As most of you that follow this blog know I live in the country in Northern Missouri. Farm country, the land of dirt roads, corn fields, soybean fields and wheat fields. Thousands of surrounding acres of fertile fields of grain of some sort. These fields lay claim to some of the prettiest Missouri black dirt you have ever seen.
Rolling hills of drying grain. A land of extreme weather fluctuations. A land of plenty that my husband's great grandfather left Ireland and fought long years in the Civil War to own. A grateful nation rewarded a landless immigrant 30 acres and a new start for his service to a country not his own. A country looking to expand westward.
They came in covered wagon from all over the nation this hardy people.
They built towns and churches.
They built barns and farmhouses.
They fed a nation and built lives. They endured great hardship and persevered. Flood, war, drought, dust they endured it all and yet remained. Because it was THEIR land and their people.My mother in law told stories of dust clouds during the dust bowl and swarms of grass hoppers eating the handles out of the hoes and even the fence posts. Yet these hardy people remained.
The corporations own the land now. Giant farms of thousands of acres have taken the place of the family farm.
My husband went to the small town of 411 that we live near. He went there to go to the small bank, go by the hardware store on main street to pick up a pipe fitting and the auto supply to get a fuel filter for the lawn mower. He returned a different man.
He saw something he never thought he would live to see in his lifetime. He saw these people, his people, lined up for free produce. Here we sit not 10 minutes away overflowing with produce and working our butts off to can as much as possible. We both get out in the hot sun on a daily basis and pick, till, weed and sow. Both with past health issues. We work our land and provide for ourselves. We were up at 5:30 am yesterday morning canning tomatoes.
We are not sure how to feel at this point! Angry that our nation has come to this. Disappointed that when you drive through this little town you see nice big yards of grass but very few vegetable gardens. Awe struck that they are trucking free produce into one of the richest farming areas that I have ever lived in. We want to shout "help yourselves before it is too late!"
America what have we done?
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
We let God leave and let government rule things they should not...just my condensed opinion.
ReplyDeleteI have Irish in me. We were taught if you have a spot of land you can live. People have lost that along the way. Sad.
You are right, profound... I am crying.... I have been seeing this coming for a few years now and keep hoping it will right itself..... but it won't.... people don't have a clue how to feed, house or clothe themselves. Everything and everyone is dependent on the dollar..... sad.... wretched. And worse yet, if they are taught how to fend for themselves, they would still hate the homestead life and long for the ease and pleasures of the city dollar fed lives. And all the whole, God's wonderful bounty is right there for anyone and everyone that is willing to do as God told them, to tend the land and the animals.....
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! Beautiful and awe inspiring and then making one sad and maybe even angry. But this is what our country has come to, and most people are asleep and unknowing.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my soapboxes so I'll try to keep it brief (most likely won't happen:)) and not overly political.
ReplyDeleteThere is a certain segment of the political system that has infiltrated the schools, churches, businesses, legal system, etc. and the agenda is to turn the nation into a totally Government dependent group of people who will do anything required of them in return for the food, medical care, and money they receive. This group, long ago, started down the Socialist/Marxist ideology road and continues in bold strength today.
The attitude of entitlement is a national epidemic instilled in vulnerable and weak people, by the aforementioned group. "The Government knows best, we will tell you what you should do, how to live, and will take care of you." The saddest part of all of this is so many people bought into the lie that will destroy them and this nation. If anything serious happened in this nation, the only people who would know how to survive are those who are working as hard as the author of this wonderful blog and many people who read it.
People became lazy and liked all of the perks. People turned from the Holy Bible and the words written therein, and became self-serving and apathetic. It will not end well here, unfortunately, unless there is another Revolution or a Revival of people with backbone.
Between my husband and myself, we have 14 Direct Ancestors, who fought in the Revolutionary War. They were willing to sacrifice everything for Liberty and Freedom. We have countless Direct Ancestors who fought in the Civil War; some in Missouri. My great grandfather, lived in Carrol County, Missouri during the Civil War in which he fought, as did many other of my ancestors. I wonder, frequently, if there are enough people left willing to fight for freedom, liberty, and Godly justice? I look around and it saddens me and angers me, both.
