FOOD IS THE THIRD GREAT HUMAN NEED AFTER OXYGEN TO BREATHE AND WATER TO DRINK.
WHETHER ANIMAL, VEGETABLE OR NECESSARY MINERAL, IF WE SURVIVE ANY DISASTER THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE NUCLEAR FALLOUT, DOES NOT INVOLVE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE, THE MANY RESOURCES WE HAVE TO OBTAIN FOOD MAY ASTOUND YOU.
HOW MUCH FOOD DO HUMANS ACTUALLY NEED TO SURVIVE?
"The American College of Sports Medicine states that you shouldn't send signals to your body to conserve calories by detoxing or fasting. They recommend that women should eat at least 1,200 calories per day, and men should eat at least 1,800."
"A 2009 review in “Archiv Fur Kriminologie” reports that humans can generally survive with no food or drink for eight to 21 days and may be able to survive without food, if they have water, for up to two months."
FOR CHILDREN, PEDIATRICIANS SAY 1,000 TO 1,400 CALORIES PER DAY IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.
I HEARTILY DISAGREE ABOUT FASTING.
WHEN OUR ANCESTORS LIVED IN CAVES,THERE WERE A LOT OF LEAN DAYS, DAYS OF NO FOOD.
WE MIGHT DO WELL TO THROW IN A DAY OF FASTING ONCE A WEEK NOW, BEFORE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
IT HELPS THE BODY COPE WHEN FOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE AND PREPARES OUR MINDS TO ACCEPT THAT THERE WILL BE DAYS OF NO FOOD.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE BODY WILL BEGIN TO USE MUSCLE TISSUE AFTER IT GOES THROUGH OUR FAT RESERVES, BUT THAT WILL TAKE AWHILE, AND IF WE LEARN TO FORAGE PROPERLY, HUNT PROPERLY, CONSERVE ENERGY AND FOOD, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PANIC OVER A DAY OR EVEN TWO SANS FOOD.
CALM DOWN! FOOD IS OUT THERE!
OUR ANCESTORS, EVEN BEFORE THEY WERE FARMERS OF ANY SORT, WERE "HUNTER/GATHERERS", AND, THOUGH GREATLY DEPLETED, THE "WILD" FOODS REMAIN ALMOST EVERYWHERE.
AN OLD PARK RANGER IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ONCE VISITED THE SCENE WHERE A LOST HIKER HAD DIED OF STARVATION MANY YEARS AGO.
HE TOOK A STICK, DREW A CIRCLE WITH JUST A 25-FOOT RADIUS, AND ANNOUNCED THAT, WITHIN THAT CIRCLE, THERE WAS ENOUGH FOOD TO KEEP A MAN ALIVE FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS!
THEN HE PROVED IT!
FOOD DOES NOT HAVE TO TASTE INCREDIBLY GOOD OR BE NICE TO LOOK AT OR SMELL FANTASTIC IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN LIFE...LIFE!
THOSE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO LIVE WILL EAT ANYTHING EDIBLE!
ASK A VETERAN WHO SURVIVED A P.O.W. CAMP!
MANY WILL TELL YOU THAT MAGGOTS IN THEIR SMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD SAVED THEM.
MAGGOTS ARE PROTEIN.
ONCE WE GET PAST OUR DESIRE FOR HAUTE CUISINE, FOR DELICACIES, FOR WHAT WE'VE BEEN USED TO ALL OUR LIVES, OR FOR QUICK, CONVENIENT FOODS, WE WILL HAVE TO DIVE INTO THE REALM OF FOODS THAT WILL SUSTAIN LIFE.,..MAYBE ONLY BARELY SUSTAIN, BUT THE POINT IS TO LIVE, TO SURVIVE.
WHILE IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE LIVING ON NOTHING BUT PLANT LIFE, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE.
SOME CULTURES NEVER EAT MEAT, NOR ANY FLESH OF ANY CREATURE.
I LOVE A GOOD RARE PRIME RIB AND OYSTERS ON THE HALF-SHELL AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE, BUT I HAVE ALSO GONE LONG PERIODS WITHOUT ANIMAL PROTEIN IN MY DIET.
WHETHER RAISING ANIMALS OURSELVES, HUNTING GAME ANIMALS, FISHING FOR FOOD, OR TRAPPING, TO PUT "MEAT ON THE TABLE" , IT ALL TAKES MUCH PLANNING, WORK, AND RESOURCES.
MEAT MUST BE THE FIRST THING WE LEARN TO DO WITHOUT.
IF IT MAKES ITS WAY TO ANY TABLE AFTER A GLOBAL DISASTER, WE'LL REJOICE, BUT IT MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY.
WE MUST NOT EVER THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE MEAT AT EVERY, OR ANY MEAL!
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ANIMAL FLESH IS ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE MUST DISCIPLINE OURSELVES TO ACCEPT ALL POSSIBILITIES, ALL KINDS OF CREATURES THAT CAN BE USED AS FOOD.
