last night we got our first staying snow....here's a pic from earlier today:
we have had an awesome december in that we had a few flurries, but they melted as they landed, and we didn't have any super-cold days until yesterday and the day before. it is supposed to go above 0 degrees this afternoon, it is bright and sunny but tonight we are getting an arctic blast, followed by a 2-day rainstorm - brrrrr! it's ok though - we have everything we need to get us through this cold spell!
many preppers, sustainers and survivalists keep animals on their homesteads and raise them for food. one thing that we constantly discuss is the fact that we don't want the responsibility of feeding and tending to animals, and we don't want to butcher and eat what will definitely become pets. and we don't want the added burden of trying to feed those animals with only what we can grow or forage for them. we have a freezer full of wild rabbits and fresh-caught fish! so maybe we won't be eating any chicken in a SHTF situation but we're ok with that! there are enough farms and whatnot nearby that we can barter...or better yet - just do without! when we can walk or bike down to the beach and come home with this free, foraged food - well, let's just say that we won't be hurting!
do you know how much protein and calories and vitamins and minerals are in those mussels???? we are of the opinion that we would eat rocks if we had to...but guess what? we don't have to!!!! we have access to free food in the form of fish, hunting, berries and a whole schlew of other stuff...and that's besides what we don't grow ourselves, and save seed from!!!
here's some more free food. fish that jambaloney caught, french fries from our own potatoes and home-made tartar sauce.
we have always told each other that if we had to live in a box together in the parking lot of a mall somewhere - we could do it! but after years of paying off debt and learning to live with less, moving here and being able to hunt, fish, grow, seed save and forage - we will never have to. we are already changing our eating habits and will learn to live with what food we are able to get if SHTF.
until the gravy train stops, tho, kids - we'll enjoy every little special treat that we can! like homemade teriyaki chicken wings and sweet and sour chicken wings - bahahahaha!
and here's some delicious sweet and sour pork:
if it all goes to hell in a handbasket, i guess we will have chicken wings and sweet and sour pork until it runs out. and then - i guess we will just have to make do with fresh-caught lobster, crab, mussels, clams and all of the other fish available in our river and ocean. throw in a moose, some rabbit and/or a deer and i guess that we will somehow make do. fresh fruit, berries and greens for at least half of the year from our garden and other various and sundry through late fall/early winter (due to our greenhouse) and the rest of the year we will eat fruit, berries and greens that we preserved. don't forget that you can sprout your saved seeds and have access to a variety of nutrients from the sprouts all winter long! we will always try to make the best of it because we planned, practiced and prepped.
but the thing is - IT hasn't hit the fan yet so planning, practicing and prepping is still doable. and since IT hasn't hit the fan - why not embrace the life that you have and do your best to love it!
2014 was a great year - we had some sad losses, losing my friend SciFiChick and my Uncle Gerald, but overall we are happy with our accomplishments in 2014.
2015 looks like it will be a smashing good year. we are sooo looking forward to it!!!
welcome 2015! we can't wait to see what wonderful things that you will bring! and we hope that all of you have wonderful dreams for 2015 and we look forward to reading about you achieving those dreams in the upcoming year! it's gonna be an awesome ride, friends!
Looking forward to reading about what you achieve this year.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be changing a lot here because I want my life to be more simple and les cluttered. Watch this space.
Rosezeeta.
Rosezeeta - i just realized that i didn't have you in the blogroll but that has been fixed now! i will definitely be keeping my eye on all of your planned changes - good luck!!!
DeleteHope you guys have a healthy, happy and safe 2015!
ReplyDeleteand you too DFW!!! much love!
DeleteAnimals CAN be a lot of work and responsibility.
ReplyDeleteMr. Smythe - you are sooo right! and we just aren't ready for that! happy new year to you and yours!
DeleteI think relying on fish and ocean critters is a viable alternative to raising your own live stock. It's worked for many peoples around the world since time began. I have always said that as you know. Some people claim the oceans are becoming barren though but I can't say I know enough about it to chime in. You seem to be able to grow enough of your own food to supplement the fish and other seafood with so that's all you require in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the extras that you can buy now and learn to survive on what you grow/catch yourself when the collapse comes or more to the point when the decline rate crosses your current economic line. It makes more sense than constantly coming up with excuses and just using stores on a count down once things get bad.
thanks PP - you know we always appreciate your opinion. i think in regards to commercialized fishing that the oceans are becoming barren but just around our island, the lobster and crab fishermen are still making a ton of money. as for exactly where we are - jam gets fish every time he goes out. and since our friend D showed him the secret spots for mackerel and bass - woohoo baby! we are trying to follow the Mi'kmaq way of living - they fished and hunted and then grew some of their food. that way works for us. this year we are going to start foraging for duck and quail eggs - we have tons of ducks and quail here, but it's just something that we haven't had the time to do yet.
DeleteI hope 2015 is the best year yet for you and Jam! I'm glad I live up stream from Jam because if I were down stream he'd be taking all my fish. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs for raising your own meat animals I think it's a lot of work plus the Vet and feed bills make me wonder if it's worth it. Being mostly a vegetarian is a better way to live anyway.
I don't recall if you heat with a fireplace or do you use oil or gas to stay warm?
Later,
Mike
Mike, buddy - we think that this year is the year we are going to start really rolling! and jam says he would make sure to save you some fish! as for the animals - ya, we have considered the cost of feed and vet bills and then the fact that although neither of us have a problem hunting - raising an animal to eat just isn't in our cards! and yes, we tend to eat a lot of vegetarian meals as well! currently we heat with electric, which sucks, but a friend of ours has a wood stove for us. we just need to be able to clear out our tiny basement to put it in and set it up to code. however, if we lose power we have our generator and a ginormic kerosene heater. we've never lost power for long enough to need either of them. but if SHTF - trust me, that wood stove would be going in the basement - code or no code! much love buddy! and i hope that 2015 is a brilliant year for you!