Sorry, for the length, but as I said it's one of my many soapboxes :).
Should have said my Great, Great Grandfather fought in the Civil War, in Carroll County, MO; I'm old but not that old (LOL).
ReplyDeleteGlenda, are you still in Carroll County?
DeleteLove the quilt block by your name. I am a quilter, also.
DeleteNo, we live in Wyoming. My Great Grandfather William Hughes owned the Hardware Store in Hale, Mo for years. My other Great Grandfather John Turner lived in Hale for a long time and married Josie Hall there. My paternal grandfather and grandmother were both born in Hale. I had other family lines there, also.
Some relatives were from Phelps County and Miller County in Missouri.
We lived in Independence, Mo, before moving to Wyoming, 34 years ago. Missouri is a wonderful state with alot of rich history.
Right now, we are contemplating a future move back to the state where we both grew up and still have family; Far Eastern Kansas. However, we need to see if our children and their families are willing to move to a farm, also, or Grammy isn't leaving the grandchildren(LOL).
It is so sad to see the 'family farms' disappear. I watched a show on PBS today about that very thing. Saw a sweet two year old asleep in the cabbage patch on the ground, tired from being up since before dawn. Beside the large corporations buying up the land, the developers are also to blame. A large farm near Tulsa, going on for five generation, is closing its farmstands and operations. The three brothers are all in their 80's and are retiring. The farm is bottom land, (The most fertile in OK) next to the Arkansas river; the developers are already salivating over it. More suburbs, drug stores etc. Capitalism might not be such a good thing after all.
ReplyDeleteThere are troubled times ahead. I look at this once great Nation and don't recognize what I see. Much of this has been planned, and much will be stolen from us in short time. This isn't some simple "redistribution of wealth", it is the global rape of America.
ReplyDeleteI am a Daughter of the American Revolution. Patriotism and common sense are in my blood. My lineage can be traced back to Stephen Hopkins, one of the passengers on The Mayflower. My roots in America are old and well established. I am proud of my heritage and American history -- and no government will rob me of this. I know, understand, and respect The Constitution.
What I see at this time is a government coup. It is planned. It is intentional. How long will this be permitted before We The People finally rise up? At this point, Congress has become irrelevant. Our President just declared that he will step-around Congress to "get things done". This is NOT Constitutional. We have three branches of government to prevent tyranny and our Republic must be represented by all three, not by a Dictator with handlers.
People have been gathering. People are waking up. People are realizing that freedom was lost when the government said we would be safe from terrorism if the government was granted more power. People are realizing that freedom was lost when the government grew from "big" to "bigger". People are realizing that freedom was lost when the entire government became militarized and viewed John Doe as a criminal of some sort.
Know that you are not alone in your sentiments. We are angry. We are also sad. But we are not quitters. Know that there are others who toil and rely on themselves, not a free government handout.
I loved this post. I appreciate you taking the time to do it. I was down at my local food pantry this past week. I noticed something I'd never seen before. Many of the elderly people were opening their food as they were walking out, and were eating. It was obvious they were hungry. While there surely are many able-bodied people who certainly could be gardening and growing some of their own food, there are so many who simply can't. There is a huge food pantry in Kansas City, truly huge, that collects tons of food every day. Much of it is perishable. They don't have room to store all of it. They've got to get rid of it, or throw it away. Towns like yours and mine are the benefactors of these perishable items. They never send canned goods or other shelf stable food...only perishables. Much of it is fresh produce. Sometimes they include things like bread, yogurt, milk, orange juice, etc. Many who I see line up for these items are the elderly, physically/mentally disabled, those down-on-their-luck, and still others who live in places where they would not be able to grow more than a tomato plant in a bucket...they have no land, not even a yard. It's interesting to note that on distribution day, in my locale, the hand-out don't start until 2 p.m., yet the people line up starting at 9 a.m., in freezing weather or in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. I remind myself constantly not to judge them but to try and have compassion on their situation. With that said, those of us who could grow more should!
