Tricks from the Great Depression.

[acptulsa]

Know any old folks? Read any good books on it? Post the good stuff here!

You don't need a pressure cooker to can. The main thing about canning is heat the food up to the temperature where you've killed the microorganisms, get it in the jar and seal the lid. Don't do it while it's way too close to boiling or it will pull the lid completely into the jar as it cools.

"Victory gardens" are good. Get seeds.

Carbonated water is cheap. You can make your own soda pop using whatever for flavor.

Don't expect to be able to maintain your addiction to, say, caffeine or nicotine if the SHTF.

My grandfather built a thriving business in the Great Depression. He had a bakery and poured a little of his profits back in to greatly benefit his customers (a hundred bread wrappers would get you a little rag doll so you'd have something to give the kid at Christmas).

Don't ever forget we're all in it together.

 

[LiveFree79]

Know any old folks? Read any good books on it? Post the good stuff here!

You don't need a pressure cooker to can. The main thing about canning is heat the food up to the temperature where you've killed the microorganisms, get it in the jar and seal the lid. Don't do it while it's way too close to boiling or it will pull the lid completely into the jar as it cools.

"Victory gardens" are good. Get seeds.

Carbonated water is cheap. You can make your own soda pop using whatever for flavor.

Don't expect to be able to maintain your addiction to, say, caffeine or nicotine if the SHTF.

My grandfather built a thriving business in the Great Depression. He had a bakery and poured a little of his profits back in to greatly benefit his customers (a hundred bread wrappers would get you a little rag doll so you'd have something to give the kid at Christmas).

Don't ever forget we're all in it together.

Short of a nuclear war do you really see people having to can their own food. All we do on these forums is TALK about the S hitting the fan. But how likely is that? We'll see a one world currency and government before we ever see Americans waiting in bread lines. I mean even if shit did hit the fan isn't agriculture the one thing we still have plenty of? I'm not flaming you, the novelty has worn off about this whole SHTF scenarios. Kind of like the stupid attacking Iran thing that has been playing out for the last 4 years. Like I said in another thread......this whole financial "crisis" has barely affected anyone in mainstream society except for home foreclosures. In fact gasoline prices seemed to have a much bigger impact than this so called "credit crisis". And oil is getting cheaper and so is gas. I'm starting to think this entire thing is a scam. Short of all out war or armageddon I don't ever see us returning to canning food and bread lines in the 21st century. These tyrannical governments have way too much control over everything.

 

[acptulsa]

Thankfully, we do have plenty of ag going on. I'm here in the Breadbasket of the World and I am very pleased and relieved to report that there is no drought here (a la 1930). But, we're still going to have to pay for it...

I don't expect civilization to end. I also don't expect the company where I work to have good odds of surviving a severe economy.

 

[Sandra]

Short of a nuclear war do you really see people having to can their own food. All we do on these forums is TALK about the S hitting the fan. But how likely is that? We'll see a one world currency and government before we ever see Americans waiting in bread lines. I mean even if shit did hit the fan isn't agriculture the one thing we still have plenty of? I'm not flaming you, the novelty has worn off about this whole SHTF scenarios. Kind of like the stupid attacking Iran thing that has been playing out for the last 4 years. Like I said in another thread......this whole financial "crisis" has barely affected anyone in mainstream society except for home foreclosures. In fact gasoline prices seemed to have a much bigger impact than this so called "credit crisis". And oil is getting cheaper and so is gas. I'm starting to think this entire thing is a scam. Short of all out war or armageddon I don't ever see us returning to canning food and bread lines in the 21st century. These tyrannical governments have way too much control over everything.

OK.... so you're suggesting everyone give up and starve. You win the stupidest post of the day award. Just eat your apathy when you get hungry enough.

 

[gaazn]

People see the Great Depression as one big event that led to long food lines, etc. But is was more than one event. Often overlooked is the real reason that led to the scarcity of food. It was the Dust Bowl, and unless we have long periods of drought and gigantic dust storms taking out all the farmland in the Midwest and Plains, we will not experience what happened in the Great Depression.

