land during off-season when others don’t have the money or are simply not in the market to buy.
12. Try to buy animals that are pregnant and never buy an animal without inspecting it your self.
13. Keep yourself updated with the latest farming information. Go to the library, attend workshops and classes, subscribe to helpful periodicals and attend any meetings, conventions or product demonstrations offered through your local product associations.
14. And most of all remember your land and animals are very much a spiritual responsibility. You will only get out of them what you put into them.
15. Live with family or friends when saving to purchase your farm.
16. Look around for land that has potential for growth and livability. For example, you don’t want swampland or land without water sources. Make sure you can get electricity and indoor running water. Will the mailman deliver or will the bus be able to pick up your children for school? Make sure you write down all of your needs and wants before you buy. Never buy land that sounds too good to be true without seeing it first. Nearly all of the time it is too good to be true.!!
17. Learn as much about any poisonous critters that might be indigenous to the area and learn first aid in case of bites.
18. An ideal place might be some isolation but not too isolated. Buy far enough from your neighbor or the nearest city but make sure helicopter service is available in case of extreme emergencies.
19. You have to have some wilderness training even when homesteading on a not so wilderness area.
20. Most of all make sure this is really what you want. You might even want to try and work on a farm or ranch environment before having your own. Farm life can at times be lonely, especially for mothers and wives. You have to be able to handle everything around the home front, especially if your husband still has to maintain and outside job…but in the end you will see the fruit of your work through your family, children, land and animals, Everything you put into this beautiful way of life will come back tri-fold.
A LITTLE BIT OF LAND
A little bit of land is all I ask, Just a small place to call my own,
Where I can put down roots so deep So deep,
That great-grandchildren still will Call it home.
Is it so much to ask? A lane of trees,
Bringing birdsong and covered leaves,
Sweet lilacs holding in their arms,
The lawn. Tulips and yellow daffodil,
Spattered up and down the cellar hill,
Sweet gurgling brook, fresh and cool,
The brush beyond
Sheltering grouse and sage,
And shy sweet deer.
Oh aching heart, hungry hungry soul.
What little bit to make a grateful
Whole.
Is there no spot in all this universe/
A little valley, with a cabin home,
A bit of garden I can call my own,
I would not bruise the land, or tear
It apart,
But keep it beating with a happy
Blooming heart.
Each bit of soil, which God had
Surely blessed,
Would be a cozy home for seeds to
Rest,
And grow and nourish, comforting
All men,
With fruit and shade, and food for
Every soul.
A little bit of land, to call my own,
Within its small confines, a loving
Home,
And fertile soil
No matter the toil,
I would so grateful be
If God would take a little chance on
Me
And give me a small plot of lonely
Sod
That needs a gentle hand, and God.
Written by: Jennie Senrud Hutton
Just a note: One of the people not affected by the Great Depression were the Amish, Conservative Mennonites and The Hutterites (plain people of the plains).
Till next time – Peace Always, Gigi
**The authors of this site are neither licensed physicians nor scientists; we
simply provide a space where hard to find information is free for the
gathering. Use common sense when implementing any of our suggestions or
those of your fellow reader. **
Indoor Gardening
GROWING VEGETABLES IN CONTAINERS:
The following is a list of vegetables that can be grown in containers along with container size and amount per pot.
Pole Beans – 4 gallon size – 5 plants
Beets – 1 pt. Size – 2 plants spread widely apart
Broccoli – 5 gallon size – one plant
Brussels Sprouts – 4 gallon size – one plant
Cabbage – 4 gallon size
Chinese Cabbage – 2 gallon size – one plant
Carrots – one pint – 3 plants spaced about one inch apart
Corn – 10 to 12 gallon size – 5 plants about 4 to 5 inches apart – plant at least 10 per container
Peppers – 2 gallon size – one plant
Turnips – 5 to 7 gallon size – space them a little over 2 inches apart
Browse your local garden store for different types of containers. Certain types work better for certain plants. Believe it or not there are a few TREES that can thrive indoors in pots; be sure to ask about those as well.
START YOUR OWN FARM INDOORS:
You can grow almost any vegetables indoors if you have no access to your own piece of land. There are many new and informative books out there to help you from beginning to end. Here I’ve listed some veggies and where they’ll be most likely to thrive.