ReplyDeleteOur local rural pantry has that too. Same type of folks as well. I volunteered a while at the pantry and most of what I saw was very closed dated items.....like bananas....case upon case. Gobs of cabbage. Stuff like that, nothing prime at all. I guess I'd rather see it used than wasted. I had an elderly neighbor that we would bring some of our produce to and I would delivery a bit of the "day old" stuff to her as well if I was around when it was delivered to the pantry. Very limited income, planted and canned in her day and she really appreciated the extra help.
DeleteThis is the first time that we have ever seen a food distribution in our area. I am pleased for those that truly need the help and especially in a community with a heavy elderly population. But truly sad seeing so many young able bodied Americans in line. While in the store the young clerk encouraged my husband to get in line even after he told her that he didn't need assistance. She continued to encourage saying that the more people that take it the more that they get next time : (
DeleteThis is true at our local pantries. The more people that receive food, the more they will distribute the following month.
DeleteWe feel the same in rural Ohio. when our village doesn't allow veg. gardens in the front yards where the sun shines but will set up a produce give-away on the corner where the hardware used to be in business.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad commentary on our public servants.
Peggy in S.E.Ohio
We all know there are people who deservedly visit food pantries, but the truth is, many people will not do what it takes to provide for themselves, much less others. They don't know the joy that comes from living close to the earth. They may never know the sense of independence a gardener or farmer feels when they look at the fruits of their labor. I pray for the next generation and hope they get wise before its too late.
ReplyDeleteI see more and more signs for Food Pantry's at many churches in our area on the east coast. I have been blessed in my short 35 years. I have memories of helping grandparents and my own parents tending a garden, feeding animals as well as the harvesting, canning and butchering. I have been taught life skills and use them to this day. I am passing these skills on to my daughters I am teaching them to take care of themselves. My three year old snaps and sorts beans right along with my 84 year old grandmother just like I used too. My oldest helps butcher and wrap the deer as they are processed. I am raising strong girls.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear comments like this : )
DeleteWhile I fully understand that everyone needs a helping hand in life from time to time in some shape or form, I have extensive experience working with the "economically disadvantaged" population. For many years, my job was to find employment opportunities for people either applying for public assistance/welfare or already receiving benefits. To say that more than 75% of the people I worked with either failed the employment drug screen, didn't complete the required 10 job applications per week (the companies didn't need to be hiring), or straight out stated that they were not interested in employment would be a fair statement. The feeling of entitlement was truely frustrating. My position was the only such position in the county and I worked with 1000-1250 families at any given time.
DeleteOn the other hand, I was raised in a family that canned and was very self-sufficient and proud. This is what I am teaching my two young daughters! Just tonight, my 4 year old daughter helped me fill my canning jars with purple carrots from our garden (my 3 year old excitedly picked them...and both girls washed them) and fell asleep to the sound of the pressure canner hissing. They both love to help in the garden and are amazed by the canning process each year.
Amen sister! We grew up absolutely DIRT POOR! We never took a handout. All 6 of us kids worked on our 89 acres, helping with the animals, hunting, gardening, canning, etc. It made us into stronger adults with awesome work ethics, I thank my father every day for that.
ReplyDeleteI too believe that our country has developed into a sad place where people are starting to rely on the government for their every need.
I do believe we live in the "end times" and much of this is foretold in the Bible.
I appreciate Christian women like yourself simply stating what a lot of the nation simply does not "see".
Darlene... you were, growing up, dirt poor? But lived on 89 acres... how is that dirt poor? You lived in a place where you were expected to contribute to a way of life. I grew up dirt poor...without the 89 acres...and my parents worked their whole lives to support all 10 of us...without assistance from anyone...not from churches...nor from government agencies and they never ever asked for it.
