Questions...if you don't ask, you won't get the information

This rather stuck me as of interest this morning in my daily coffee surfing...I know that I'm the type that chooses to NOT listen to doctors much of the time, and tend to see to my own basic health needs by way of diet or other alternative therapies...I don't really have a ton of respect for the "medical professionals" as a whole.  Don't get me wrong - modern medicine is an amazing thing and should I get hit by a bus the last thing I want is a cup of tea and a handful of dandelion leaves!!  Drug it, fix it, and do it now!

Personally, I think the medical system is over burdened by two (even three) generations that were brought up to NOT look after themselves.  We are fed by a system that pays no attention to health, and medicated by a system that pays no attention to food.  So, what to do...

Here's a good article on where to start and what questions to ask...just for the record...it's written by a doctor.  No credit at all taken here...the info, the article, and everything that goes with it belongs to Doom and Bloom and I encourage you to peruse their information!!

Survival Medicine...what you NEED to know. 
 Doom and Bloom

Rational, Positive, Creative...and always inquisitive
Tabby

Being prepare is more than just stocking up...

Here's an interesting interview with my favorite natural health advocate, Mr. Mike Adams.  He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Natural News dot com.  It's a BIG site, and if you are not familiar with Mike's work...well...you should be. 

If you have the time - please sit and watch this. 

http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=C9B5D23E28F3E6102E782D35B304F2F8

I'm sure most of us read or listen to Info Wars at one time or another - this is quite a re-cap of 2012's big stories.

Rational, Positive, Creative...
Tabby

Food Storage...basics and even more

Ironically enough, this item was on FOX news...  :)  However, the basic information is there.  It's a good start for those that are uncertain on how to go about LONG term storage of dry goods.

Dry Food Storage - how to basics

Take a few minutes and Google the subject - there is a WEALTH of information available.

Vicki Tate of Backwoods Home Magazine has a good article here on errors to avoid...

7 Mistakes of Food Storage


When it comes to food storage...face it, civilizations have made HUGE amounts of progress in this particular quest.  Cheese, for instance, is the result of a driving need to preserve milk.  Root cellars are a subject unto themselves.  There a tons of books written about each and every segment of food preservation there is.  Canning, drying, freezing (not real practical for long term...unless of course you live well above the 40th), smoking, vacuum-sealing....yada yada yada.

I suppose that for those just entering the wild world of DIY can be rather overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information available.  I suppose that taking it and breaking it is likely the first step in figuring this all out.

Here's a good little Wiki that will give you some intelligent (not TEOTEWAWKI) basics...
Wiki - Food Storage

Since not everyone is going to dive headlong into homesteading and off-grid life it's going to take a little effort on your part to figure out what you will need, where you will store it, and how you will deal with it...

1.  WHO will you feed?  Do your prep-plans include immediate family only?  Cats? Dogs? (other strange beings that may dwell in your house?)   Here's a link to some good calculators...Prepping Calculators

 2.  WHAT will you feed everyone?  Rice and beans are great (awesome Southern cookin') but be logical - you can only jambalaya so much!  You don't really need to have set-in-stone meal plans prepared for every crumb you may set aside, but put a little thought into these sorts of things.  Break it down into having a broad range of base ingredients that can be turned into more than just soup.    Keep an eye out for recipes that feature simple DIY type methods and/or ingredients.  Also do a little research into substitutions and alternatives.  I.E.:  powdered milk (expensive, and rather tasteless)...what could you use in place of it that has an equally impressive shelf life?  Solution:  coconut milk.   Although coconut milk rather sucks on cereal, the fact is, you likely will NOT be stocking up on froot loops.  Another good one:  sugar vs. honey.  Honey doesn't go bad (EVER).  Grant you it's heavy, but it can be used in medicines as well as cooking.  Keep a small box of these recipes in with your stored goods and keep an open mind when it comes to ingredients and substitutes. 

3.  WHEN will you need to dole out the crackers?  Who knows, that's why we do this.  Just make sure you have a decent supply of Sharpie markers and write the date you stored it on everything.  AND...just to toss a cloud on things...how long will your stored goods last?  When will it become painfully obvious that you should have learned to garden rather than play video games?  Make sure there are seeds in your stores - you can buy pre-packed gardens in a can, or you can just (one vegetable patch at a time) learn to save your own. 