 

[acptulsa]

People see the Great Depression as one big event that led to long food lines, etc. But is was more than one event. Often overlooked is the real reason that led to the scarcity of food. It was the Dust Bowl, and unless we have long periods of drought and gigantic dust storms taking out all the farmland in the Midwest and Plains, we will not experience what happened in the Great Depression.

Very true. And, I'm pleased to report, our topsoil is healthy because we're very aware of crop rotation these days.

But as you say, it was more than one event. Also, we didn't have everyone in bread lines. Some were employed the whole time. Even so, they tended to economize as many had relatives out of work to help.

These oversimplifications and misconceptions of the event are a big part of the reason why I am anxious to have us poll people who were actually there.

 

[pinkmandy]

I mean even if shit did hit the fan isn't agriculture the one thing we still have plenty of?

Not anymore. Death taxes, importing cheaper food, farm subsidies paid to farmers to not farm their land or grow crap corn for ethanol, and natural disasters (namely flooding) have affected how soon we'd be able to feed everyone. If shtf right now we don't have enough govt reserves to feed the country for very long at all, like days or a week if that. Next harvest is next fall. That could make for one nasty winter.

Our family has been pushing up their orchards because the cost to maintain them and pick the fruit leaves no profit after selling them in competition with imported fruit. It may in the future again but that would mean planting more trees and waiting... Not to mention one spring hail storm (which isn't uncommon) will destroy the entire harvest of many fruits. We've lost every peach before as well as apples.

We still have the land and the ability but it would take awhile. Right now we're in a precarious situation.

 

[XNavyNuke]

Short of a nuclear war do you really see people having to can their own food. All we do on these forums is TALK about the S hitting the fan. But how likely is that? We'll see a one world currency and government before we ever see Americans waiting in bread lines. I mean even if shit did hit the fan isn't agriculture the one thing we still have plenty of?

You know LF, most of my pre-teen childhood was in the 70's. There wasn't bread lines but just about all of my aunts & grandmothers did a lot of canning. I can also remember in the late 70's, after moving to Florida, packing a half dozen huge coolers with seafood and dry ice before driving up to the midwest for a week of Christmas vacation. There we would swap with our family members the seafood for beef & pork. Then we would bring the repacked coolers back down south with us and sell/trade it with our friends there.

You don't need an entire economic collapse to have inflation of food prices. On the positive side, there are far fewer people who know how to safely process their own food now and there is little incentive to produce the canning supplies necessary to make a significant dent in doing so for the US population. We live in a fairly rural area and rings & lids were completely sold out of our stores about six weeks ago. This was before the peak canning season. My wife stocked up and we have already been trading lids for other goods/services that we use. It doesn't look like we are the only part of the country experiencing the lack of supplies.

Canning on a comeback

As food prices rise and the economy continues to slump, more people are returning to canning to stretch food budgets.

"I've discovered people are buying bushels of pickles and other produce at the market -- more so than last year. It dawned on me that more people are canning. When I couldn't find canning lids I knew it. The store said they sell out as soon as they get them in," Kehn added.

XNN

 

[rancher89]

I posted this before, too lazy to look it up

From my great grandmother, told to my mother, who told me:

during the depression, the people that managed to do ok, had little to no unsecured debt, knew how to garden and how to preserve the proceeds from said garden, AND were willing to rent out rooms in their homes to those who could pay, either in trade or in hard currency.

Yes, I know the GD was a different animal than what we are going through, will be going through in the future. The lesson was to be able to take care of hearth and home by being flexible and in a fairly sound finacial situation to begin with.

Add to the GD issues the errosion of our civil liberties and the lesson may need to be leavened with lead......

 

[ItsTime]

People see the Great Depression as one big event that led to long food lines, etc. But is was more than one event. Often overlooked is the real reason that led to the scarcity of food. It was the Dust Bowl, and unless we have long periods of drought and gigantic dust storms taking out all the farmland in the Midwest and Plains, we will not experience what happened in the Great Depression.

Or unemployment of 25% or more and gas prices of $300 a barrel. That would be just like a dust bowl.

 

[acptulsa]

Any jar that has a lid that pops when you open it is suitable for canning--but only the actual Ball and Mason type jars have lids of good enough quality that you can re-use them and depend on them. I have successfully canned using salsa jars, but some of the lids failed to hold the vacuum and I had to scramble to put some of them in the fridge. When the vacuum fails and air gets in, it brings airborne bacteria with it, and the spoilage begins.