INDOOR GROWING UNDER FLUORESCENT LIGHT:
Carrots
Cucumbers
Onions
Radishes
Watercress
BALCONY GROWING
Almost all root vegetables
Tomatoes
Squashes
Peppers
Cucumbers – remember they tend to be quite fussy about not too cold and not to warm
WINDOWSILL GROWING
Carrots
Mustard
Radishes
Tomatoes
Zucchini (homemade zucchini bread is delicious)
GROWING HERBS – MY FAVORITE
Not only are herbs beautiful to admire but some have mood altering fragrance as well. Herbs can flourish both indoors and outdoors. Just keep in mind they normally need a lot of sun and be very careful not to over water. The following is my list of different types and what they’re used for:
COOKING WITH HERBS:
Basil – thrives indoors – Italian dishes
Dill – does well in sandy fertilized soil
Garlic – grow in well fertilized well watered soil – is often grown along side other vegetables to prevent pesty insects – I use it in almost everything I cook – a clove a day keeps your heart healthy
Oregano – Italian and Spanish dishes
Parsley – Tomato soup, veggie sandwiches and salads and fish
Terragon – Spanish and Island dishes
Thyme – I like to make a sauce of thyme and dill for seafood dishes
FRAGRANT HERBS:
Geranium
Lavender*** – soothing and great for babies – one of my favorites
Lemon Balm – makes a wonderful soothing tea and homemade lip gloss ingredient
Rose – relax your home environment and used in rose water and rose oil
Bergamot – my mom’s favorite
Iris Florentina – beautiful to look at
MEDICINAL HERBS:
Camomile – drink before bed and safe for children
Wormwood – contains medicinal properties
Comfrey – a good addition to your favorite teas
Feverfew – you can actually still purchase this old fashioned remedy at most pharmacies and on line herbal stores – most all British Food on line stores carry it along with homeopathic medicines used as far back as Medieval Times – Feverfew was what my brother and I were raised on to bring down fever and help alleviate flu and cold symptoms
BOOKS:
*Herbs and the Earth by H. Beston
Cooking with Herbs and Spices by C Claiborne
*The Herb Garden by S. Garland
***Mother Nature’s Kitchen: Growing and Using Herbs by J. Griffin
Herbs by J. Griffin
Herbs: A Guide to Growing, Cooking and Decorating by I. Lincolnwood
****The Herb Book by John Lust – my all time favorite and I do believe he came out with updated versions but the original is still as good
The Herb Companion is a wonderful magazine containing sources for herbal seeds and plants.
Biological Control of Natural Enemies by P. DeBach
*The Gardener’s Bug Book by Earth Safe
Insect Control by B. Pleasant
**The authors of this site are neither licensed physicians nor scientists; we simply provide a space where hard to find information is free for the gathering. Use common sense when implementing any of our suggestions or those of your fellow reader. **
Posted in Self Sufficiency
Growing Your Own Food
Here’s a bit of information on getting started growing your own vegetables, fruits and even herbs for that home grown taste.
Some basic tools to get started and if you have any questions on what a particular tool looks like or can’t figure out its function a garden shop will be happy to explain. I’ll also be listing some book sources that will help you learn more. It’s best to try and purchase your tools at farm auctions during the off season if living in rural areas.
1) Round point shovel
2) Hoe
3) Garden spade
4) Hose
5) Rake
6) Spading fork
7) Watering can Hand fork
9) Lawn cart
10) Trowel
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PLANTING THE COMPANION WAY- VEGETABLES THAT DO WELL GROWING NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER:
Tomatoes with basil, garlic and parsley
Squash with radishes
Turnips with peas
Pumpkins with corn
Potatoes with beans, cabbage, corn and peas
Onions with cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes
Lettuce with carrots, cucumbers and onions
Cucumbers with cabbage, corn and radishes
Carrots with parsley and tomatoes
Cantaloupe with corn
Cabbage with celery, corn, dill, onions and sage
Asparagus with parsley and tomatoes
And notice how well these go together on the same plate!
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ORGANIC FERTILIZERS:
1) Wood ashes: an old time favorite
2) Dried seaweed my favorite and is very high in nutrients and keeps your soil extremely moist
3) Fresh cow manure: this is the safest one to use all around
4) Compost is the best you can buy and meets all possible known standards
5) Cotton seed meal: good for developing an acidic soil which is needed to grow only certain plants successfully
Some other organic fertilizers which I don’t happen to be that familiar with are:
Bone meal
Dried Blood
Fish Emulsion
Horn and Hoof Meal
Goat, Poultry, Horse and Rabbit Manure
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COMMON SEED LOGEVITY IN YEARS:
Beets – 3
Cabbage – 4
Carrots – 1
Corn – 2
Cucumbers – 5
Spinach – 3
Squash – 4
Lettuce – 4
Melons – 4
Onions – 1
Peppers – 2
Pumpkin – 4
Tomatoes – 3
Turnips – 5
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VEGGIES AND WEATHER PREFERENCE -BEST GROWING SEASONS:
Beans – warm weather
Beets – better to grow in more northern regions
Broccoli – likes cold weather
Cabbage – cold weather like Alaskan winters
Cantaloupe – warm weather
Carrots – cold weather
Cauliflower – this is a very difficult vegetable to grow and it has a high sensitivity to warm weather. I met some ladies on line a while back that homestead 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle that do very well growing cauliflower.