DeleteWhy am I hungry after I visit you??? I am still having email issues, now its because I have switched laptops and I guess I need to write down my emails and pass words. New Years eve was quite here just watched movies, and stayed up to 2am. I'm a party animal. Hugs to you both.....Rob
ReplyDeleteRob, buddy - if there's one thing that i always say about you - it's that you're a party animal - bahahahahahah! and if you ever visited-- i would feed you non-stop! i will send you an email so that you can get my personal email address in it! i am glad that you had a nice, quiet new years! much love!
DeleteI'm with Rob - can't read your posts without getting hungry. :-) Happy New Year to you both! Hope it is a great one.
ReplyDeletehobo - thanks so much! i hope this year is great for you, too!
DeleteGreat post, lots of good thoughts here. Happy new year to both, much luv and best wishes for the new year! Stay warm!!
ReplyDeletemuch love and best wishes back to you and 2nd Man!
DeleteGoodness yas work very hard, but sure do not have it rough. Thanks for sharing your post card like picture perfect setting with us... and all the great ideas *and* last but not least, all that food porn! Wishing continued blessings for you both in '15.
ReplyDeleteJW - thank you very much! we wish continued blessings to you and yours in the coming year - i think it's gonna be a great one!
Deleteam looking forward to reading your blog this year and occasionally commenting. You guys are great and I admire what you are doing there at the Manor. You do make me hungry? damn it! ha ha ha ha
ReplyDeleteMr. Rat - thank you very much! what with all the work that you do, we appreciate the compliment! sorry for making you hungry - bahahahahah! all the best to you and the Mrs. in the new year!
DeleteI seriously doubt you two will ever go hungry up there. You have all those natural resources and you have the skills to take advantage of them. You work pretty hard too, which never hurts. Kind of like the ants in the old "ants and the grasshopper " fable.
ReplyDeleteI like the snow you have. Somehow, it doesn't seem as much a problem (as ours often is) as it does a nice backdrop to an already beautiful landscape.
Harry, my friend - we couldn't go hungry if we tried - there is just so much food to be foraged! as for our snow - it never really gets very deep but we do have that big, long driveway to contend with. however, unless we absolutely HAVE to go somewhere, we just leave the driveway unplowed. if it weren't for community events, we could just stay up here all winter and just wait for the snow to melt. we'd love that but you know this community - there's an event every week - bahahhaha! all the best to you and yours in 2015, Harry! much love!
DeleteNow I know exactly where to go if TSHTF :) Bit far, but I might make it LOL
ReplyDeleteHappy 2015 to both of you. Throw a snowball at each other for me please ;)
Dani - we'd take you and yours in a heartbeat! i recommend that you start doing swimming marathons - bahahahaha! oh and don't forget to strap that beautiful stove on your back! it will be a long swim - but if anyone can do it - YOU can!
Deletewe'll go out this afternoon and toss some snowballs in your name! best wishes for you and all of yours in 2015! xoxo
Lol she is dropping Rosie of here on the way by!
Deleteno way jose! that stove is mine! bahahahahahaah!
DeleteThank you for your blog. You sound so happy it just makes me happy reading it! Happy 2015!
ReplyDeleteTB - what a lovely thing to say! thank you very much! and a happy 2015 to you and yours!
DeleteHappy New year to you both. You have made me hungry....there is plenty in this world if you care to look and I can see your situation gives you meat options a lot of people will not have..or should I say protein as in the bounty of the land and sea. Raising and butchering your own livestock is something I think a lot of people do not understand...it is hard work and if you have any empathy sad at times. Coming from a farm background I have learned to deal with it. People who are making a lifestyle change that includes livestock should make sure they are up to that challenge...it is so good to meet people who know their limits and adjust accordingly. Take care both of you!
ReplyDeleteFiona - a happy new year to you and DH, as well! and yes, you are correct, we have access to so much free protein that we don't need to raise animals...and we understand that people who don't have this access DO need to raise animals. and like i mentioned, neither of us have a problem of hunting wild game....whereas we both know we would have a very difficult time butchering animals that we raised. thank you for your kind and understanding comment. again, much love to you and DH in 2015!
DeleteDang it. lost my comment...
ReplyDeleteWe also wouldnt have any animals if we had a small holding. we dont eat enough meat and even chickens are a bind, to warrant keeping any live stock. We may change our minds but I doubt it.
Good luck for the new year. Lets all hope for a good one.
*mwah* big kisses. Sol x x
i hate when that happens! and i understand about not choosing to not have animals...and like you say, we can all change our minds in the future. anyway, all of the best to you and yours in 2015! and big hugs and kisses back to you! xox
Deleteat least after the shtf moment we probably won't have to worry about game limits and game wardens
ReplyDeleteI would love to have an ocean nearby to forage from! I would give up chicken and beef if I could to obtain such a situation!
ReplyDeleteSweet Kymber,
ReplyDeleteI'm slow on the draw here with responding to everyone's posts.
As we said goodbye to 2014, and prayers for our dear friends SCiFiChick and Uncle Gerald. We know our dear friends will be with us all the way as we head over to the year 2015. They will guide us through thick and thin as angels.
Everyone should be living as if the SHTF with their preps. Educate yourself and your family on how to live on the existing food, your gardens, your storage, the land, water, with the animals you're raising, hunting, or fishing. Know how to handle your means of protection, and understand what it is you need to know for repairing or fixing medical issues. It's better to learn, and live then to not know what to do when the time comes.
Love and hugs to you and Jam.
Your Friend,
Sandy