Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

Oh boy... if I had a dollar for everytime I said in my life "I won't need this, I will never do this" I'd be rich! Really rich!!
Knowing how to sew on a machine or just by hand is something everyone should now. It doesn't matter if male or female. You just need to know how.... if it's not your thing, you don't need to spend time on the machine... but you got to know the basics.
I learned to spin wool just to know how. I want to be able to knit or weave cloth if push comes to shove. You just never know. Besides, it is fun and relaxing!

Well, I got more chicks. The last ones for this year. On one hand I am happy... kinda when your last kid is finally out of diapers... and on the other hand.. I have to wait until next year to have more chicks!! This time only 21 hatched out of the 70eggs I put in the incubator. I have heard lots of breeders saying they had a very bad hatch. No idea why. But honestly... I have enough chicks. I should be able to pick enough good ones for show and for breeding.
2 of those chicks had issues. One was zipped but the skin had become hard and dry. So I helped it out of the shell. But it had such issues... ccouldn't walk... was falling over. The other one walked as if it had hip problems. But didn't have splayed legs. This morning I got up expecting to have to take them out of their missery..when they are doing better... the one I helped is almost perfectly fine..and I couldn't even pick out the other one anymore.
Also the one with the amputated toe is doing well. No more limping! She is even running around. That makes me feel so happy! It was a good decision to take it off.

Now... I won't post pictures... because they always look the same... little yellow fluff balls... just soooo cute!!

 

[Papa John59]

@abpatchy Are you a prepper?

 

[abpatchy]

@abpatchy Are you a prepper?

not really... maybe a little. I just think it's important to know stuff. We are so dependent on industrial stuff... think how many people don't have basic cooking skills anymore. They need a package this and a package that to fix any kind of meal. It bugged me not to know stuff.
Not really a prepper, but I do want to be prepared... and at least know how to get by.

 

[abpatchy]

Hey @Papa John59 I was thinking about your question all day. Am I really a prepper. I have to make another statement. The reason I really started considering gardening, spinning, farming etc. started with all those food scandals. So buy bio eggs etc. ... well, they had scandals as well. Eventually I was thinking the only way to somewhat avoid those scanadals and the cheating food industry is to make your own. Grow your food... raise your own meat. Well...I haven't made it to a farm and property yet... but I have a plot in the gardening club and a plot with the breeding club. It's a start. I may never make it futher towards my goal... we are getting older too, you know.
So am I a prepper in that sense that I think the world is coming to an end. No, just tired of being thought of as a fool. And I just want to know... I hate being at other peoples mercy.

 

[Erba]

Cool, I am more of a self sufficient kind of person. I am lucky to own an orchard so make cider, juice and jam. I also have a vegetable garden here and grow my own, can and freeze fruit and vegetables all the time. I'd rather fix something myself than pay for it or buy new. I haven't bought clothing for years, because I do not need more clothes. I own two sowing machines, but my pride and joy are the two shredders I have to make my own compost, which is why I really wanted chickens and their poop! The eggs and meat are of course, a bonus. I also collect a lot of rainwater, mostly for the animals and the vegetables/fruit, but if push came to shove, I could make a filter and drink it. I do think about all the people that are dreadfully unprepared, with skills and mentally to face a disaster. That makes me sad and I have seen it through the corona virus. We can still buy food, but imagine a scenario where you can't.

 

[abpatchy]

Cool, I am more of a self sufficient kind of person. I am lucky to own an orchard so make cider, juice and jam. I also have a vegetable garden here and grow my own, can and freeze fruit and vegetables all the time. I'd rather fix something myself than pay for it or buy new. I haven't bought clothing for years, because I do not need more clothes. I own two sowing machines, but my pride and joy are the two shredders I have to make my own compost, which is why I really wanted chickens and their poop! The eggs and meat are of course, a bonus. I also collect a lot of rainwater, mostly for the animals and the vegetables/fruit, but if push came to shove, I could make a filter and drink it. I do think about all the people that are dreadfully unprepared, with skills and mentally to face a disaster. That makes me sad and I have seen it through the corona virus. We can still buy food, but imagine a scenario where you can't.

Just my kind of girl... I feel the same way. I have a garden... It's not large enough to really provide...but it helps. And it tastes so much better! There is also a pride that comes with it... gardening is chicken soup for the soul! And we get chicken soup from our chickens..lol mainly for the eggs though.
I was so happy having my own eggs when there were none in the stores a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Erba]

And it tastes so much better!

I agree, just the fact that you grew it, tended, harvested it and know whats in it, is a rare and beautiful thing, ditto keeping chickens.

 

[Papa John59]

@abpatchy @Erba I'm so happy to know the both of you! We are of the same mind set. But abpatchy, not all preppers are preparing for the end of the world. Some of us just want to be able to take care of our own when SHTF. After watching what could have happened after the market crashed in 2009, I convinced the wife that we should start preparing for the unexpected. We raise our own veggies and can 75% of it for the winter months, apple trees, a peach tree and a cherry tree takes care of our jams. Have a partnership with another GI who stayed on 3 bee hives. He tends while I provide the €€€s. There is a water well which has been covered up since the 60s, but we have tested it, so we have water. Plus we have build up our food staples and have enough for 6 months if really needed. Plus, we have the means and knowledge to protect what is ours. Are we expecting the world to end, no, but like Erba stated, this crisis could have been worse!

Less than 30 minutes ago, I finished sewing the last of 14 masks! Rather proud of my handiwork. Wifey said that in our next life, she will be the man and I will be her wife. Sorry, that's not happening! Ok getting late and tomorrow is a long day of painting the new coop and putting it together, weather willing.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! Stay safe and remain healthy!

 

[BDutch]

Somehow I missed the replies. I loved you’re answers about being prepared for whatever catastrophy might ever happen.

I really think our country is doomed if we are going to pollute the world again like we did before Corona. We are going to get in trouble with unhealthy air and rising sea levels in large parts of the Netherlands. This is why mdh and I are saving to buy a property in Germany or France. To go there for holidays and to have an alternative.

The government is doing everything in its power to save our main airport. But imo it would be better if it got bankrupt and had to close down. I really hope this Corona crisis shows there is more than 1 crisis we have to solve.

I dont need much new stuff too. Often buy second hand things, repair or reuse things if possible. I can make my own clothes if necessary. We have a tiny veggie garden but the combination of free ranging chickens and veggies don't go well. But we do have a lot of fruit trees, grapes and such to make our own jams and juices.

 

[Papa John59]

@BDutch
Bavaria is calling your name!
I was always amazed by the Dutch people! How they reclaimed the land from the sea.