ANTS, GRUBS, EARTHWORMS, MANY FLYING INSECTS, SPIDERS, FROGS, SNAKES, TURTLES, SQUIRRELS, RACCOONS, OPOSSUMS, HORSES, DOGS, CATS ...ALL ARE PERFECTLY FINE SOURCES OF ANIMAL PROTEIN.
WE ALSO MUST REMEMBER, WHEN CONSIDERING ANIMAL PROTEIN, THAT ANY PROTEIN BEATS NO PROTEIN AT ALL, SO SMALL ANIMAL SOURCES ARE AS GOOD AS BIG ONES IF THAT'S ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE.
ONE GREAT LESSON WE MAY HAVE TO RE-LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS IS TO NEVER WASTE EVEN A WEE MORSEL OF FOOD.
A KERNEL OF CORN CAN BE A PRECIOUS THING, AS CAN THE TINY BIT OF MEAT ALONG A FROG'S SPINE.
AND, YES, YOU CAN EAT A HUMMINGBIRD.
AND A DRAGONFLY.
BACK TO PLANTS AS FOOD.
IT ISN'T JUST THE PLANT ABOVE GROUND THAT IS RICH IN NUTRIENTS!
QUITE OFTEN THE ROOTS ARE AS GOOD AS, OR EVEN BETTER THAN THE "TOPS".
IN THE CASE OF ROOT VEGETABLES, THE "TOPS" OF POTATOES ARE TOXIC!
THE TOPS OF BEETS ARE WONDERFUL!
IT PAYS TO KNOW THE EDIBLE PLANTS, ALL OF THEM, DOMESTICATED AND WILD.
THERE IS A BRILLIANT WEBSITE CALLED "EAT THE WEEDS", AND A MULTITUDE OF VIDEOS BY THE SAME NAME ON YOUTUBE, WHICH WILL SHOW YOU JUST HOW MUCH REAL FOOD IS "OUT THERE" ON OUR LAWNS, IN OUR FIELDS AND WOODS, AND NEAR OR IN OUR WATERS.
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WEBSITE: http://www.eattheweeds.com/
AND HERE IS THE LINK TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRDaR2ywG1APiwUzeTwrJw
GO, LEARN, TAKE NOTES, PRINT OUT PHOTOS!
YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT IS EDIBLE!
WHILE THE GRID IS FUNCTIONING, SUCH SITES AS THOSE ABOVE ARE GREAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT SHOULD WE BE THROWN BACK 200 YEARS TOMORROW TO A TIME WITHOUT TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY,YOU WILL WANT TO HAVE BOOKS, BOOKS WITH PHOTOS OR DAMNED GOOD DRAWINGS, TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY THE EDIBLES IN YOUR AREA.
BEFORE WE GET INTO WHICH SPECIFIC BOOKS TO LOOK FOR, PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT A WEBSITE I DISCOVERED MAYBE 12 OR 14 YEARS AGO THAT OFFERS MILLIONS OF BOOKS FOR SALE AT HEAVILY DISCOUNTED RATES.
IT'S CALLED "HALF.COM".
MANY OF THE BOOKS OFFERED THERE ARE USED.
USED BOOKS ARE STILL GREAT BOOKS!
IF YOU CAN BUY AN AUDUBON BOOK THAT IDENTIFIES EDIBLE MUSHROOMS FOR $2.49, AS I JUST DID FOR A DAUGHTER, AND SAVE OVER $25 COMPARED TO NEW FROM SOME BOOK STORE, WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO THAT?
THE TEA ROOM ACCEPTS NO ADVERTISEMENTS, AND MAKES NOT A DIME OFF ANYTHING WE MAY RECOMMEND, BUT LET'S SAVE SOME MONEY SO WE CAN AFFORD MORE BOOKS!
"HALF.COM" ALSO HAS DISCOUNTED AUDIO-BOOKS, DVDs, EVEN VHS TAPES...MOVIES, DOCUMENTARIES... IF YOU MUST GO THAT ROUTE TO LEARN.
I ALWAYS LOOK THERE FIRST FOR BOOKS OR DOCUMENTARIES.
AFTER MORE THAN 500 BOOK BUYS THERE, I'VE HAD ONE BAD EXPERIENCE.
IT'S VERY SECURE.
MANY OF THE BOOKS RECOMMENDED HERE CAN BE HAD FOR BETWEEN 75 CENTS TO AS MUCH AS $9 ON "HALF.COM".
THAT'S A SAVINGS OF UP TO $30 ON SOME OF THESE!
FOR FORAGING FOR WILD FOODS, I CAN ONLY TELL YOU WHAT I'VE FOUND TO BE THE BEST AFTER OVER 50 YEARS OF READING SUCH BOOKS.
OTHER WEBSITES, "EXPERTS", MAY SUGGEST OTHER BOOKS, SO, BY ALL MEANS, BROWSE, DECIDE FOR YOURSELVES.