DeleteWow. Yes dirt poor. We lived on rented property in a rundown farmhouse. To make the rent we grazed and boarded other peoples livestock, which all of us were expected to help with along with picking beans and strawberries and hauling hay for other people.
DeleteSadly judgemental on your part. I didn't realize I would have to explain just how dirt poor we were. Trust me, you would be shocked if I sat here and provided every detai. Suprising for someone coming from a similar background with a large family. Very sad.
Darlene, I hardly want to play the game of who lived in greater poverty. I apologize if I misunderstood your history. And you are absolutely right you weren't wealthy by any means. But please understand that many others have experiences of poverty...I was oldest of 10. Born in a post war Europe. Moved with my whole family to another continent and together had to start with nothing. My parents had no education but gave it a go anyway, because in their mind it had to be better for their offspring. After that move we struggled and live extremely modest...Mom in the home doing what she could Dad as a laborer. Trust me I know poverty. But when life gives you lemons ...you know the story. I learned things from them that stands me in good stead even today. My best to you...wish I could have posted this privately...but your webpage does not allow for that.Willemina
DeleteI live in "the richest county in the nation," and lately I'm constantly seeing pleas from our local food bank because their shelves are bare. When I first moved here 17 years ago, this was a rural county, full of family farms. Now it's full of suburban sprawl and "McMansions." My father's family were farmers, and even in our 1/4 acre back yard, he had a garden & compost. Now, so do I, and I'm teaching my kids (& my husband!) how to grow & preserve food. We need to keep these skills alive because someday we may need them to keep US alive!
ReplyDeleteI can say ditto to much of the above. I didn't really want to garden or can. I remembered from my youth how much work and heat it generated! But after losing my job in 2009 it really was the only smart thing to do. So pushing 50, I started gardening and canning. I have wished many times I could just have a few hours with my grandparents or great grandparents for some Q & A. Now that it's common knowledge how foul the food they are pushing on us, I don't mind at all. I find great satisfaction providing what I can and wish I had more land. It's heart sickening watching our country go down the drain. As has already been said, it is the time for these things to be happening but it's hard to witness.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post and your blog. Don't be discouraged. We have come to a point in our history where our parents' and forefathers' work is not appreciated. I don't believe we can change that. This is a downward spiral. I'm not sure anymore that we can change the prevailing attitude until times become exremely dire. We may never see it, but that is not for us to worry about. If we conduct ourselves as we should, as we were taught and because of what we believe in, we should not have any regret. We must go on and do what we know is best and what we were taught, and we can do nothing more. Phil/ Minnesota
ReplyDeleteI agree with Phil and many of you: society at large has become lazy, stupid, and self-serving, and I don't think that there's much "fight" left in most of us to stand up and say "enough". For myself, I have just decided to keep my head down at this point and do what I do, and wait. We are on a downward spiral, but I think the crash is coming soon. When it does, I will be thankful to have started living this life "early", so I can be ahead of the game. But I will tell you this as well; when the crash comes, I will help anyone get started who wants to be helped. No, I won't hand-hold and coddle, but I will assist if I can. Many people and books taught me what I know. I will be happy and willing to pass it along. Community may be dead with many, but I think in that way it can be brought back. And at that point, I think we're all going to need it.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are in our early 40s, and neither one of us come from a farming family. Several years ago, we began learning to garden and preserve on a level to feed ourselves for the year. We had no idea what we were doing when we started, and we learned much by reading, talking to local farmers, and simply trial and error. I work 60-80 hours per week and then come home and help my husband work on our property. We don’t take days off and we have never taken a hand out. I vividly remember the stories my dad told about his family members who lived through the Depression, and my husband and I believe in standing on our own two feet. While many people in our country have become or are becoming comfortable being dependent on others for their needs, I believe there are others like my husband and I who are trying hard to learn how to be more self-sufficient. Your blog is a huge help to that end, and I thank you very much for the time you spend on it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. Sad, but your post does reflect the state of our nation. I saw the handwriting on the wall about 4 or 5 years ago and set out to learn to garden and preserve food. I've never had a green thumb so the learning curve has been steep but so worth it. What I don't grow, I buy in bulk at the produce market (boxes of "seconds" are my best friend!) and put up. My husband and I had a lean time recently and it was the best feeling ever to know I didn't have to buy groceries. My freezer is full and I have jars and jars of dehydrated and canned foods, along with 3 city chickens who provided more eggs than we could ever use. Love your blog! I have learned so much from you.
