Speaking of getting a community together of like minded isn't easy.
Back in the San Francisco hippy days, across parts of America there were hippy liberal type community's trying not to be like the "MAN," it was a dream.
Yes some to this day exist but they live under rules too. Many enjoyed the free life, pot and shared in community duties. Then people got tired and complained against their farm communities which fell into despair and breakup.
Don't remember a documentary either on YouTube or the History channel, where some living hippies went back to the old communes to recount what happened there.
I do think we can be lone wolfs and community members depending on the situation and terrain.
Remember cults, Jim Jones kool-aid drinkers an hit squads. Was it in Oregon where an India Guru followers took over a small town and tried poisoning a restaurant of local townspeople. Waco, Ruby Ridge, I take it with a grain of salt, when people think a SHTF hard times, a community is a sanctuary.
These can turn into something people never wanted, people get power hungry.
There are historical accounts or stories that give a word to caution as to what we should expect to happen. SIFI movie "The Postman" was interesting but not reality to what can really happen.
Human nature being what it is, a community can be a wonderful stepping stone until the daily grind happens. Even the Mountain Men living in the hills did trade with small popup towns for basic necessities for survival. Which comes to an old saying 'no man is an island,' or man does not live by bread alone - Ha, Ha.
Please do your own research to see what is a good fit for you if SHTF happens.
Learning to observe plants also has benefits for foraging. You eventually start to recognize what's edible and not without a guidebook, and also to get an idea of what medicinal properties a plant has, based on observation.
For some idiotic reason, mainstream people needed scientific studies to tell them that spending time tending to plants is good for your physical and mental health.
I'd rather socialize with lemons than lemmings anyway.
I have a lemon tree, so the joke makes sense.
(I also have a grow light and a very big pot. Growing citrus indoors in zone 4 is... a project)
The location I'm at can have a few backyard chickens. Eventually move would like to try some ducks, learn about guardian dogs for the livestock and maybe a mule too. So keeping notes on what works an using the information at a better home location someday.
Being in an area with coyotes, raccoons, bobcats is an extra load to protect the existing animals. Don't have the finances to move yet.
Hawks take on some of the rats and mice, not so far the chickens as there are some hiding places to go. My cat provides working security on the rodents, but some neighbors use rat poison which is not good for cats and birds of prey to eat.
Some people hate cats totally and love dogs only. A good steward of nature uses cats and dogs as pets but also as working animals. Dogs for protection an cats for rodent control they work hand in hand for a person or a family.
The past three years been having a overflow of rats, mice eating up the garden and fruit trees due to extra rain. Rats are the hardest to eliminate even with barn cats if you have them.
Have tried 50/50 mix of baking soda and jiffy honey muffin mix on rats. Somewhat good results, rats have always been a problem for people across the world. Found there is no such thing as a one size fits all eliminating rats.
So far people suggest rotating the methods used to keep rodents from getting use to the same old thing used. Be interested what others have found that works for them, thanks.
We got a little place in East Texas with some acreage that we have been working on for 5 years. I was concerned when we replumbed with pex because of rats, mice, etc. In a drought, they will chew thru the pex to get to water.
We set out food and water for the area ferral cats. I usually see them in a group of 3-4. We also let the snakes have run of the property. So far we have seen garter snakes and a fairly decent size rat snake. Plus we have a pair of young eagles nesting in an old dead pine tree on the edge of the property. They like to fly above when I mow... looking for scurrying rodents and snakes.
The only rodent I have seen on the property is a vole. It tunnelled in the yard for a spell and then disapeared. I am guessing either the snakes, cats or the pair of eagles caught it.
We also have a small hill that I jokingly call "Skunk Hill" There is a skunk den and we have caught eachother unaware a couple times . Thankfully I was not sprayed. I leave the hill completely to nature. The trees and brush are well overgrown. From time to time I toss an old pumpkin or mellon that direction. The skunks have been great at digging up grubs on the property. This helps keep some of the bugs out of my garden.
We do have bobcats and I have found remnants of my neighbors baby goats on the property. We are looking a litter of puppies this weekend - Great Pyrenees x Anatolian mix. The bobcats have stayed away from the chickens perhaps because of the proximity to the house, but I am hoping to get some baby goats soon and think we need more protection when we are sleeping.
Love your tips and so true...observing and pondering leads to creative solutions....love the bunnies and ducks and cats...so glad the cats do not kill escapee bunnies or the ducks!
Speaking of getting a community together of like minded isn't easy.