4.  WHERE will you keep all of your squirreled away goods?  Create some space in your house for JUST preps.  That way it's there, out of the way, and in the same place all the time.  You could find everything in the dark...if you had to.  If you are an urban or apartment dweller, you may need to get a little more creative with your storage solutions.  The author of The Prepper's Pocket Guide (reviewed here not too long ago), Ms. Bernie Carr also has a great site called Apartment Prepper ( Apartment Prepper ) which focuses on prepping in limited space.

5.  WHY?  Probably the dumbest question there is.  Yes, I know - there's no such thing as a stupid question.  However, there are most certainly inquisitive idiots.  If you can't figure out why one would take time and effort to prep (even just the 72-hour basics) ...well, frankly I have nothing more to say on the matter.

In conclusion...don't just fly out and stock up on flour, rice, oats, dry beans and other staples.  If you have no idea how to deal with your stored items, then you will have a far larger problem on your hands later.

Rational, positive and creative...right down to the cookies
Tabby   

  

Prepping for Special Diets...

I happened upon a most interesting article this morning by a lady that seems to have it wound up pretty tight.  Since Celiac and other food intolerance issues seem to be in the forefront these days, I felt that I would share this. 

Be sure to check her out - Stephanie Dayle 
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/author/Stephanie-Dayle

I'm fairly certain she won't mind my pilferage of her information...I just want to make sure that I get proper credit where it is due!!   I've kept all the links and so forth, hopefully they will work properly.  :) 

Basics of Gluten Free Prepping

By Stephanie Dayle - Mon Apr 23, 7:48 am

Nearly three years ago, after a serious car accident, I began having serious lower intestinal issues whenever I ate.  After a while, I sought the help of my doctor who ran me through a barrage of tests, one of which was a celiac panel.  All came back negative.  So I was given a couple of prescriptions and a diagnosis for IBS.  When the meds I was given failed to have any real effect on me, I saw a specialist who took a look at my celiac panel and declared that while I didn't have the celiac disease (that much was very true), I was still "gluten intolerant."  My regular doctor back pedaled by saying I had a "false negative" test - while my specialist said that there are no "false negatives" there are only doctors who don't know how to order or read the test.
Apparently I've been gluten intolerant my whole life and the stress related to my accident exasperated my gluten intolerance symptoms which, until that time, had been fairly dormant.  No more wheat, rye or barley I was told.  For a little while, I about starved because I didn't know what to do, let alone how this would effect our emergency preparedness plans.  But he was right, my worst symptoms disappeared within days of ditching the gluten and other symptoms (like fatigue and anemia), took a little longer to go away but within a year I was back to my normal healthy self.

Gliadin: The small part of the gluten protein that people react to. Public Domain Image

Quick Review of Gluten Intolerance and Celiac - It's Important to Know the Facts
Celiac Disease is "villous atrophy" (the little finger like structures in your small intestines that absorb nutrients have become short and blunted due to your own immune system attacking it)  triggered by gluten intolerance, however, it is NOT "gluten intolerance".  Celiac Disease results in an autoimmune reaction (where your immune system attacks the body as opposed to the gluten).
Non-celiac "Gluten Intolerance" is when you don’t have villous atrophy yet, but you still have problems triggered by gluten.  "Gluten intolerance" is an immune reaction to the gluten.  Both of the reactions for Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance involve IgA and/or IgG antibodies in your body reacting to Gliadin.  Gliadin is part of the gluten protein that is present in wheat and several other cereals, such as rye and barley.
"Lactose Intolerance" is also different from 'gluten intolerance.'  When you are lactose intolerant, you are missing an enzyme you need to digest 'lactose (a sugar)' in milk.  So when you consume a dairy product, it digests very poorly.  Gluten Intolerance is an Immune Reaction.  They are VERY DIFFERENT.
A "Wheat Allergy" is also not the same thing as 'gluten intolerance'.  Wheat allergies are even more difficult to diagnose, as your standard 'celiac panel' doesn't even cover that one.  Although the symptoms can be very similar to 'gluten intolerance', they are two different medical conditions - someone with a 'wheat allergy' may eat products like Rye Bread which has plenty of gluten in it, and be just fine .  A more in depth 'food allergy'  blood test for IgA, IgG, and also IgE antibody levels to gluten and also to wheat would need to be performed to pinpoint that one.

