The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

One reason I started up with chickens. Eggs and we eat the cockerels. I am working on my food storage. I believe it is very important. Our church has told us to build up a years supply.

Used to be, it was just common sense. My grandparents had a 50 ac farm, raised chickens, black Angus cattle and pigs. The pantry was always full, with a 5 gallon bucket with a plank of wood on top where the scraps from meals were dumped in to slop the pigs. Even the gov't used to encourage it. Now, you're one of those nasty "hoarders", by their definition. So, we've had a 180* turnaround in this country and it's getting worse. I just did a video addressing those who jokingly say (but really mean it, though they don't believe it will ever happen) that they're coming to our place if society falls apart. Um, no, they're not. Food and supplies for two people for 6 months will be gone in one month with ten people, maybe less if they insist on eating like they normally do. What that means is they do not have the good sense, the fortitude nor maturity to do what they should do to prepare to keep their family fed and safe, but they are perfectly willing to take advantage of my hard work and expense and endanger us all. They won't deny themselves their expensive cable TV or Iphones or new cars to do something real and important. Rant over!

 

[getaclue]

Being a native of Florida, I can attest to the validity of keeping stocked up on supplies. We get hit with a lot of intense smaller storms, as well as occasional hurricanes. The news channels constantly warn people to keep a minimum of a 2 week supply of food, and water (2 gallons per day, per adult) for everyone in the household, batteries, flashlights, candles, to keep extra gas cans full, etc. While the smaller storms are more isolated, they are more frequent, which sometimes knock down trees, and take out power lines. While it affects a more concentrated area, residents in those areas can still experience anything from a day, to several days without power.

With all those warnings, you'd be shocked at how many people are caught unprepared. It's not that difficult to stay stocked up, even on a tight budget. During the non-storm times, toss an extra pack of batteries in the grocery cart, especially when there is a sale. Next grocery trip, toss in a few extra canned goods. Next trip, grab a few extra gallons of water. (I tend to buy iced tea in the gallon jugs. When the jug is empty, I wash it out, fill it with water, and add 8 drops of bleach, date it, and store it.) Next trip, grab a couple pudding packs,or a few snacks, or some type of dessert comfort food. Next trip, grab a cheap candle, or two. Next trip, go to one of the dollar stores, and grab 2 or 3 packages of the long lighters. Next trip, buy playing cards, after that a puzzle, and/or board game(s). When you put gas into the mower from the gas can, be sure to replace it when you fill your vehicle. Always take advantage of sales whenever possible, but don't put off buying what's needed by waiting for things to go on sale. It's an ongoing thing, so you don't have to run out at the last minute, and spend a fortune, or be caught unprepared, and suffer the consequences. I did this when we lived in the city, so I hope it won't take me long to be even better prepared now that we're out in the country, with some property to grow, and put up our own food.

Again, it amazes me how many people don't heed the warnings, and are caught unprepared. When they announce a hurricane is about to hit, people flood into the stores. There is not a battery, a jug of water, any decent can goods, etc. to be found. These same people then complain about the amount they had to spend in one lump sum, to be partially prepared. Really?

 

[speckledhen]

Being a native of Florida, I can attest to the validity of keeping stocked up on supplies. We get hit with a lot of intense smaller storms, as well as occasional hurricanes. The news channels constantly warn people to keep a minimum of a 2 week supply of food, and water (2 gallons per day, per adult) for everyone in the household, batteries, flashlights, candles, to keep extra gas cans full, etc. While the smaller storms are more isolated, they are more frequent, which sometimes knock down trees, and take out power lines. While it affects a more concentrated area, residents in those areas can still experience anything from a day, to several days without power.

With all those warnings, you'd be shocked at how many people are caught unprepared. It's not that difficult to stay stocked up, even on a tight budget. During the non-storm times, toss an extra pack of batteries in the grocery cart, especially when there is a sale. Next grocery trip, toss in a few extra canned goods. Next trip, grab a few extra gallons of water. (I tend to buy iced tea in the gallon jugs. When the jug is empty, I wash it out, fill it with water, and add 8 drops of bleach, date it, and store it.) Next trip, grab a couple pudding packs,or a few snacks, or some type of dessert comfort food. Next trip, grab a cheap candle, or two. Next trip, go to one of the dollar stores, and grab 2 or 3 packages of the long lighters. Next trip, buy playing cards, after that a puzzle, and/or board game(s). When you put gas into the mower from the gas can, be sure to replace it when you fill your vehicle. Always take advantage of sales whenever possible, but don't put off buying what's needed by waiting for things to go on sale. It's an ongoing thing, so you don't have to run out at the last minute, and spend a fortune, or be caught unprepared, and suffer the consequences. I did this when we lived in the city, so I hope it won't take me long to be even better prepared now that we're out in the country, with some property to grow, and put up our own food.

Again, it amazes me how many people don't heed the warnings, and are caught unprepared. When they announce a hurricane is about to hit, people flood into the stores. There is not a battery, a jug of water, any decent can goods, etc. to be found. These same people then complain about the amount they had to spend in one lump sum, to be partially prepared. Really?

EXACTLY! It takes nothing, really, to get something here and there. Almost everyone drinks something in a plastic bottle. Rinse it out and fill with water and put it on a shelf, in your basement, under your bed, somewhere, geez. They think nothing of buying a $5-7 cup of coffee that (to me) tastes like burnt wood chips but they can't grab a pack of 2 for 1 something on sale every grocery trip? They always have an excuse, don't they? But, those same folks will come to your place and expect you to feed them in a crisis. You were smart, they were dumb and you are expected to pay for their stupidity. Not even my own kids get a free pass. They know better. Certainly anyone living on the coast ought to be smarter! There is really zero excuse for those folks if they don't prepare for the next storm, and there will always be a next storm. This country may end up in civil war again one day, who knows? Then, it won't be safe to leave your house for long. Right now, some places are already crazy with riots in the streets (S. Korea is rioting over their president now)That is when being able to hunker down right where you are, with food, water, etc, is a valuable thing.


