I thought it would be good to bring forward the blog post I did on "How did we do this. Why and What are our Plans.
http://thoughtsfromwisdom.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-did-we-do-this-why-and-what-are-our_31.html
Enjoy the last couple of days of 2011! Judy
Showing posts with label How Did We Do This. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How Did We Do This. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Preparing for TEOTWAWKI, Depression II, Great Recession or an Emergency with Family Lore, Stories and Teaching by Example!
I follow many blogs on preparation, emergency awareness, gardening, food storage, practical living, sustainability, being a modern survivalist, peak oil, peak anything, financial news, TEOTWAWKI, spiritual inspiration and just plain fun subjects. Yes I love to read and find the Internet the greatest library!
Now what does this have to do with my title? I made a post on another blog that I wanted to share with you. Here it is -
Depression Stories - The “Depression” was fixated in my mind by my Grandmother and Mother. The stories were passed down. My Mother has written a variety of stories on how the family survived during those years when she was a child. I believe family lore is important. I have read how leaving an “ethical will” allows for “what I learned in life and hopes for the family” to be passed from one generation to the next. Family stories put into book form do the same. Even movie stars are into writing what worked and did not work in their lives. In our family we have a Christmas tradition that came straight out of the Depression. My Mother’s parents would buy a tangerine [expensive in that era], an Almond Joy candy bar and a package of gum. Then they would divide them up as a treat. Every year members of my family get a brown paper bag with a tangerine or orange, an Almond Joy candy bar and a package of gum to remember how far the family has come. This last Christmas my Mother read her story about the tradition. Maybe that will become a tradition as well. It was an inspirational moment. I believe family traditions and family lore is an important tool in the box of “how to live prepared for whatever”.
Buzz Terms - When it comes to terms I find that “buzz words” are helpful as well. My children are in their 30s and 40s. They respond to terms like “sustainability”, “locally grown”, etc. I use the term “pantry” or “food storage” but my mother called it in her stories the depression term – larder. I guess in the future those who read her stories will have to have a dictionary to explain the meaning [smile]. I use the buzz words when I “Tweet”, on my Blog and on my personal Facebook page. My goal like everyone reading this is to BE prepared for whatever happens.
Staying Ready for “Whatever Happens” - I strive to keep the pantry full and have long term food storage. We garden and have an orchard even if they are in pots. It keeps our fingers in growing things and lets my children and grandchild “see” how it is done. We keep emergency items on hand. We are always working on something that will keep things up to date. I guess it is teaching by example. This year as you might remember I had a series of surgeries and almost died. I might not live to see the next Depression or TEOTWAWKI. I follow the blogs, keep inspired and do my best in preparation. I try to blend my life with necessities as well as trimmings. I have lived poor and comfortable and I prefer comfortable. My goal is an abundant life and being prepared is part of that life.
Hope you found something that will inspire you to live a life filled with Abundance and Prepared! Judy
Now what does this have to do with my title? I made a post on another blog that I wanted to share with you. Here it is -
Depression Stories - The “Depression” was fixated in my mind by my Grandmother and Mother. The stories were passed down. My Mother has written a variety of stories on how the family survived during those years when she was a child. I believe family lore is important. I have read how leaving an “ethical will” allows for “what I learned in life and hopes for the family” to be passed from one generation to the next. Family stories put into book form do the same. Even movie stars are into writing what worked and did not work in their lives. In our family we have a Christmas tradition that came straight out of the Depression. My Mother’s parents would buy a tangerine [expensive in that era], an Almond Joy candy bar and a package of gum. Then they would divide them up as a treat. Every year members of my family get a brown paper bag with a tangerine or orange, an Almond Joy candy bar and a package of gum to remember how far the family has come. This last Christmas my Mother read her story about the tradition. Maybe that will become a tradition as well. It was an inspirational moment. I believe family traditions and family lore is an important tool in the box of “how to live prepared for whatever”.