 

[Deborah K]

Short of a nuclear war do you really see people having to can their own food. All we do on these forums is TALK about the S hitting the fan. But how likely is that? We'll see a one world currency and government before we ever see Americans waiting in bread lines. I mean even if shit did hit the fan isn't agriculture the one thing we still have plenty of? I'm not flaming you, the novelty has worn off about this whole SHTF scenarios. Kind of like the stupid attacking Iran thing that has been playing out for the last 4 years. Like I said in another thread......this whole financial "crisis" has barely affected anyone in mainstream society except for home foreclosures. In fact gasoline prices seemed to have a much bigger impact than this so called "credit crisis". And oil is getting cheaper and so is gas. I'm starting to think this entire thing is a scam. Short of all out war or armageddon I don't ever see us returning to canning food and bread lines in the 21st century. These tyrannical governments have way too much control over everything.

Have you not listened to what Ron Paul and Peter Schiff have been saying? We are headed for economic disaster. Too many people are against merging our economy and governement with mexico and canada. It isn't going to happen without a lot of suffering first. Then, and only then, will the people beg the government to save them. OUR job is to prevent that from ever happening.

You should watch the money masters: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936

It's long, but it's worth every minute. It's over 10 years old and the economists interviewed in it predicted this whole thing.

Don't be like the jews during the holocaust who ignored their friends and family when they tried to warn them about what was to happen. You are one of the informed, in that you are a Ron Paul supporter. Don't take it for granted, or you will be very sorry you did.

 

[Sarge]

Families baked their own baked goods during that time.

If you had a large family it was a cheaper way to make money go further. My aunts spent a good deal of the time baking and cooking to feed the family. All pitched in while the men butchered and/or smoked meat.

Long days, compared to running to the store for bread, cookies or whatever.

 

[acptulsa]

Families baked their own baked goods during that time.

If you had a large family it was a cheaper way to make money go further. My aunts spent a good deal of the time baking and cooking to feed the family. All pitched in while the men butchered and/or smoked meat.

Long days, compared to running to the store for bread, cookies or whatever.

Thanks--for the good ideas and for inspiring this thread. Yes, smoking meats is almost as good as canning them. I've pinching pennies by buying family packs of meat and semi-smoking them on a kettle-type charcoal grill. The meats I refrigerate after doing this last at least twice as long that way than if, say, fried and refrigerated--and many times longer than raw meat.

 

[LiveFree79]

Have you not listened to what Ron Paul and Peter Schiff have been saying? We are headed for economic disaster. Too many people are against merging our economy and governement with mexico and canada. It isn't going to happen without a lot of suffering first. Then, and only then, will the people beg the government to save them. OUR job is to prevent that from ever happening.

You should watch the money masters: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936

It's long, but it's worth every minute. It's over 10 years old and the economists interviewed in it predicted this whole thing.

Don't be like the jews during the holocaust who ignored their friends and family when they tried to warn them about what was to happen. You are one of the informed, in that you are a Ron Paul supporter. Don't take it for granted, or you will be very sorry you did.

I've watched the money masters and yes I've been listening to Ron Paul. Just dropped several hundred dollas on freeze dried food and canned butter My preparations are going fine. Some of this nonsense is akin to the whole Y2K hysteria. I think like the whole war with Iran thing that has been going on for the last 10 years............50% of fear 50% is realistically going to happen. Not saying not to be prepared but stocking up on ammo and guns like some sort of Jericho scenario? Come on. That's going a little too far.

 

[acptulsa]

I've watched the money masters and yes I've been listening to Ron Paul. Just dropped several hundred dollas on freeze dried food and canned butter My preparations are going fine. Some of this nonsense is akin to the whole Y2K hysteria. I think like the whole war with Iran thing that has been going on for the last 10 years............50% of fear 50% is realistically going to happen. Not saying not to be prepared but stocking up on ammo and guns like some sort of Jericho scenario? Come on. That's going a little too far.

Hope you're right. And I think you're right. I just wish I could be sure you're right.