ReplyDeleteWhat have we become as a country? I can tell you that we have lost respect, morals, and compassion. No one wants to help themselves because it is easier for them to put their hand out to the government for help. We live in the country and have raised and butchered our own chickens, hunted and butchered our own deer and our children have helped us with all of it. We have had a garden for years and the kids have helped with snapping beans and digging potatoes. In my area there are food pantries that are always busy with people coming and going. Sad. We also have farmers that grow potatoes and when they are done picking there will be some leftovers in the fields and a friend of the family will go pick what he can. He then will give them to the elderly that can use any produce. It is nice when someone can and will help people that are truly in need. I don't judge people but I do have to say that when I see people dressed in their pajama bottoms out in public do you really think that they are the ones who would be out tending a garden? They are the ones who are vocal that they are entitled to anything that the government will give them. I have worked with the public over the years and now my daughter is working for our local county and we both see the same thing. No one wants to work hard for money, but has their hand out. Now that I am off my soap box I can say that I love your blog here Canned Quilter. I have learned so much from your posts and I look forward to reading your blog everyday. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThese food trucks typically don't ask information of the patrons. And while I understand they want to distribute food that would otherwise go to waste, they ebb away at the individual accountability. Our pantry is sponsored by several area churches...you use that pantry in the area, rather than the individual church. The requirement for a while was simply to be within a certain land boundary. Often churches simply say, "come come come!! " - thinking that no one will come that doesn't need. There are many folks who do not have a internal barometer that most of use have and simply see the free food as a means to pay for something more fun. (I am not including the elderly, disabled, and even the unemployed). If your church doesn't have some requirements, they are doing folks no good. They should not be felt ashamed to seek assistance, but it should be uncomfortable enough that the internal "ping" goes off each month as to "do I really need or is someone else needier". The blogger's husband wouldn't think to even look over the stuff available.
ReplyDeleteI think this stems for the ease of government assistance now. I know many of us remember food stamps and WIC coupons -- actual paper that had to be torn from a booklet at the checkout. Now its electronically sent to a debit card and the card holder blithely swipes the card. You would never know standing behind them, unless you know what the card looks like. Young girls end up on ADC, WIC and food stamps where as before OUR FAMILIES would have guided us differently. Daddy government steps in and provides, whereas the family might help provide and there would be some "rules". I was behind a young pregnant girl in the check out line the other day and she swiped her card, while her mutt stood off to the side playing with his phone -- the government had to step up where the man (er boy) wouldn't. (and yes there are times when assistance is needed-- I believe in a hand up, not a hand out)
We've dumbed our children on skills. They don't teach real home ec, if at all. And since they haven't done that in many years, we are probably at the second generation without that type of learning. I remember an entire flat of strawberries at the pantry that were on the verge and we couldn't give them away. No one wanted to freeze them or make jam. Had someone even showed a slight bit of interest, I would have personally purchased the necessary items and taught them to make jam. Nooooope.
I think our future will be dependent on those of use with knowledge and skill offering it up, guiding and inspiring those who simply didn't get it from their family of origin.
(And if the blogger had driven past that long ago food truck, I would have chased her down with an entire case of ripe bananas because SHE would know how use them!! lol)
The state where we reside, eliminated Home Ec and shop years ago from the curriculum. Two years ago they eliminated Physical Education in the Junior High and High Schools. These classes were deemed unnecessary in the new "Technology Age." The people in charge consider physical education, learning to repair anything or build anything, or being able to manage a household with all the necessary skills involved as 'antiquated' and no longer necessary. I won't voice my opinion on the idiocy of that here, but suffice it to say it lacks any morsel of common sense.