THE BOOKS I KNOW ARE GOOD FOR WILD PLANT IDENTIFICATION ARE:
~ Tom Brown's Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants
~ Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America
~ Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America
~ Peterson also has field guides to both Eastern and Western American Trees
REMEMBER, SOME TREES, IN FACT MANY TREES, PROVIDE RICH SOURCES OF FOOD IN THE FORM OF NUTS, BERRIES, FRUITS, BARK, ROOTS, AND LEAVES.
~ BRADFORD ANGIER and his wife wrote many books on wild plant identification, preparing wild foods (plants and animals) and basic survival skills.
THEY LIVED THIS MINIMALIST LIFE, SO THEY KNEW WHAT IT TAKES.
I am blessed to have all of them, but my favorites, with the best information, to me, are:
-- How to Stay Alive in the Woods
-- Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants
-- Color Field Guide to Common Wild Edibles
-- Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants
-- One Acre and Security: How to Live Off the Earth Without Ruining It
-- Camping-on-the-go Cookery
-- The Outdoorsman's Emergency Manual: Being Your Own Wilderness Doctor
-- At Home in the Desert: Surviving and Thriving for a Day, a Week, or a Lifetime
BOOKS ARE WONDERFUL THINGS, BUT NO BOOK CAN REPLACE THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES OF FINDING, PREPARING, AND PRESERVING FOOD.
IN EVERY COMMUNITY I HAVE EVER LIVED NEAR, EVEN MIAMI, FLORIDA, SOMEONE, OFTEN SEVERAL "SOMEONES", KNEW WHICH PLANTS, OR PARTS OF PLANTS, THAT GREW THERE WERE EDIBLE, AND SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH THOSE INTERESTED, EITHER FOR FREE OR FOR JUST A LITTLE MONEY.
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS ASK AROUND TO FIND THOSE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND WILL TO PASS IT ON.
KNOWING WHERE TO FIND EVEN A DOZEN SUCH PLANTS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN FOOD SUPPLY.
IF WE NEED TO KNOW, WE ASK.
IF WE NEED TO KNOW, WE ASK.
ALWAYS ASK ABOUT HOW BEST TO PREPARE WILD EDIBLES.
WHEN I LEARNED THE JOY OF WILD POKE GREENS, HAD I NOT LEARNED TO COOK THEM AND CHANGE THE WATER COMPLETELY A FEW TIMES WHILE COOKING, I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MY IGNORANCE.
WHEN I LEARNED THE JOY OF WILD POKE GREENS, HAD I NOT LEARNED TO COOK THEM AND CHANGE THE WATER COMPLETELY A FEW TIMES WHILE COOKING, I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MY IGNORANCE.
SOME WILD FOODS, NOT MANY, REQUIRE THIS SO THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF VITAMINS IN THEM DON'T OVERLOAD OUR SYSTEMS.
THE POKE PLANT IS ONE THAT MANY ENJOY, BUT THE BERRIES AND ROOTS ARE FAIRLY TOXIC.
FOR THIS PLANT, IT IS ALL IN HOW IT'S PREPARED AND WHETHER OR NOT ONE IS "ALLERGIC" TO ANY PART OF IT.
DANDELION GREENS ARE SO RICH IN VITAMIN C THAT EATING A LOT OF TENDER LEAVES CAN MAKE ONE A BIT ILL.
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY USEFUL AND TOTALLY EDIBLE PLANTS!
DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THEY WERE PULLED UP, THEIR ROOTS DRIED AND THEN GROUND, THEIR FLOWERS DIPPED IN A FLOUR/WATER MIXTURE AND FRIED AS FRITTERS AND ALSO USED TO MAKE "DANDELION WINE", AND THEIR LEAVES WERE EATEN RAW AND GENTLY SAUTEED.
A PROBLEM WITH EATING WILD FOOD IN URBAN AREAS TODAY IS PESTICIDES.
PEOPLE WANT NICE LAWNS, SO THEY SPRAY TO RID THEMSELVES OF THE DANDELIONS, PURSLANE AND OTHER NUTRITIOUS "WEEDS" IN ORDER TO KEEP INEDIBLE GRASS THICK AND PRETTY.
BIG MISTAKE, HUMANS!
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY USEFUL AND TOTALLY EDIBLE PLANTS!
DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THEY WERE PULLED UP, THEIR ROOTS DRIED AND THEN GROUND, THEIR FLOWERS DIPPED IN A FLOUR/WATER MIXTURE AND FRIED AS FRITTERS AND ALSO USED TO MAKE "DANDELION WINE", AND THEIR LEAVES WERE EATEN RAW AND GENTLY SAUTEED.
A PROBLEM WITH EATING WILD FOOD IN URBAN AREAS TODAY IS PESTICIDES.
PEOPLE WANT NICE LAWNS, SO THEY SPRAY TO RID THEMSELVES OF THE DANDELIONS, PURSLANE AND OTHER NUTRITIOUS "WEEDS" IN ORDER TO KEEP INEDIBLE GRASS THICK AND PRETTY.
BIG MISTAKE, HUMANS!
JUST BECAUSE A PLANT IS COMPLETELY EDIBLE DOES NOT MEAN ALL OF US CAN EAT IT.
CONSIDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS, STRAWBERRIES, DAIRY PRODUCTS, ETC.
ALSO, A FEW PLANTS MUST BE PREPARED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF MILD TOXINS WITHIN THEIR FIBER.
ELDERBERRIES ARE SUCH AN EDIBLE.
THEY CONTAIN JUST A BIT OF CYANIDE IN THEM.
ELDERBERRIES ARE SUCH AN EDIBLE.
THEY CONTAIN JUST A BIT OF CYANIDE IN THEM.
THAT'S GREAT FOR KILLING VIRUSES, SUCH AS THE "FLU", BUT BAD IF YOU CONSUME TOO MUCH.
MODERATION!
START WITH VERY SMALL AMOUNTS AND SLOWLY WORK UP TO LARGER PORTIONS IF YOU'RE TRYING UNFAMILIAR PLANTS.
ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE EATING!
KNOW HOW TO PREPARE FOOD.
BEFORE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
ARBORETUMS AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS ALSO OFFER (USUALLY FOR FREE OR A MINIMAL FEE) CLASSES AND "NATURE WALKS" THAT ARE DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY LOCAL FOOD PLANTS.
SOME STATE PARKS ALSO OFFER SIMILAR IDENTIFICATION CLASSES AND/OR WALKS.
COLLEGE BULLETIN BOARDS SOMETIMES ANNOUNCE "GROUP WALKS" OR EXTRACURRICULAR LECTURES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS ALSO SOMETIMES ANNOUNCE COMMUNITY NEWS THAT CAN LEAD US TO LOCAL GATHERINGS OF FORAGERS, AFTERNOON LECTURES, FREE DOCUMENTARIES, FESTIVALS AND EVEN SAMPLINGS OF WILD-HARVESTED FOODS.
NORTH CAROLINA IS FAMOUS FOR HAVING "RAMP FESTIVALS", THOSE DELICIOUS BUT ODOROUS WILD LEEKS/ONIONS FOUND IN THE MOUNTAINS THERE.
AN ANNUAL KUDZU FESTIVAL IS HELD NEAR THE SMALL TOWNS OF BAT CAVE AND LAKE LURE, NC.
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE MANY WAYS ONE CAN USE KUDZU!
IF YOU THINK YOU'D WANT WILD MUSHROOMS AS PART OF YOUR "EMERGENCY DIET", NOW IS THE TIME TO GO FOLLOW EXPERTS INTO THE WOODS TO LEARN EXACTLY WHICH ONES WON'T KILL YOU!
WHILE RECOGNIZING MORELS, CHANTERELLES AND CHICKEN-OF-THE-WOODS IS CHILD'S PLAY, OTHER FUNGI HAVE LETHAL LOOK-ALIKES.
WHILE RECOGNIZING MORELS, CHANTERELLES AND CHICKEN-OF-THE-WOODS IS CHILD'S PLAY, OTHER FUNGI HAVE LETHAL LOOK-ALIKES.
THE WRONG CHOICE, WHEN IT COMES TO "'SHROOMS" CAN SEND YOU TO THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!
MAKING USE OF ALL OF THE ABOVE AND JUST GOING OUT YOURSELF TO LOCATE FOOD BEFORE YOU HAVE TO SHOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GATHER ENOUGH WILD FOOD TO KEEP FROM STARVING SHOULD DISASTER STRIKE.
IN WINTER, IT WILL BE MUCH HARDER, MAYBE EVEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN US, AND THAT IS WHERE FOOD PRESERVATION COMES INTO PLAY.
WHILE PLANTS ARE BOUNTIFUL, WE GATHER ALL WE CAN, ALL WE THINK WE'LL NEED, AND THEN WE PRESERVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THOSE LONG WINTERS.
KNOWING YOU CAN FIND FOOD TAKES A LOT OF STRESS OUT OF YOUR LIFE.
ALSO, BEFORE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, LEARN TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.
UNLESS YOUR COMMUNITY HAS STUPID, CONSTITUTIONALLY ILLEGAL ORDINANCES AGAINST IT, RAISING FOOD IN YOUR YARD RIGHT NOW WILL GIVE YOU NOT ONLY FREE FOOD TO 'PUT BY', BUT GIVE YOU SKILLS IN RAISING FOODS THAT YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD, SHOULD ALL HELL BREAK LOOSE.
PLANNING AHEAD ALWAYS PAYS OFF!
PLANNING AHEAD ALWAYS PAYS OFF!
GARDENS
GARDENS DON'T HAVE TO BE WELL-MANICURED SHOWCASES OR EVEN BE OUTDOORS!
I ASSURE YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE WITH WINDOWS IN THEIR HOMES CAN GROW, IN "DIXIE CUPS" PLACED ALONG THEIR WINDOWSILLS, ENOUGH LETTUCE TO MAKE 3 OR 4 SALADS A WEEK.
THE 'TRICK' IS IN CUTTING OFF THE LEAVES AND NOT PULLING THE LETTUCE UP BY THE ROOTS.