Millet - Public Domain Image

Gluten Free Prepping 
We make almost all of our own food from scratch, to eat, and to store.  That way, there is no question in my mind as to whether I can eat it or not.  We put many different kinds of grains in storage, not just wheat.  When we do buy freeze dried food, it has to be special 'gluten free'  food.  I have also stocked up on a few extras to treat myself, in case I accidentally get into some gluten.  Here are some things to prep:

• Rice: Not rice pilaf, as it contains gluten, - plain white rice, we have doubled the recommended amount due to it being something I can eat and because you can grind it into flour for baking.
• Fruits and Veggies: Any fruits and veggies you put away yourself through canning and dehydrating will naturally be free of gluten and ready for you eat or make into something else.
• Beans: Besides being a great survival food, some beans also make great baking flour when ground down.
• GF Macaroni and Spaghetti Noodles: These can be purchased relatively cheaply bulk at WinCo stores, through certain co-ops, or individually through health food stores and/or specialty sections of your grocery store.  Notice how I am not mentioning "Whole Paycheck" stores, aka Whole Foods, there is a reason for the nickname!
• Sorghum: Aka Milo, it is a grain can be stored whole then ground for later use as flour.
• Millet: Can also be stored as a whole grain and then ground into flour, it also can be cooked up like couscous or rice).
• Buckwheat: Can also be stored whole and cooked up like rice as Kasha or ground into a flour that can be used to make breads, wraps, and noodles.
• Oats: Are in fact gluten free naturally, but are often cross contaminated as they are usually processed with the same equipment as wheat.  Therefore, care needs to be taken to ensure you are purchasing certified gluten free oats for storage.  You can cook oats up for oatmeal, use it in cereal, and grind it down to make oat flour.
• Corn: Dried corn can be store for long periods of time, it can be rehydrated and eaten, or ground into meal, starch or flour).
• Potatoes: Are easy to grow, can be dehydrated and canned, they can also be liquified and made into potato starch which is often called for in gluten free cooking.
• Tortillas, store Masa Harina: Found in the ethnic foods section of your grocery store, is almost always gluten free and you can make the best tortillas out of it adding only water.
• Soups: We make our own by either canning it or by using dehydrated ingredients to make soup kits.  But you can also purchase some for yourself see links below.
• Condensed Soups: We have a year's supply of condensed soup in a rotating system as they are just so convenient - Pacific Foods makes several wonderful MSG free, gluten free varieties.
• Meats: We use home canning as our main method for storing right now, freeze dried is just too expensive for us but it may be an option for you. (see below)  We store chicken, beef, tuna, hotdogs (Oscar Meyer and Hebrew National brands are both gluten free), ham, and brats.
• GF Flour Mixes: There are a lot of these on the market now, and there is no reason why you can't stock up some.  Just keep in mind that because they are 'pre-ground' flour mixes that their life span is more limited than whole grain.  If you freeze and re-freeze the mixes to kill any insect eggs, and seal them up properly, storing them in a cool dark place they could last up to three years.  But you will want to try to eat them before that time.  As with any other supply, keep your flour mixes in a rotation.  Eat the old stuff first and replace it with new stuff.
•  Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum and Gelatin: Since the gluten found in wheat is missing in gluten free baking, binding agents are needed to help hold the dough together.  These ingredients are handy to for anyone in case you are ever challenged with making bread or baked goods with a grain other than wheat.  They turn mission impossible into mission doable.  Xanthan gum is used to give the dough or batter a "stickiness" that would otherwise be achieved with the gluten.  Guar Gum also helps this process and is often used in conjunction with Xanthan Gum.  Plain powdered gelatin that one can find in the cooking section of the grocery store can also be added to GF breads to help achieve a "Xanthan Gum" like effect in bread.  Gelatin is cheaper than Xanthan Gum and has a longer shelf life making it an affordable prepping option.

Rolled Oats - Public Domain Image

First Aid Needs - Be Prepared to handle your symptoms in case  you can't get into gluten and can't see a doctor:
Since symptoms vary so widely - make sure your supplies are customized to treat your symptoms.

• Imodium: Loperamide
• Pepto-Bismol: Bismuth subsalicylate
• Ibuprofen: Helps with inflammation caused by the reaction.
• Peppermint: Leaves or Tea: Helps settle your stomach and discourages diarrhea.
• Vitamin B 100: Will provide a good 'pick me up' after a reaction to gluten if fatigue settles in.
• Electrolytes: For rehydrating after a reaction.