DeleteIn my opinion, the Public School System, since the Federal Government got involved, is a total failure. I am told, by teachers in the family, that the goal now is not to educate children for succeeding in all aspects of life, but to "Teach to the Test." That is, the Federal testing that is given children each year in order for the schools to get more Government Funding.
In addition to that absurd logic, the Public School System in the County next to us, opened a daycare at the High School so the girls could bring their babies to school with them. The officials, also, made sure all the girls were receiving "all of the free benefits to which they are entitled." Hence, the entitlement mentality lives on!
This post is really spot on!
DeleteI also agree with this commenter! I wrote a letter to Mrs. Obama (because she is focused on childhood obesity and because I have seen no mention of this idea anywhere on the news or anything until this post and the comments to it), that our kids need to learn to grow things, sustain themselves, eat cheap, and COOK. So many of our children in the USA have no adults who can teach them these things. I did receive a letter back from her but who knows if she really read my letter??
My own daughter lost 40 pounds the year I stopped cooking out of a box. I made homemade food, homemade bread, homemade oatmeal, granola, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes. All good stuff but with real food. She did not diet but still lost a lot of weight! I was amazed and sold on cooking real food!
I truly believe that few children have adults who can teach them these skills.
I also notice in my own life and I notice that another commenter mentioned as well that her own family questions her old fashioned ways of doing things. Mine does the same thing! They eat the glorious things I cook but really think I've lost my mind because they say I make things harder on myself.
I truly believe that all children in the United States should be required to take a home economics type class where they learn to grow things, and learn to cook real food, to sew, and to make a life with little, to cook with a real chicken and to scramble a real egg.
I have taught my own children (I have only daughters) these things. They may not be interested in baking bread and planting squash, but they know how! One day, when they need these skills, they will remember... and I will have fulfilled my job as their mother.
Thank you CQ for all that you are teaching me. I don't have parents who can teach me the many things you do. You are a valuable resource indeed! A ministry really!
We do need to all convey to our schools, and government, that our population is really going to suffer without these time honored skills. The internet is good for something though! Look at all the things I learn from blogs like Hickery Holler Farm Blog!
Your photos of your land and country are beautiful. I truly enjoyed looking at them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI come from a long line of Americans.. My grandchildren are 13th generation Americans on several sides.. Though I dont belong to DAR, I should since my ancestors too fought for America's freedoms. I will before I die.
I've always believed that the folks in the South, mine from Missouri, Arkansas, Okla, & Texas had something in their blood.. they fought long, moved across the US to find a place to call home and would be willing to defend it to the death. I still see that Spirit in Texas but I agree, many of the youth dont seem to have it. The last several generations somehow werent taught that fighting and survival Spirit.
Im thankful that I have. Both sets of my grandparents were grounded farmers & ranchers and businessmen/women too and I learned their worth and ethics and value that over all others.
In my 20s, I was married to a man who would be the first in the handout lines.. If he didnt get along with someone, he'd quit his job.. never mind that he had 2 babies and a wife to provide for. We were on Food Stamps a few times here & there but I started growing a large garden by hand and I was successful at it too. Those days are long gone & so is that Ex husband.. That was a yoke seriously unequal.
Today, I still garden even though I dont "Have to". Well I do HAVE to.. I have to to ease my souls desire to till the soil, and be a part of the land I've always loved, and so do my children on a small scale. My back yard is pure shade, so I have a small plot behind some decorative giant rocks.. and along the side of a neighbors garage, and along one side of my house.. and in pots all over the back deck.. and in 2 plots at a community garden because I can.. Its not easy but where there is a will, there is a way.