THE 'TRICK' IS IN CUTTING OFF THE LEAVES AND NOT PULLING THE LETTUCE UP BY THE ROOTS.
YOU CAN GROW MANY HERBS IN CLEAN EMPTY CANS, WITH HOLES PUNCHED IN THE BOTTOMS, OUT ON YOUR PATIO OR DECK.
YOU CAN EVEN GROW VEGETABLES THAT DON'T NEED A LOT OF SOIL OR ROOM IN THINGS LIKE OLD GLOVES HUNG ON A FENCE, OR IN THOSE HANGING FABRIC SHOE CADDIES THAT CAN ALSO HANG ON A FENCE OR OFF A TREE LIMB!
WE GREW HUGE TOMATOES ONE YEAR BY SIMPLY CUTTING HOLES IN A BAG OF POTTING SOIL, LAYING IT DOWN FLAT, AND STICKING TOMATO SEEDLINGS IN THE TOP SIDE'S HOLES, LETTING WATER DRAIN OUT THE HOLES WE MADE IN THE BOTTOM SIDE.
THE POSSIBILITIES FOR GROWING FOOD IS ENDLESS.
THE MAIN CONCERNS ARE GOOD SOIL AND THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF WATER AND SUNLIGHT.
PRACTICE AND CHATS WITH LOCAL SUCCESSFUL GARDENERS OR COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS CAN SPEED THINGS UP TO MAKE ANY OF US "FARMERS" IN A SMALL WAY.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO TURNED THEIR FLORIDA SWIMMING POOL INTO A TILAPIA "FARM" WITH VERY MINIMAL EFFORT AND MAINTENANCE.
NOW, INSTEAD OF POOL PARTIES, THEY HAVE FISH FRIES!
NOW, INSTEAD OF POOL PARTIES, THEY HAVE FISH FRIES!
THE HUSBAND REALLY LIKES THE CHANGE!
A FRIEND OF A FRIEND TURNED HIS GARDEN TUB INTO A COMBINATION OF HYDROPONICALLY GROWN VEGGIES AND A CARP POND.
IT HELPED THAT HE HAD TWO EAST-FACING WINDOWS RIGHT BESIDE THE TUB, BUT "GROW-LIGHTS" ARE A GRAND INVENTION.
HE USED THE WATER FROM THE CARP POND, RICH IN CARP-PRODUCED NUTRIENTS, TO WATER HIS CONTAINER GARDEN ON HIS DECK.
YOU NEVER SAW SUCH HUGE CONTAINER VEGETABLES!
A FRIEND OF A FRIEND TURNED HIS GARDEN TUB INTO A COMBINATION OF HYDROPONICALLY GROWN VEGGIES AND A CARP POND.
IT HELPED THAT HE HAD TWO EAST-FACING WINDOWS RIGHT BESIDE THE TUB, BUT "GROW-LIGHTS" ARE A GRAND INVENTION.
HE USED THE WATER FROM THE CARP POND, RICH IN CARP-PRODUCED NUTRIENTS, TO WATER HIS CONTAINER GARDEN ON HIS DECK.
YOU NEVER SAW SUCH HUGE CONTAINER VEGETABLES!
SPROUTS AND SPROUTING
POWER-PACKED SPROUTS!
MOST CONTAIN MORE NUTRIENTS THAN THE ADULT PLANTS THAT GROW FROM THEM.
THEY CAN BE GROWN IN THINGS FROM WET PAPER TOWELS TO CLEAN JARS.
THE DOWNSIDE TO SPROUTS IS THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF SEEDS AND YIELDS NO RETURN OF SEEDS.
I MENTION IT ONLY BECAUSE SPROUTING SEEDS CAN BE DONE INDOORS, OR AT LEAST, OUT OF SIGHT, AND FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLENTY SEEDS, SPROUTS ALONE CAN KEEP YOU GOING.
POWER-PACKED SPROUTS!
MOST CONTAIN MORE NUTRIENTS THAN THE ADULT PLANTS THAT GROW FROM THEM.
THEY CAN BE GROWN IN THINGS FROM WET PAPER TOWELS TO CLEAN JARS.
THE DOWNSIDE TO SPROUTS IS THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF SEEDS AND YIELDS NO RETURN OF SEEDS.
I MENTION IT ONLY BECAUSE SPROUTING SEEDS CAN BE DONE INDOORS, OR AT LEAST, OUT OF SIGHT, AND FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLENTY SEEDS, SPROUTS ALONE CAN KEEP YOU GOING.
AFTER ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, WE WILL HAVE TO TURN TO PLANTS NOT ONLY AS FOOD, BUT ALSO AS MEDICINES.
BEFORE MEGA-PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CAME ALONG, PEOPLE USED PLANTS AS MEDICINE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!
MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THE RECENT NEWS THAT THE SPICE TURMERIC HAS BEEN PROVEN AS EFFECTIVE AS OR MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SEVERAL CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS IN REDUCING CANCEROUS GROWTHS.