Buzz Terms - When it comes to terms I find that “buzz words” are helpful as well. My children are in their 30s and 40s. They respond to terms like “sustainability”, “locally grown”, etc. I use the term “pantry” or “food storage” but my mother called it in her stories the depression term – larder. I guess in the future those who read her stories will have to have a dictionary to explain the meaning [smile]. I use the buzz words when I “Tweet”, on my Blog and on my personal Facebook page. My goal like everyone reading this is to BE prepared for whatever happens.
Staying Ready for “Whatever Happens” - I strive to keep the pantry full and have long term food storage. We garden and have an orchard even if they are in pots. It keeps our fingers in growing things and lets my children and grandchild “see” how it is done. We keep emergency items on hand. We are always working on something that will keep things up to date. I guess it is teaching by example. This year as you might remember I had a series of surgeries and almost died. I might not live to see the next Depression or TEOTWAWKI. I follow the blogs, keep inspired and do my best in preparation. I try to blend my life with necessities as well as trimmings. I have lived poor and comfortable and I prefer comfortable. My goal is an abundant life and being prepared is part of that life.
Hope you found something that will inspire you to live a life filled with Abundance and Prepared! Judy
Thursday, March 31, 2011
How Did We Do This, Why and What are Our Plans
- We grew up with families that canned, froze and enjoyed fresh food in the 1950s and 1960s with stories from the depression fresh from Grandparents and Parents. We married in 1965. The Vietnam War stepped into our lives from 1967-1969, In the 1970s we lived in Eastern Washington State. The energy crisis put us into high gear. We lived on a 1/3 of an acre with an orchard. We froze, canned and ate fresh. Then life took us to Miami and Boston. It was difficult to live the prepared life there. We would purchase food once a month to keep a supply on hand. Then we lived 12 years on 40 acres of logged land in a log house with barns and animals [sheep, goats, horses and chickens] in SW Washington. The kids had a great time. Gardening though was not successful. Now we live in an urban neighborhood with a homeowners association. Our neighbors though are younger people with a good sprinkling of military and retired state workers. Some are prepared minded. We view our home as an ‘urban farm’. We do not plan to add animals though. Our goal is to eat fresh in the summer and fall and eventually extend the food season.
- In 2007 I got the bug to paver the back yard. It is about 1000 sq ft. We put in a 10x20 carriage house [storage building] with a patch of grass and a fountain as a center piece. This way we could actually use and enjoy the “patio/yard”.
- 2008 put us into high gear on gardening. The first year we just had a great time as you can tell from the videos putting in a huge container garden. We bought a green house, yet to be put up and a 6x8 garden shed. We also increased our long term food storage and a strong 3 month supply. Bought all cars emergency kits. Bought kits and food supplies for our kids (2 sons and their families]. Bought camping equipment, tent , camp stove, etc. for emergencies. The kids thought Mom had gone over the top. After all of the earthquakes lately they are not thinking I am quite so crazy. LOL. We live in earthquake country. Fortunately, we live in the West and people are a little more preparation minded.
- The year of 2009 was when we put in the orchard, blueberries and grapes. 2009 we bought a 1978 Argosy (made by airstream) travel trailer. As a kid I had seen them. We completely rehab it. We have been recyclers from childhood. Our down fall is technology. We have lots of it and make our living from the Internet teaching online for Universities and a College. [smile]
- The summer of 2010 we decided we should go to the Airstream Club International Rally in Gillette, Wyoming. We were gone 3 weeks in July. Therefore all we could do was work on saving the orchard. It still produced 30#s of apples. The blog lay quiet. My husband just loves the orchard. I love the garden. The hard part is we have to pay a water bill. We have decided though it is worth the enjoyment and the joy of our fresh food. We are into keeping things in miniature. That is why this yard/patio has been perfect. It turned out that 2010 was a terrible year for the gardens in our area - Western Washington.
- This year 2011 our plan is to be home and garden. Our grandson just loves the garden, orchard and berries. We eat and eat fresh all summer/fall. At this point we purchase our longer term food storage and 3 month supply items and just eat fresh from the garden. Our plan is to extend the season with a green house. We have had it purchased and approved by the home owner’s association for 2 years. We were working so hard teaching we have not had time. This year we hope to have it up for fall.
- The blog will continue following our progress in our adventure of an urban “farm” and living a sustainability life in miniature. Judy/Jesse
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