My husband and I discuss this all the time, how people are being trained to be dependent and stupid in almost all things. I could not believe how my family, even my own mother, gives me a hard time about wanting to make and do for myself and family. Its as if everyone has been programmed like the Stepfords and youre pretty much talked down to or made to seem like a paranoid schizo because you want to provide and plan for your family. Its wierd.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading Joel Salatins book, Folks, this aint Normal. He makes a lot of good statements about what are country is coming to. Sad that we don't teach kids anymore what we can do with a plot of ground. Your farmland is beautiful! I live in Northern Illinois. Lots of rolling prairie with nothing but miles of beans fields and corn fields!
ReplyDeleteOh I hear you loud and clear living in the south San Joaquin Valley of California. It's a danged shame. Let's try re-educating our neighbors just one at a time. It's worth a shot. If all of us commenters here encouraged our neighbors to garden, we might be responsible for a wave of responsibility. And it would all be your fault. I already have one co-worker bit with the tomato growing bug. I'll think about my next convert when I'm out in the garden this evening.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the incentive.
I have read this post and comments with great interest. It seems there is a trend here that we all are concerned to some degree that our great nation is not headed in a good direction and our government is conditioning the "sheep" to totally rely on them for everything. I grew up in the middle of the city, poor and for a while on food stamps. I remember how I felt as a young teenager when i paid with stamps and telling myself that I never wanted to do that again. Years latter I moved my family to a small town and I have not looked back for twenty years now. I still work in the city and I am so thankful that I was able to get out when we did and I was able to raise my children in a more rural environment. I have had conversations with a woman at work who has family that is totally dependent on the system. They know when each food pantry opens and will wait all day in a line for food. They will commute to other areas to get more food. If they would only expel that same energy into something constructive such as gardening they would be better off but they are too lazy to do it because they know they can get all they want for free. I try not to judge others but sometimes those who work the system get under my skin. I know of another person that buys the SNAP card for pennies on the dollar from people selling them for drug money. Yes friends we are in perilous times indeed! Through the years the good Lord has blessed me in more ways then I know. I have been able to learn how to hunt, fish, garden and raise animals for food. Nothing to the extent of what CQ and her family do, but for a city boy with no country upbringing I have done okay. All of my children have grown up with good christian morals and lead very productive lives. So that is why I read this blog daily. CQ is a great inspiration to me and continues to teach me new things each day.
ReplyDeleteQuote:
ReplyDeleteWe are not sure how to feel at this point! Angry that our nation has come to this. Disappointed that when you drive through this little town you see nice big yards of grass but very few vegetable gardens. Awe struck that they are trucking free produce into one of the richest farming areas that I have ever lived in. We want to shout "help yourselves before it is too late!"
America what have we done?
Unquote:
I hear you CQ! Driving around the farming community we live in and then down the mountain into town on either side of the mountain gives us scenes of the very same thing... lush green grassy yards but very few gardens are seen. It's scary to think that as a nation we have come so far from our food sources. It's even scarier to think that if the poo hits the fan, those of us with gardens will be targeted by the ones who don't.
American is a land of plenty. We live in a society that has no qualms about tossing out perfectly good clothing because it's missing a button, or throw out something that is in working order just because they don't want it anymore and the list goes on. You will find many of those things in the thrift stores but unfortunately, most of it ends up in the trash. We are a throw away society.
America has become a land of handouts though too. People don't want to garden if they are gonna get benefits that are just going to buy the stuff for them. People don't want to work either. I know there are people who truly need the help but we very rarely hear about them on the news or in the newspapers. No, it's the ones who are abusing the system we hear about the most.
In the farming community we live in, you see many Hispanic migrant workers planting, picking, etc. he migrant workers are some of the hardest working people. If the farmers were to offer those jobs to someone else, someone who is whining about not being able to find a job, or the system abusers, etc. they would say no. They don't want to work!
America is very different from even 40 years ago when I was growing up. I bet that others who are older than I am can say it's different from 50, 60, 70, 80, or even 90 years ago.
Even when my Dad was working, he was still hauling junk cars, junk appliances, picking up aluminum cans, and even digging some herbs like ginseng, butterfly root, etc. to sale to the local herb and metal place for cash that he would either pay on bills, or use for Christmas presents, etc.
