Journal Entry #3 of My Journey

Gardening 101

Hello! My, alot has happened since I last made an entry. Where do I start?

Every container I have on the deck has now sprouted the seeds I've sown. In these, I've planted lettuce, Tom Thumb peas, spinach, scallions, carrots, and radishes. All doing well.

The grapes, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, thyme, chives, parsley, sage, mint, lavender, and blueberries have all come back to life. I also planted a peach tree and 2 elderberry bushes last week.

My indoor started seedlings are not doing as well as last year. The only things that are growing well and should be transplanted tomorrow are the tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers, broccoli, cinamon basil, tomatillo verde, lamb's ear, and lavender. The rest all died. I'm going to have to start over on some of the others.

I applied compost manure on my raised beds and made my little one foot squares with string. I also planted some vidalia onions in place of my jerusalem artichokes. I didn't like my j.a.'s as well as I thought I would. My asparagus never came back up this year.

Some much needed rain came today but not enough. I moved my mini-greenhouse outside and I have some store-bought plants in it. They include 2 cilantro, habanero pepper, jalapeno pepper, and dill. I also received some mail order plants of lemon grass, chocolate mint, and pineapple sage. It's not past the frost date yet so I'm hesitant to plant out many of my plants yet.

Post Peak Oil & Disaster Prepping

Still not doing enough in this arena. I did manage to buy Lua Sage Fisher's herb book called "Seed to Salve". It will come in very handy. She has a wealth of knowledge about medicinal herbs.

I think I'll take the plunge and buy the Berkefeld water purifier tonight or tomorrow .

Sustainable Practices & Community

Gasoline has spiked up and hovered between $2.81-2.95 since my last entry. I've seen NO conservation in driving from anyone in the area where I live. I wrestle with myself in wondering if I would impact anything by conserving. Somebody else is just going to consume whatever it is I don't. The only reason I have reduced my driving is because I'm trying to lessen my impact on the earth.

The governor was here in town this week for the groundbreaking of an ethanol plant to be built here that will be "the largest ethanol plant east of the Mississippi". Yay-rah.

I also emailed my local newspaper editorial editor/colmnist to see if my 1/2 page public forum published and titled "Energy: Thinking globally, acting locally will help" could possibly be ran again. Maybe this time people will read it. I wrote it and it was published last year around this time on April 17th, 2005. I didn't receive one ounce of feedback on it. Null and void. This week, I ran into and talked to a city councilman I know and told him about it. He said he never saw it and would read it if I sent a copy to him. I found it (thought I had lost it) and I think I'll copy it and send it to him as soon as I have time. the article was about the basics of peak oil and what should be done locally to alleviate some of the problems that will come.

Many people have prompted me to run for a city council position but I don't think I have the intestinal fortitude to get up and speak intelligently in front of a crowd of people. I have severe stage fright and can't think on my toes in such a position. I do think I could make an impact, though. This is a very strong Republican town. I am a Democrat. There is not a large strong Democratic voice here, and Democrats are poo-pooed for the most part. I would like to run on a Green ticket but there is no Green party recognized in my location. No support. So I don't know what to do if I would run.

I've had many thoughts running through my mind of late but I haven't been in the mood to sit down and pound them out on the blog. One day I'll feel like it. I have lots to say about my experiences with the Farmer's Market and their meetings, my job, illegal immigration & peak oil, and life in general.

Still no members in My Meetup Peak Oil Awareness group. I've spent $60 so far for nothing. I may have to stop it if nobody joins soon.

Hope all of you are keeping up with all of the headlines pertaining to peak oil! Have a wonderful Sunday!

Wildfoods for Survival Link

If you're interested in accumulating information/recipes regarding wildfoods for survival like I am, try this link. This one has to go on the sidebar for permanent reference.

Journal entry coming soon....

The Coming Oil Crisis: Why the Rich get Richer

Click here for full story

HAt tip to Dave in central Florida

I Promised a Tulip Picture......

tulips

Purdue University Extension::Preserving and Storing Foods .pdf Links

Since my new job is with WIC, it involves alot of teaching mothers and their children not only about nutrition but also about basic food preparation and storage. This week, I was required to attend a state Farmer's Market meeting for WIC personnel. I had the pleasure of listening to the Purdue Extension come and speak and give a demonstration on how to freeze foods. They also gave us a handout which included all of these links. I felt like those of you interested in peak oil and subsequently interested in growing and preserving your own foods might like these handy little .pdfs that you can print out. I find them handy because growing and preserving food is all new to me. So enjoy!!!