 

[Sandra]

Goats! Great for milk, meat, manure, and keeping your grass mowed and green. Ours pooped in pellets so it didn't make piles like with cows.

Also form a micro co op to plan foodstuff production if you live in a subdivision. Yards are limited so plan different gardens and market them share, or swap.

 

[Deborah K]

I've watched the money masters and yes I've been listening to Ron Paul. Just dropped several hundred dollas on freeze dried food and canned butter My preparations are going fine. Some of this nonsense is akin to the whole Y2K hysteria. I think like the whole war with Iran thing that has been going on for the last 10 years............50% of fear 50% is realistically going to happen. Not saying not to be prepared but stocking up on ammo and guns like some sort of Jericho scenario? Come on. That's going a little too far.

Yeah, some people are going overboard, but as a gun owner myself, and as a resident of Cali, where the legislature tries to pass laws that require gun owners to have permits to BUY ammo - our family and friends have taken measures to protect ourselves against the possibility of scarce ammo. Also, if there are food shortages, people will get desperate and it will be necessary to protect what's yours.

 

[freelance]

Don't forget freezing. I have access to terrific produce right now through a CSA--way more than I can eat AND give away. Here are a few examples. I have roasted red peppers and frozen them in their juice for later use in cheddar beer soup. I've also frozen a ton of soups made with fresh ingredients: corn chowder, curried cream of zucchini, cream of mushroom with artichokes, loaded baked potato soup, cream of cauliflower with blue cheese, lentil soup, etc. I have sliced and blanched red/yellow/green peppers and frozen them.

You can take fresh onions (in my case, Vidalia) and dice or mince and saute with a little garlic. Freeze them flat in ziplock containers in the freezer.

You can take berries (do NOT blanch anything first, except blueberries) and lay them on a baking dish in the freezer and once frozen, store them flat in ziplock bags. I used some of the frozen raspberries the other night in sabayon, and they might as well have been fresh. I've made up all kinds of chutneys and stored them.

I've marinated sauteed peppers and onions for later use in fajitas.

You can blanch green beans, cauliflower, etc. I've made a ton of eggplant parmesan, pastichio and mousaka and frozen.

What happens if the electricity goes out? Well, I've been through that before. In the winter, it's not a problem. For now, I have enough solid bricks of frozen soup to get through a week before I'm in trouble. I suspect that if we lose electricity, it will be in a rolling fashion and we'll have enough to keep frozen foods safe. If not, when I heat them up, I'd add a few drops of colloidal silver and grapefruit seed extract to kill whatever ails them.

Also, you can add liquid smoke to meats before freezing. That'll kill stuff too.

While all of this might sound crazy, I have a feeling that little extras and condiments may come in handy when we get down to the point of eating canned food. We are used to eating fresh and homemade, not out of a box.

Oh, and make sure that you have lots of spices and herbs. You can organic spices and herbs DIRT cheap, and I don't care what anyone tells you, they will last just fine for a couple of years in airtight bottles, stored in a cool, dark place.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/bulkherb.php

Why would I take the time to make stuff before freezing? Because it takes less storage room, and I've used milk and cream that might be scarce later. I'm trying to make up batches of everything that uses milk and cream.

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts. I've been cooking for the past couple of months and freezing this stuff.

When it looks like the worst is seriously approaching, I'll get a generator for backup, if they're still available and use it strictly to keep food from spoiling. I'm investigating solar options right now for the computer.

 

[LiveFree79]

Yeah, some people are going overboard, but as a gun owner myself, and as a resident of Cali, where the legislature tries to pass laws that require gun owners to have permits to BUY ammo - our family and friends have taken measures to protect ourselves against the possibility of scarce ammo. Also, if there are food shortages, people will get desperate and it will be necessary to protect what's yours.

That's what I'm saying......you honestly think things are going to get so bad that people are going to come up to your house and try to rob you for food? If things ever got that bad martial law would have come and gone, and the U.S. government as we know it would have collapsed. I feel things are going to get worse before they get better are we going to see a complete breakdown of police, military, and government? Everyone is talking about food, guns and ammo but what about water? You can live weeks without food. Living in SoCal I'm a helluva lot more worried about lack of water than food or guns/ammo.