My family and I grow a garden, expanded it in size this year, plus we go out an forage for food such as wild blackberries, black walnuts, chestnuts, and more. People want you to give those things to them but you offer to have them come pick with you, they have other stuff to do. Sorry no free handouts.
Where there is a will there is a way but unfortunately many these days do not have the will to go out there and do something for themselves. They want the handouts instead.
Laura--
DeleteI'm sorry, I don't like to be a comment hog, but I just had to say that I had the same conversation with my husband the other day. I said to him that pretty soon, before this collapse comes (which may be sooner than we think), I'm going to go buy a gun. I have a feeling I'm going to have to defend my property and my food producing animals. I'll be glad to help people get their own, but don't take mine. As for the disposable society, yes, America is. It's old, we get rid of it. It broke, we don't fix it, we throw it out. It is disgusting, and it all makes me so sad and angry.
Jocelyn,
DeleteBuy plenty of ammunition, also; it will be needed. Unfortunately, over the years of entitlement and easy free supply, those who feel that society owes them everything and are unwilling to work for anything will not fare well when the tap runs dry. The moral decay in this nation is widespread. When people feel "they are owed and they are entitled" they will do anything to get what they want. This is a very serious, sad, and scary event to have to think about, but it is reality for today; unfortunately.
In the event of a collapse (whether monetary, power grid, civil war, international war, etc),the criminals that we have locked up will be set free due to no resources to continue to imprison them. Actually, it's happening in debt stressed states, already.
The right to possess and use a weapon for self-defense of life and property is why we have the Second Amendment to the Constitution. The ridiculousness of anyone stating it applied to militia's or that gun control will reduce murders is not truth. The Second Amendment was put in our Constitution specifically to allow freedom to reign supreme. The Founding Father's wanted to protect future American's rights to pursue a life free of bondage and tyranny.
Jocelyn,
DeleteDidn't find you a comment hog at all. :) As Glenda said, get the ammo too.
Glenda,
Spot on, lady!!
Hugs,
Laura
I grew up as a military brat, living in base housing, but I would spend the summers in Montana, at my grandmother's house. She only had an acre, but she always had a garden, plus she would go camping, and get fish, wild plums, chokecherries, etc. She canned, and made the best bread. (I got the recipe from her when I was about 10, still have it in her own handwriting). After my parents divorce, my mom always had a garden, and as an adult, I have had a garden more years than not. No garden this year though, house is up for sale, next summer, moving back to Montana, after 15 years in Florida. Can't wait to have a garden again. I have seen so many people down here that if I mention I can't wait to have a garden, or that I make bread, they look at me as if I have 3 heads. I have 4 kids, 2 of whom are grown, and 2 in high school, and I have been trying to teach them ways to be more self sufficient. It scares me how unable and unwilling the younger generation is to be able to take care of themselves. They can't pay their electric bill, but can pay their cell phone bill, or buy cigarettes. They can go out and party all night, but can't spend that time or energy working hard to produce food for themselves.
ReplyDeleteSorry if this went a little bit long, this subject gets me going sometimes.
I love your blog, I have garden and canning envy every time I visit it.
Marianne
I am reading this while on Covid quarantine. Your post and reader comments are so relevant to what's going on right now. Seeds are in short supply, since people are panicked about the food supply. I helped some friends get plants started with some from my own garden, as well as seeds, using items they had around the house (tubs, buckets, flowerpots). We've always had a garden, but I never knew how to can so I used my quarantine time to learn. It's a scary world right now. CQ, I would love to know your thoughts on what's going on these days!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many items we throw away that can be used for things like seed starting. It is wonderful that you are sharing your knowledge with friends. Canning is a good way to become more food sufficient and not be vulnerable to the ups and downs of the stores supply chain. It iss funny that the world is scared and they are all trying to live like I have lived all my life. It is indeed a scary world and the ants of this world will strive to survive. The grasshoppers will struggle.
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