Preserving Vegetables

Freezing Vegetables at Home
Let's Preserve Sweet Corn
Let's Preserve Snap Beans
Let's Preserve Leafy Greens
Let's Preserve Peppers
Let's Preserve Pickles
Let's Preserve Sauerkraut
Let's Preserve Tomatoes

Preserving Fruits

Freezing Fruit at Home
Let's Preserve Apples
Let's Preserve Berries (Except Strawberries)
Let's Preserve Cherries
Let's Preserve Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines
Let's Preserve Pears
Let's Preserve Strawberries
Let's Preserve Fruit Pie Fillings
Let's Preserve Jelly, Jam, Spreads
Uncooked Jams

Drying Foods

Drying Foods at Home


Safe Storage of Foods

Spotlight on Freezer Storage
Spotlight on Refridgerator Storage
Spotlight on Cupboard Storage

Energy Bulletin:: Satan in the driver's seat

Click here for full story

Appropriate for the Easter holiday.

Significant News: Saudi Oil Fields in Decline from 2-8%

Here it is in black and white:

Saudi Aramco boost drilling efforts to offset declining fields

This is for real. It's coming from an oil industry publication. Robert on ROE2 says 2% decline means slow crash which would be 36 years. An 8% decline would mean fast crash--as in 9 years. Let's hope all of the technology stays online or we're in trouble. Well, how should I rephrase that? Because we're in trouble anyway. Ouch. Not good news.

Journal Entry #2 of My Journey

Gardening 101

Everything I've planted has now sprouted except for oregano, lemon balm, bee balm, cauliflower, and rosemary. One grow light has burned out. I'm operating on one now, so all of the little sprouts are reaching in one direction. I'll have to rotate their positions to give them a little exercise.

I've filled my new deck containers with potting soil and have direct-planted Tom Thumb peas, lettuce blend, scallions, and spinach. I can't figure out what I want in the 4th planter yet. I need to get more soil, too. My herbs will go on a tiered planter on my deck also.

I'm a little late on direct-sowing my scarlet runner beans, sugar snap peas, beets and turnips that I was going to experiment with. I'm trying to get my fence staining project finished before I allow them to climb up the trellis I attached to the fence. Should be done by the end of the week.

Post-Peak Oil & Disaster Prepping

Not much done since last entry. Not enough money at the moment. But my wish list keeps getting longer. As always...I've bought more food to rotate this week.

Sustainability Practices & Community

Thankfully the heat is not needed right now. It's finally turned down after those high bills. Dh is walking to work now that it's warmer. I still had to drive 4 hours total to buy a prom dress for daughter's upcoming prom. I have to drive to another 4 hours Thursday for a Farmer's Market meeting to represent my job at WIC. I get reimbursed .40 cents/mile for that--woohoo! Not. Gas is presently $2.89/gallon.

Had to attend a local Farmer's Market meeting for my job representing WIC. I look at this as an added plus because I met some more people who are growing food locally. New local producers include people who grow chickens, eggs, all kinds of fruit trees. I feel like I'm actually incognito by scouting out my connections in the event of catastrophe! I plan to buy my corn, squashes, and melons from the market because I don't have the proper room to grow these things. I will attempt to preserve these things I buy at the market.

My Meet-Up Oil Awareness is nil again this month. Nobody has joined and the monthly meeting is tomorrow. I've wasted another $19 this month on a group that doesn't exist.

Wish List
--more energy efficient windows and doors
--geothermal heating system
--Excalibur Food Dehydrator
--Pump 'N Seal Foodsaver
....does it ever end? How can I afford all of this and what to buy first? I'm stumped. These things aren't cheap for me. Sometimes I think I should just break down and put them all on credit and be done with it. They aren't going to get any cheaper and I just may need that Berkefeld water purifier before I can get it!

Signs of Spring at My House

My 3rd year daffodils
Look what I planted amongst my 2nd year rhubarb!
More beautiful daffodils...tulips coming soon...

A Texan's Letter to the Editor Re: Rainwater, Boone & Peak Oil

via Oil Drum here