Gluten Free Skills
There two really important skills that should be learned if you are a gluten free prepper.  While not necessary for short term emergency preparedness, these skills will help to protect against hardship in the future and help you along your path to self -sufficiency.  One:  To cook from scratch with your gluten free grains,  and the other is:  To grow your own gluten free food, beyond meats and veggies.  Learning how to cook with gluten free grains is different than cooking with wheat.  There is a prominent learning curve, but, with some practice, you'll get the hang of it.  It is also important to be able to do without the aid of a mixer or bread maker.  This doesn't mean you have to do it all the time, but you should at least know that you can do it if you need to.  Next, find a grain that you enjoy, can cook well, and that grows well in your area (for me that's buckwheat, others might be millet or sorghum) and learn how to grow and harvest it.  Visit your local county extension office, explain to them that you would like to grow whatever grain it is that you picked out, and would like some information on it.  Not only will they have information that you can use, they also may be able to sell you seeds at a discounted rate.

Augason Farms Gluten Free Products - See Link Below

Here are some links to help you find some great gluten free prepping products.
http://www.azurestandard.com/ Bulk natural food store and co-op, meet all of your GF grain and bulk food requirements here.
http://www.wildernessdining.com/ Short and long term food systems, plus they have gluten free freeze dried meals for your bug out bags.
http://augasonfarms.com/  Individual and long term kits of excellent gluten free, freeze dried food, dehydrated food, and bread mixes.
http://www.freezedryguy.com/ All Natural gluten free soup mixes.
http://www.glutenfreeemergencykits.com/ Short term and long term gluten free emergency kits.
http://www.gopicnic.com  Small meal packs that are good for short term storage, vehicle kits, camping, and bug out bags.

Any questions on gluten free prepping? Ask away in the comment section! I will respond to questions as soon as possible.

Links for more information about Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease. 

Healthier Without Wheat by Stephen Wangen - Book
Gluten Intolerance Explained Slideshow - Slideshow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celiac_disease - Celiac Disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten_intolerance - Gluten Intolerance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliadin - Gliadin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmunity - Autoimmune response
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten - Gluten
Click Here to Visit My Blog!

So, there you have it - some seriously complete information on gluten do's and don't - and a whole passle of info on how to get around having to deal with wheat.  

Rational, Positive, Creative....and gluten-wise! 
Tabby 

The Humble Potatoe...

Spuds, taters, dirt apples, pomme de terre - pick one.  They are all essentially the same thing.  Even though there are most likely as many varieties of potatoes as there are ways to cook 'em. 

In my in-box this morning was a fine little article on WHY everyone should learn how to grow them....

I get a regular newsletter from the nice folks as Off The Grid News...although an American site, they have some great information.

You can find their site here:    Off The Grid News 

I present to you - courtesy of Off The Grid News - a few compelling reasons that our humble little spud should be YOUR next BFF.



If you could choose just one crop to grow to feed your family in tough times, the potato would be ideal. Potatoes may have a humble reputation, but when it comes to surviving in tough times, they're superstars. Here are eight reasons why.
Reason #1: They're easy to grow and require no machinery or processing
Potatoes are easy for one person to grow and harvest. Growing a family plot of potatoes requires minimal labor and attention. No heavy machinery needed! Unlike grain crops, potatoes don't need to be milled, threshed, combined, or undergo any other processing. You just pull them out of the earth, brush off the dirt, and cook them.
Reason #2: Potatoes are packed with nutrition
Potatoes get a bad rap, but they're actually an excellent source of important nutrients. A typical potato contains over half the day's requirement of vitamins C and B6, and almost half of the potassium. They're also a good source of fiber, folate, niacin, thiamin, magnesium, manganese, and more.
Reason #3: Potatoes are a healthful alternative to grains and beans
Many pre-packaged survival foods rely on grains and beans... but for some folks, that can be a problem. Potatoes are more easily digestible than beans, which often require soaking. For people with gluten sensitivities or who don't do well with grains, potatoes are the perfect alternative.
Reason #4: In a TEOTWAWKI scenario, they provide sorely needed calories
In a total meltdown, you will be doing far more manual labor than you do now. You'll be walking or biking everywhere when gasoline prices skyrocket. You'll be growing your own food. If power is down for extended periods, you won't have machines to do laundry, dishes, or cleaning. You'll be chopping wood for heat. And all that extra effort requires more calories. Home grown potatoes, which require minimal labor, can provide all the extra calories your family needs in a complete off-the-grid lifestyle.
Reason #5: They can be grown even when growing space is limited
It doesn't require much land at all to grow potatoes, but if you live somewhere where there's virtually no ground to till, you can still grow them. People grow potatoes in window boxes, food-grade buckets, cardboard boxes, tall homemade containers, and more.
Reason #6: Potatoes keep for months
Kept at the proper temperature in an old-fashioned root cellar, potatoes will last for months. (Keep them away from onions and garlic, however, or they'll spoil faster.) And if you're worried about using them up before they start to go bad, you have another option... see Reason #7.
Reason #7: They're easy to dehydrate
Scrub 'em, slice 'em, and dehydrate them ... either in a dehydrator or in your oven. Dehydrated, potatoes take up less space and can be stored in airtight containers for very long periods of time. In fact, they'll last for ten years in a sealed #10 can.
Reason #8: Potatoes can be prepared in endless ways
Boil 'em, mash 'em, cook 'em in a stew ... fry them, scallop them, even make potato flour from them for baked goods. Make potato pancakes, potato dumplings, home fries ... even potato vodka!

