Hello Everyone!
How's everyone doing? With all the news out there and most of it discouraging, I think it's important to check on our family and friends.
One headline has stuck with me recently: JP Morgan Warns A Global Food Crisis Next Year. With diesel prices projected to rise, a potential AI bubble bursting, and worsening weather conditions, one really needs to take stock of their preps. In other words, take inventory of what you own and fill in the gaps. This is why we prepare. By stocking up and anticipating future needs, you may be able to hedge against these events.
Bad things happen all the time, but rising costs of goods affect everyone. A five percent global increase in the cost of goods and higher fuel prices for truck drivers means you pay more in the stores. You can alleviate this now by stocking up, preserving, and not wasting food.
Because at the end of the day, the common person pays the most and gets hit the hardest. Corporations and governments don't care about you and will only make a token effort to alleviate the problem. You need to take care of yourself.
Preparedness, food storage, self-sufficiency, and finances are on my mind most of the time so that is what I write and talk about. I want to help you get through these uncertain times and do the best you can.
One way I addressed this was to plant a fall garden in July and early August. I planted green beans, tri-colored beans, peas, and broccoli. It doesn't sound like much, but I am extending our fresh produce season by a couple of months. Grasshoppers attacked the broccoli, and it has no leaves now. I should have put bug cloth over it, but I did not think they would be a problem. I may turn that bed into a cold frame for the winter and plant lettuce, radishes, herbs, and maybe carrots.
I am also going to lift two of my raised beds and put weed barrier under them. We live right next to CRP (federal voluntary land conservation program) ground and have a terrible time with brome grass. It's impossible to get rid of it with its root system. So I am going to get that done after the tomatoes and peppers are out of there. I would like to raise those beds another eight inches, but I am scared to price cedar boards right now.
I would also like to add another bed with them, but again, the price of cedar boards. Why do we use cedar? They are more expensive, but they do not rot, decay, or need to be treated first. I have learned the hard way that spending the money upfront means spending less in the future.
If you haven't already, start buying seeds. I'm not going to tell you to buy heirloom seeds, but they're easier to replicate. Meaning, if you save seeds, you will get the same product next year when you plant them. That may not be the case with hybrid seeds. Seeds are great to keep on hand if you want to grow your own food.
Some new and old articles for you to check out this week at Living Life in Rural Iowa!
Save Money With A Basic Meal Plan and Grocery List
Start Your Spring Garden Now by Planting Garlic, Onions, and Shallots
How To Can Chicken (and Save Money!)
National Preparedness Month: Getting Ready for the Future By Covering the Basics
Recent and old articles from Substack:
How You Can Be Better Prepared While Saving Money
Reducing Life by 75% (from a year ago - I ended up reducing by 85%)
On YouTube and TikTok, I have been alternating between talking about National Preparedness Month, 30 Days of Preparedness, and gardening. I actually have two series on 30 Days of Preparedness: the Common Joe version and the Apocalypse version. Check them out! Also, please like, subscribe, follow, or whatever floats your boat!
I also reopened my Patreon page. I enjoy Patreon and the creators I follow there. I only have one membership level and it's $3.00 a month. I plan to have more exclusive content there, including posts and videos.
You can also find me on:
Please feel free to share this newsletter and posts with anyone you may think will benefit!
Thanks,
Erica