BEFORE MEGA-PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CAME ALONG, PEOPLE USED PLANTS AS MEDICINE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!
MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THE RECENT NEWS THAT THE SPICE TURMERIC HAS BEEN PROVEN AS EFFECTIVE AS OR MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SEVERAL CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS IN REDUCING CANCEROUS GROWTHS.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM WHAT WE CALL "ASPIRIN" TO PRODUCTS LIKE "ADVIL", "TYLENOL", ETC, FOR PAIN TODAY.
BUT CHEWING THE INNER BARK OF THE WHITE WILLOW AFFORDS JUST AS MUCH RELIEF FROM PAIN AS ANY OF THOSE OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.
THE SALICIN IN WHITE WILLOW BARK WAS EXTRACTED TO PRODUCE SALICYLIC ACID...TODAY'S "ASPIRIN", THOUGH WE DON'T GET WILLOW BARK IN OUR FAKE WHITE TABLETS TODAY.
WILLOW BARK IS A GREAT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.
AND, RIGHT HERE, LET ME JUST RECOMMEND RESOURCES SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WONDERFUL PLANTS ARE AS MEDICINE.
THE TEA ROOM IS ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE WEBSITE OF THE SELFLESS SAYER JI, FOUNDER OF GREENMEDINFO,COM.
SAYER OFFERS PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES ON ALL NATURAL HEALTH TOPICS.
HE SHOWS SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT FOODS CAN BE MEDICINAL.
THAT WEBSITE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
YES, SAYER HAS PRODUCTS FOR SALE, BUT WHAT HE GIVES FREELY IS THE MASSIVE ARCHIVE OF DATA THAT PROVES WE CAN BE HEALTHIER WITH "NATURALS".
Have a look at just this one article to see why i value sayer's website as i do:
5 Food-Medicines That Could Quite Possibly Save Your Life
ANOTHER SITE OWNED BY ONE OF THE KINDEST, MOST SHARING HUMANS I HAVE YET TO KNOW IS DR. BEN KIM'S WEBSITE.
THIS HONEST MAN HELPED ME LIVE WHEN ALL OTHERS GAVE ME UP FOR DEAD.
I HAVE SCRUTINIZED HIS BLOGS AND FIND NOT ONE SHRED OF FALSE DATA THERE.
HE SIMPLY LOVES HUMANITY AND OFFERS HIS BROAD KNOWLEDGE BASE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT.
YES, HE ALSO HAS PRODUCT FOR SALE, BUT WHAT HE DOES NOT SELL IS WISDOM, AND HE HAS MUCH OF THAT!
BOTH THE ABOVE WEBSITES OFFER FREE NEWSLETTERS THAT ARE PACKED WITH CURRENT STUDIES, DATA, NEWS OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
SUCH INFORMATION IS PRICELESS!
AS FOR BOOKS ON FOODS AS MEDICINE, CONSULT THE LIST OF BRADFORD ANGIER BOOKS ABOVE, AND ADD THESE:
~ Tom Brown's Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants
WHILE NOT SOMETHING EXTREMELY USEFUL IN FINDING MEDICINALS, THE SHEER VOLUME OF USES FOR THESE PLANTS BOGGLES THE MIND!
[DISCLAIMER: I NEVER OFFER ANYTHING HERE AS "TREATMENT", ONLY AS INFORMATION. YOU CAN TAKE IT AND DO AS YOU SEE FIT WITH IT, BUT THE TEA ROOM DOES NOT PRESCRIBE ANYTHING, EVER!]
IT ISN'T JUST WILD FOODS THAT ACT AS MEDICINE.
THE LOWLY WHITE POTATO IS AN EXCELLENT MEDICINAL THAT, SLICED THINLY AND APPLIED TO BURNS, EVEN WELDING BURNS, HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "DRAW OUT THE FIRE".
ONCE YOU BEGIN TO FIND SUCH THINGS, YOU MAY BECOME HOOKED BY THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF "NATURAL FOODS".
ABOUT 60% OF MY WAKING MOMENTS ARE SPENT STUDYING JUST THIS.
PREPARING WILD FOODS
~ Over 300 of Angier's unique and delicious recipes for preparing wild game, fish, and wild plants.
Gourmet Cooking For Free , Bradford Angier
~ THIS BOOK EVEN OFFERS RECIPES FOR TEAS, BEERS AND SOFT DRINKS.
The Wild Taste - Plant and Mushroom Recipes for the Knowledgeable Cook
by Kathryn and Andrew March
~ A "PRETTY" BOOK THAT MANY CHEFS LIKE, AND WHICH DOES SHOW HOW FLAVORFUL WILD FOODS CAN BE.
The Wild Food Gourmet - Fresh and Savory Food From Nature
by Anne Gordon
PRESERVING FOOD
OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IS SAFELY PRESERVING WHAT WE HARVEST!
IT'S OF LITTLE USE TO FORAGE, PREPARE AND THEN LOSE IT ALL TO FAULTY PRESERVATION.