I don't profess to be a master gardener in ANY capacity - however, I have been relatively successful in growing a few spuds for the house.   I have grown them in soil, in tires, in compost and grass clippings and in horse manure and straw.  Hands down the BEST quality were in good soil with not too much organic stuff.  But in a pinch, they'll set roots pretty much anywhere.  

I have also grown them from super-market purchases, seed potatoes and even a really good one begged from a supplier friend of mine.  

If you're an apartment dweller, you can actually purchase tall bags for growing them. 

Potato Grow Bags at Amazon

I personally have never tried the bags, but have read quite a bit about them.  I don't dwell in an overly urban environment, so space really isn't that much of an issue.  

As you can see (from the spectacular shot of my backyard weed experiment) two towers, of three tires each.  Each tower yielded roughly 20 lbs of potatoes with next to ZERO effort.



They're packed with nutrition, more or less idiot resistant to grow, and they keep through the winter (with a bit of proper storage) and kids just LOVE hunting for the elusive french fry gopher come time to harvest. 

Now that we can ALMOST see Spring...through the snowflakes....it's time to look to the great outdoors and see what you can do to feed yourself.  



Rational, Positive, Creative....and hungry now...
Tabby

  

BOOK REVIEW...The Prepper's Pocket Guide

Well, as promised, here we go.

A little before Christmas 2012, I was approached by Bernie Carr, Author, Prepper and the owner of The Apartment Prepper . 

Apartment Prepper's primary focus is prepping (and other smart things to do) in an URBAN environment. 

When Bernie asked me if I wouldn't mind reviewing the book in exchange for a free copy of it, I jumped at the chance.  I'd never been asked to comment on a REAL BOOK!!  To say the least, I was tickled pink! 

I am, as many know, rather fond of REAL BOOKS.  To my mind, all the wisdom of all the worlds is contained in it's archives.  Books that you can see, and feel, and hold and cuddle up with are one of the few remaining vestiges of civilization in our increasingly tech-driven lives.  And yes, I do understand the irony of posting a BOOK review to an electronic blog.  :) 

So, in getting right to it -

Ms. Carr (yes, that's right....written by a GIRL!!) began her journey into prepping as a form of insurance.  Like most, we pay for some form of insurance and hope we never have to use it.  Well, for the price of LESS than a monthly insurance premium, Ms. Carr has assembled a step-by-step guide that ANYONE can use.   This little gem will run you about $12.95 (USD).  It's conveniently sized - the actual book is only 7 inches tall (17.7 cm) and 5 inches wide (12.6 cm).  YES, it DOES fit in your pocket (well, ok, it fits in MY pocket!)...

She touches on a host of topics most of us are familiar with, and some that the notion had never crossed my mind! 

Starting out by outlining common myth's and misconceptions about "preppers" she pops these bubbles one at a time with calm and rational logic.  Yes, there are some who prep for TEOTWAWKI or SHTF and have long and involved discussions on weaponry and camo-colored tool pouches, but Ms. Carr simply points out that although there are a few heavily-armed conspiracy types that think the world is out to get them....a disaster can be as simple as a job loss or sudden family illness.