Back in the San Francisco hippy days, across parts of America there were hippy liberal type community's trying not to be like the "MAN," it was a dream.
Yes some to this day exist but they live under rules too. Many enjoyed the free life, pot and shared in community duties. Then people got tired and complained against their farm communities which fell into despair and breakup.
Don't remember a documentary either on YouTube or the History channel, where some living hippies went back to the old communes to recount what happened there.
I do think we can be lone wolfs and community members depending on the situation and terrain.
Remember cults, Jim Jones kool-aid drinkers an hit squads. Was it in Oregon where an India Guru followers took over a small town and tried poisoning a restaurant of local townspeople. Waco, Ruby Ridge, I take it with a grain of salt, when people think a SHTF hard times, a community is a sanctuary.
These can turn into something people never wanted, people get power hungry.
There are historical accounts or stories that give a word to caution as to what we should expect to happen. SIFI movie "The Postman" was interesting but not reality to what can really happen.
Human nature being what it is, a community can be a wonderful stepping stone until the daily grind happens. Even the Mountain Men living in the hills did trade with small popup towns for basic necessities for survival. Which comes to an old saying 'no man is an island,' or man does not live by bread alone - Ha, Ha.
Please do your own research to see what is a good fit for you if SHTF happens.
Thank you, Marjorie, for taking the time and effort to share this with us. We love you!
Learning to observe plants also has benefits for foraging. You eventually start to recognize what's edible and not without a guidebook, and also to get an idea of what medicinal properties a plant has, based on observation.
For some idiotic reason, mainstream people needed scientific studies to tell them that spending time tending to plants is good for your physical and mental health.
I'd rather socialize with lemons than lemmings anyway.
I have a lemon tree, so the joke makes sense.
(I also have a grow light and a very big pot. Growing citrus indoors in zone 4 is... a project)
The location I'm at can have a few backyard chickens. Eventually move would like to try some ducks, learn about guardian dogs for the livestock and maybe a mule too. So keeping notes on what works an using the information at a better home location someday.
Being in an area with coyotes, raccoons, bobcats is an extra load to protect the existing animals. Don't have the finances to move yet.
Hawks take on some of the rats and mice, not so far the chickens as there are some hiding places to go. My cat provides working security on the rodents, but some neighbors use rat poison which is not good for cats and birds of prey to eat.
Some people hate cats totally and love dogs only. A good steward of nature uses cats and dogs as pets but also as working animals. Dogs for protection an cats for rodent control they work hand in hand for a person or a family.
The past three years been having a overflow of rats, mice eating up the garden and fruit trees due to extra rain. Rats are the hardest to eliminate even with barn cats if you have them.
Have tried 50/50 mix of baking soda and jiffy honey muffin mix on rats. Somewhat good results, rats have always been a problem for people across the world. Found there is no such thing as a one size fits all eliminating rats.
So far people suggest rotating the methods used to keep rodents from getting use to the same old thing used. Be interested what others have found that works for them, thanks.
We got a little place in East Texas with some acreage that we have been working on for 5 years. I was concerned when we replumbed with pex because of rats, mice, etc. In a drought, they will chew thru the pex to get to water.
We set out food and water for the area ferral cats. I usually see them in a group of 3-4. We also let the snakes have run of the property. So far we have seen garter snakes and a fairly decent size rat snake. Plus we have a pair of young eagles nesting in an old dead pine tree on the edge of the property. They like to fly above when I mow... looking for scurrying rodents and snakes.
The only rodent I have seen on the property is a vole. It tunnelled in the yard for a spell and then disapeared. I am guessing either the snakes, cats or the pair of eagles caught it.
We also have a small hill that I jokingly call "Skunk Hill" There is a skunk den and we have caught eachother unaware a couple times . Thankfully I was not sprayed. I leave the hill completely to nature. The trees and brush are well overgrown. From time to time I toss an old pumpkin or mellon that direction. The skunks have been great at digging up grubs on the property. This helps keep some of the bugs out of my garden.
We do have bobcats and I have found remnants of my neighbors baby goats on the property. We are looking a litter of puppies this weekend - Great Pyrenees x Anatolian mix. The bobcats have stayed away from the chickens perhaps because of the proximity to the house, but I am hoping to get some baby goats soon and think we need more protection when we are sleeping.
For us it is finding a balance with nature.
YOU left the door open...
Excellent food cycle tips!!
I wanted to watch you chase that rascally rabbit!!!
Love your tips and so true...observing and pondering leads to creative solutions....love the bunnies and ducks and cats...so glad the cats do not kill escapee bunnies or the ducks!