I LIKE THE ANCIENT METHODS OF DEHYDRATING FOODS BEST.
I LIKE ALL ANCIENT METHODS OF FOOD PRESERVATION OVER FREEZING.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO FREEZE ANYTHING UNLESS WE LIVE IN VERY COLD CLIMATES, IF/WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
FOR NOW, VIDEOS ABOUND ON YOUTUBE AS TO HOW TO PRESERVE FOODS FOR THE LONG-TERM.
WATCH AS MANY AS YOU CAN.
BEYOND THAT, HERE ARE THE TOP THREE BOOKS, IN MY OPINION, ON FOOD PRESERVATION.
~ Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation.
Chelsea Green Publishing
~ PUTTING FOOD BY, by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, Beatrice Vaughan
This is an "old" book, but it has no match for "traditional" methods of canning and such. The information about food preservation alone is worth the read.
~ How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency by Piers Warren
With less than an acre of garden you can grow enough produce to feed a family of four for a year.
THIS BY NO MEANS IS A COMPLETE OFFERING ON HOW TO FIND, PREPARE AND PRESERVE FOODS AFTER ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, BUT IT'S A FAIR START.
THERE IS A FARMING METHOD WE SHOULD ALL CONSIDER FOR THE FUTURE THAT "HIDES" CROPS, DOESN'T MAKE A FLAGRANT SHOW THAT WE'RE RAISING FOOD.
IT'S CALLED THE "NO TILL METHOD" AND IT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED FARMING TECHNIQUES.
ONE CAN MAKE "SEED BALLS" WHICH IS MERELY WRAPPING SEEDS IN BALLS OF NUTRIENT RICH "MUD" (WHICH IS THEN DRIED) AND TOSS THESE ONTO ANY SOIL IN OUT-OF-THE-WAY, OUT OF SIGHT PLACES.
WHAT GROWS SIMPLY APPEARS TO BE PART OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.
HERE IS AN ARTICLE TO INTRODUCE YOU TOP THIS METHOD, AND YOUTUBE HAS MANY VIDEOS AS WELL:
http://rodaleinstitute.org/our-work/organic-no-till/
THE TEA ROOM INVITES ALL OF YOU TO SHARE YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE HERE WITH US.
I MUST MODERATE ALL COMMENTS BECAUSE OF A VERY HIGH VOLUME OF SPAM AND ATTEMPTS TO DROP LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, BUT I DO LIKE SENSIBLE, HONEST COMMENTS AND ALLOW ALL OF THOSE, WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH ME OR NOT.
ALL THE BEST.
PLAN TO SURVIVE!
BUT CHEWING THE INNER BARK OF THE WHITE WILLOW AFFORDS JUST AS MUCH RELIEF FROM PAIN AS ANY OF THOSE OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.
THE SALICIN IN WHITE WILLOW BARK WAS EXTRACTED TO PRODUCE SALICYLIC ACID...TODAY'S "ASPIRIN", THOUGH WE DON'T GET WILLOW BARK IN OUR FAKE WHITE TABLETS TODAY.
WILLOW BARK IS A GREAT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.
AND, RIGHT HERE, LET ME JUST RECOMMEND RESOURCES SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WONDERFUL PLANTS ARE AS MEDICINE.
THE TEA ROOM IS ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE WEBSITE OF THE SELFLESS SAYER JI, FOUNDER OF GREENMEDINFO,COM.
SAYER OFFERS PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES ON ALL NATURAL HEALTH TOPICS.
HE SHOWS SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT FOODS CAN BE MEDICINAL.
THAT WEBSITE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
YES, SAYER HAS PRODUCTS FOR SALE, BUT WHAT HE GIVES FREELY IS THE MASSIVE ARCHIVE OF DATA THAT PROVES WE CAN BE HEALTHIER WITH "NATURALS".
Have a look at just this one article to see why i value sayer's website as i do:
5 Food-Medicines That Could Quite Possibly Save Your Life
THIS HONEST MAN HELPED ME LIVE WHEN ALL OTHERS GAVE ME UP FOR DEAD.
I HAVE SCRUTINIZED HIS BLOGS AND FIND NOT ONE SHRED OF FALSE DATA THERE.
HE SIMPLY LOVES HUMANITY AND OFFERS HIS BROAD KNOWLEDGE BASE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT.
YES, HE ALSO HAS PRODUCT FOR SALE, BUT WHAT HE DOES NOT SELL IS WISDOM, AND HE HAS MUCH OF THAT!
BOTH THE ABOVE WEBSITES OFFER FREE NEWSLETTERS THAT ARE PACKED WITH CURRENT STUDIES, DATA, NEWS OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
SUCH INFORMATION IS PRICELESS!
AS FOR BOOKS ON FOODS AS MEDICINE, CONSULT THE LIST OF BRADFORD ANGIER BOOKS ABOVE, AND ADD THESE:
~ Tom Brown's Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants
NONE CAN COMPARE TO IT, IN MY OPINION
A LIST WITH FAIRLY GOOD PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE:
http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php?use_ID=195
http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php?use_ID=195
AS ALWAYS, I SUGGEST YOU PRINT OUT NOW WHAT YOU CAN FROM ANY ONLINE SOURCE.