Celery – does not like too much heat or too much cold so my advice is to start growing indoors and put it out around the middle of June
Collards – one of my most favorite and practically grows anywhere! I love my collards fried in Olive Oil with pieces of bacon or you can substitute turkey bacon for less fat and cholesterol. I also put it in my home made tomato based mixed vegetable soup with tons of Parsley.
Corn – warm weather
Cucumbers – avoid frost or extremely low temperatures – tends to be temperamental
Eggplant – warm weather and is native to India
Lettuce – cold weather
Okra – warm weather
Onions – grow mostly all over
Parsnips – I prefer them to carrots because of their sweeter taste but tend to contain a poor vitamin A content – the colder it is the sweeter they become! I love parsnip muffins and parsnip pie – cheaper to make than pumpkin or sweet potato pie.
Potatoes – cold weather
Pumpkin – warm weather lovers but avoid frost – pioneers often raised pumpkin as livestock feed – I love it steamed with some Olive Oil and apple cider vinegar sprinkled over the top
Radishes – rapid growth and love the cold
Spinach – likes cool weather but do avoid frosted grounds – is one of the few greens that freezes well
Sweet Potatoes – warm weather lovers and are not at all of the potato family – it actually belongs to the Morning Glory family! My mom told me that one and after researching its origin I found out she was absolutely right
Tomatoes – another one of my favorites and so healthy and versatile – hell, I can just have a few sliced tomatoes on homemade bread with salad dressing and a few sprinkles of grated cheese and that’s a meal to me¦anyway, at one time they were considered poisonous and are a close relative of the tobacco plant – they like moderate climates. My grandmother would grow tobacco and tomatoes together
Turnips – rapid growth and love cool weather
Watermelons – delicious and have similar beneficial health properties to tomatoes – they love warm sunny weather
SOME OF MY FAVORITES:
Watercress – with its strong taste it’s often grown in cool flowing waters – I find it extremely refreshing in salads and sandwiches
Tempala – a highly nutritious vegetable with an extremely good level of iron and B vitamins – they grow well in hot climates and can take the place of spinach – contain important needed nutrients if you’re a vegetarian or vegan
Scallions – use them in practically anything – they have a fresh mild flavor and grow well in cool weather but avoid frost
Mushrooms – can only grow in 50 to 60 degree climates – they are grown from spores called spawns
Leeks – in the past were used to treat blood disorders and anemia – extremely high in iron and B vitamins – they can be eaten raw or cooked – a member of the onion family plant them in Spring time and pick by Fall
Jerusalem Artichokes – very easy to grow as well as extremely resistant to drought and very cold weather – raised from tubers they are excellent for diabetics as they are low in calories and practically sugar free – a native of North America they are NOT artichokes at all but are called such because their flavor is much like that of the artichoke – they’re actually related to the sunflower which by the way is grown along with many vegetables for their highly nutritious and delicious seeds – they need very little care to thrive – I like them with steamed yellow rice, olive oil and crushed lightly fried garlic.
Horseradish – likes a cool climate and very moist soil – it’s used as a dressing or relish topping – plant the root cuttings in the spring and they should be ready by early fall – I love dipping nice big pieces of steak into homemade horseradish sauce – the roots have medicinal ingredients as well
Hint: To grow long or tall plants, you’ll need either a stake (long pole) or trillis.
In my next section I’ll cover ways of growing plants indoors and in pots¦
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Gardening Books:
Environmental Gardening by K. Arms
All About Vegetables by K. Burke and D. Walter
***The Total Garden by A. M. Clevely***
***Deep in the Green*** by A. Raver
Magazines:
***Mother Earth News***
***Organic Gardening***
**The authors of this site are neither licensed physicians nor scientists; we simply provide a space where hard to find information is free for the gathering. Use common sense when implementing any of our suggestions or those of your fellow reader. **
Posted in Self Sufficiency | Tags: growing vegitables, growing your own food, parsley, vegitable growing seasons