My younger son is in S. Korea, as you know, and they don't really do that sort of thing there, things are super expensive, apartments are tiny, cities are very crowded, but he has learned to make his own bread and cheese in his tiny apt. and grow things on window sills. That is a very hard place to be self sufficient unless you're out in the countryside, I suppose, which he isn't because of his job, which includes his apt. He's more of a prepper in his high rise apt in a crowded foreign city than my older son is in his suburban cookie-cutter subdivision house.

Cheryl, I can't wait to see how you develop your new homestead.

 

[getaclue]

I will post pictures for you as we get things done. Right now, the chicken coop is our first major project, which is expensive, labor intense, and time consuming. Not to mention that I'm still unpacking in between the other things I have to do. On top of all that, as if that weren't enough, my lungs are still healing. I'm so much better. I've still got a little ways to go, but I'm getting there. Once my lung doctor releases me, then I can get the lump on my chest removed, and biopsied.

 

[speckledhen]

I will post pictures for you as we get things done. Right now, the chicken coop is our first major project, which is expensive, labor intense, and time consuming. Not to mention that I'm still unpacking in between the other things I have to do. On top of all that, as if that weren't enough, my lungs are still healing. I'm so much better. I've still got a little ways to go, but I'm getting there. Once my lung doctor releases me, then I can get the lump on my chest removed, and biopsied.

It takes time, even if you're 100% healthy. We've been here going on 15 years. When we got here, this was the place:





Then, we built the very first building, which is the one we tore down after getting the new barn.


Now, same place:

 

[holm25]

Yep we have snow here! Not a lot but a good 2-3 inches! And today's high is 28 degrees lol!

 

[holm25]

Yep we have snow here! Not a lot but a good 2-3 inches! And today's high is 28 degrees lol!

 

[speckledhen]

Yep we have snow here! Not a lot but a good 2-3 inches! And today's high is 28 degrees lol!

I see you fell victim to glitchy BYC's double post monster today just like me.

I don't look forward to those type highs but I know they're coming soon.

 

[islandgirl82]

I've been making my way through this thread slowly but still haven't made it all the way through.

I am one of those guilty parties of not being ultra-prepared but I also don't panic. I grew up on an island, completely off the grid and as long as I have a woodstove and plenty of firewood (which I do), I don't think much of going without power as I can use the woodstove for cooking as well as heat. I don't stock up on water but I have gone outside many a time to fill pots and pans with snow to melt on the stove so we can water beasties, wash dishes, bathe, flush the toilet, etc. When it comes to food, I do always have grains on hand but I've taken a great interest in canning. The first time I tried it myself was with some homemade Cranberry Ginger Chutney, then onto homemade Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce, now it's onto veg and soups. I remember picking wild blueberries on the island and making jam with my mum when I was really little and I recalled canning being mysterious and a lot more complicated than it actually is. I don't have any special equipment, just a pot filled with water (even from melted snow), jars, and canning tongs. Stocking the cupboards with homegrown and homemade canned goods is one of the most satisfying and self-sufficient things one can do and it's really difficult to mess it up.

@getaclue , may I ask why you add bleach to your stored water instead of vinegar? Both will kill bacteria but one is non-toxic and just as effective as the other.

 

[speckledhen]

I've been making my way through this thread slowly but still haven't made it all the way through.

I am one of those guilty parties of not being ultra-prepared but I also don't panic. I grew up on an island, completely off the grid and as long as I have a woodstove and plenty of firewood (which I do), I don't think much of going without power as I can use the woodstove for cooking as well as heat. I don't stock up on water but I have gone outside many a time to fill pots and pans with snow to melt on the stove so we can water beasties, wash dishes, bathe, flush the toilet, etc. When it comes to food, I do always have grains on hand but I've taken a great interest in canning. The first time I tried it myself was with some homemade Cranberry Ginger Chutney, then onto homemade Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce, now it's onto veg and soups. I remember picking wild blueberries on the island and making jam with my mum when I was really little and I recalled canning being mysterious and a lot more complicated than it actually is. I don't have any special equipment, just a pot filled with water (even from melted snow), jars, and canning tongs. Stocking the cupboards with homegrown and homemade canned goods is one of the most satisfying and self-sufficient things one can do and it's really difficult to mess it up.

@getaclue , may I ask why you add bleach to your stored water instead of vinegar? Both will kill bacteria but one is non-toxic and just as effective as the other.

One thing I worry about more than just us two are the chickens and their water supply. I am allowing my older hens to die off slowly (but they just keep hanging on ....and some laying at almost 10 years old) so I will be left with a handful of oldsters plus my new generation that hatched this year. But water for those would be a daunting task filling with 2 liter bottles, etc. I have several 3 gallon waterers, one 5 gallon waterer, plus several one-gallon waterers to keep filled. And, as you know, chickens are big water drinkers. We need a rain barrel and at least enough solar power to run our electric pump on our well or a hand pump, which can be about as expensive, I'm told (our well is about 400 ft deep).

Yeah, canning is not as hard as it seems. You just need to know which things can be only a water bath and which truly need to be pressure canned, have your supplies and go from there. We are using my DH's grandmother's old heavy pressure canner. But, even folks who have no garden space or any idea what to do can stock up on things from stores like Big Lots and from really great sales. And toilet paper, never forget that! The important thing is to do something, anything, to get started. No need to panic, just get something to eat and drink put away in case of crisis.