A DOWNLOAD IN PDF FORM, THIS OLDER GUIDE HAS BENEFITTED MANY:
AUTHORS DATE BACK TO THE 1500s.WHILE NOT SOMETHING EXTREMELY USEFUL IN FINDING MEDICINALS, THE SHEER VOLUME OF USES FOR THESE PLANTS BOGGLES THE MIND!
[DISCLAIMER: I NEVER OFFER ANYTHING HERE AS "TREATMENT", ONLY AS INFORMATION. YOU CAN TAKE IT AND DO AS YOU SEE FIT WITH IT, BUT THE TEA ROOM DOES NOT PRESCRIBE ANYTHING, EVER!]
IT ISN'T JUST WILD FOODS THAT ACT AS MEDICINE.
THE LOWLY WHITE POTATO IS AN EXCELLENT MEDICINAL THAT, SLICED THINLY AND APPLIED TO BURNS, EVEN WELDING BURNS, HAS BEEN KNOWN TO "DRAW OUT THE FIRE".
ONCE YOU BEGIN TO FIND SUCH THINGS, YOU MAY BECOME HOOKED BY THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF "NATURAL FOODS".
ABOUT 60% OF MY WAKING MOMENTS ARE SPENT STUDYING JUST THIS.
PREPARING WILD FOODS
~ Over 300 of Angier's unique and delicious recipes for preparing wild game, fish, and wild plants.
Gourmet Cooking For Free , Bradford Angier
SIMPLY THE BEST!
~ THIS BOOK EVEN OFFERS RECIPES FOR TEAS, BEERS AND SOFT DRINKS.
The Wild Taste - Plant and Mushroom Recipes for the Knowledgeable Cook
by Kathryn and Andrew March
~ A "PRETTY" BOOK THAT MANY CHEFS LIKE, AND WHICH DOES SHOW HOW FLAVORFUL WILD FOODS CAN BE.
The Wild Food Gourmet - Fresh and Savory Food From Nature
by Anne Gordon
PRESERVING FOOD
OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IS SAFELY PRESERVING WHAT WE HARVEST!
IT'S OF LITTLE USE TO FORAGE, PREPARE AND THEN LOSE IT ALL TO FAULTY PRESERVATION.
I LIKE THE ANCIENT METHODS OF DEHYDRATING FOODS BEST.
I LIKE ALL ANCIENT METHODS OF FOOD PRESERVATION OVER FREEZING.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO FREEZE ANYTHING UNLESS WE LIVE IN VERY COLD CLIMATES, IF/WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
FOR NOW, VIDEOS ABOUND ON YOUTUBE AS TO HOW TO PRESERVE FOODS FOR THE LONG-TERM.
WATCH AS MANY AS YOU CAN.
BEYOND THAT, HERE ARE THE TOP THREE BOOKS, IN MY OPINION, ON FOOD PRESERVATION.
~ Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation.
Chelsea Green Publishing
Whatever you must do to acquire this book, do it!
~ PUTTING FOOD BY, by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, Beatrice Vaughan
This is an "old" book, but it has no match for "traditional" methods of canning and such. The information about food preservation alone is worth the read.
~ How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency by Piers Warren
With less than an acre of garden you can grow enough produce to feed a family of four for a year.
THIS BY NO MEANS IS A COMPLETE OFFERING ON HOW TO FIND, PREPARE AND PRESERVE FOODS AFTER ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, BUT IT'S A FAIR START.
THERE IS A FARMING METHOD WE SHOULD ALL CONSIDER FOR THE FUTURE THAT "HIDES" CROPS, DOESN'T MAKE A FLAGRANT SHOW THAT WE'RE RAISING FOOD.
IT'S CALLED THE "NO TILL METHOD" AND IT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED FARMING TECHNIQUES.
ONE CAN MAKE "SEED BALLS" WHICH IS MERELY WRAPPING SEEDS IN BALLS OF NUTRIENT RICH "MUD" (WHICH IS THEN DRIED) AND TOSS THESE ONTO ANY SOIL IN OUT-OF-THE-WAY, OUT OF SIGHT PLACES.
WHAT GROWS SIMPLY APPEARS TO BE PART OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.
HERE IS AN ARTICLE TO INTRODUCE YOU TOP THIS METHOD, AND YOUTUBE HAS MANY VIDEOS AS WELL:
http://rodaleinstitute.org/our-work/organic-no-till/
THE TEA ROOM INVITES ALL OF YOU TO SHARE YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE HERE WITH US.
I MUST MODERATE ALL COMMENTS BECAUSE OF A VERY HIGH VOLUME OF SPAM AND ATTEMPTS TO DROP LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, BUT I DO LIKE SENSIBLE, HONEST COMMENTS AND ALLOW ALL OF THOSE, WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH ME OR NOT.
ALL THE BEST.
PLAN TO SURVIVE!
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