Bernie adds her own thoughts and feelings to the guide as well.  This lends it a very personal touch.  I identified with her immediately in the feeling of being overwhelmed by the amounts of information out there and the marked lack of actual skill that I possessed at first.   

She has covered pretty much EVERYTHING you can think of.  Yes, there are 101 valid, well thought out, steps. 

Step 3 - Rethink YOUR mindset.   Step 10 - Create a Personal ECONOMIC disaster plan.  Yep, she even gets into the cashflow of things...

Step 93 - Learn to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee WITHOUT Electricity.  Here's one that had NEVER crossed my mind!  Although I do own a French Press and absolutely ADORE the rich, strong product...it had never occurred to me that I could purchase green coffee beans for less money, and learn how to roast them myself!

Organized into eight chapters, Ms. Carr has stuffed more information into this little book than most people have MRE's shoved in their Bug-Outs!   She covers skills, and canning, and EDC (every day carry) items.  Health and safety, how to make yogurt.  Container gardens and ice storms.  How to distill water, how build your own water filter.  How to navigate without a compass.  And she does this in the RIGHT kind of shoes!

If you know someone that is contemplating learning how to prep...this guide will make a great gift!  If you want to buck up on some skills, pick one up for yourself.  Since I don't live in a city, I couldn't just pop into the local Chapters to see if it was locally available, so here's the link:
 
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+prepper%27s+pocket+guide&sprefix=The+Prepper%27s+Pock%2Caps%2C350

There's even a rather comprehensive list of recommended reading.  You will NOT be disappointed.

You can even get the kids involved with a lot of the projects.  Growing small space gardens, learning how to make beef jerky, making your own jam.  Take a nature walk with the youngun's and together you can learn how to gather water by making a vegetation still.  A little science, an afternoon outdoors with the family, and a survival skill taught.  An afternoon in the sunshine that could one day save a life. 

For those of you in tight quarters, be sure to pop by her blog, she offers up a TON of information geared specifically towards those in urban settings and on set budgets.  Smart, straightforward, simple.  I could quite easily go on, and on, and on....

The only real downside to this whole experience is that I can't personally shake Ms. Carr's hand.  She's done a helluva good job in demystifying "prepping".  Even if you NEVER find yourself in a situation where you will NEED to purify water or cook without your usual stove, you have your insurance policies in place.  Just in case.

Rational, positive and creative....and now on the hunt for green coffee beans!
Tabby 

Survival by Design

There are games afoot! 

Anyone out there that is prepping will know this theory very well.  Well, I would like to take a moment to introduce you to another strategy to survive the crises that we are all facing.

Meet:  Permaculture

Eh?  You say?  Do tell.....

Here's the Wiki to give you a quick course in the ideology:

Wikipedia Definition - Permaculture

I could go on at length on this particular topic, since I am a HUGE fan of the methods and designs.  Although I know actually very LITTLE about the subject (in a big picture sort of way).  I took a quick introductory course at Olds College in Alberta.  It was a two day affair, and we had a great time with Barb Hazenveld of Gorgeous & Edible Landscaping.  She's a Permaculture Design Certified (PDC) professional (and a whole lot of fun!). 

If you are in the central Alberta area and would like to know more about it here's where you can find her:

Gorgeous & Edible Landscaping - Barb & Hendrik Hazenveld
http://www.gorgeousandedible.com/

If you are NOT in central AB, but would like more information, please let me know and I'll do a little digging to see who the PDC pro's are in your area.  There ARE out there!

Now, as much as this sounds like I'm spouting off, there is (as always) a method to my madness.  As far as I am concerned, Permaculture is the single, most intelligent method of agriculture out there.  So, if you like to eat - then you should learn about this method. 

Mr. Geoff Lawton is a recognized authority on the subject of Permaculture, and with his permission, I present to you his new video on "Surviving the Coming Crises".  Take the time to watch this vid...I think you will be quite impressed.

Surviving the Coming Crises - with Geoff Lawton 

Since we are all getting a little bit twitchy as the winter drags on, I think we could toss Permaculture into our design plans for the coming gardening season.  Although not overly applicable for apartment dwellers, it can be applied in an urban environment quite nicely.  If you are like us, and have land available, then definitely contemplate the notion.

Rational...Positive...Creative....in all things!
Tabby