Step 3 Grow Food

Step 3 – Grow food
I think gardening is one of those things that as a prepper you instinctively understand.  Gardening is the ability to provide food for your family if some system goes down.  At its basic level, the ability to eat your own food is very satisfying.
What are some of the rewards of gardening?

Family Unity

As you work together as a family you are united in a common purpose.  You are able to talk to other family members, to draw closer to them.  You are building more than just a crop.  The insight you will gleen from others will be invaluable.

Appreciation of Work

Work with results develops people.  As you learn to work in the garden you will eventually see results.  A garden is a great way to have children learn that the work you put in will have a direct result.

Self Sufficiency

As we grow a garden we develop the confidence to provide for ourselves if we need to.  Buy learning now we will be able to take that knowledge and implement something larger if need be.  We can provide for others as they may need help.

Pleasure

A garden reminds us of the beauties around us.  We are reminded that a little seed can turn into a wonderful meal with work and care.  It reminds us of “the law of the harvest… we reap what we sow.”  Even if what you cultivate is small, it will remind you of the wonders of nature.

Health

Food you grow is healthier.  There is less transport, handling and pesticides on it.  Good health comes from good food.  The food you grow is the best food you can have.

Reduced Expenses

The food you grow costs less than store bought food.  There is no labor cost.  There are no taxes paid.  The money you save can be used for other worthwhile purposes.

What to plant?

Plant what you eat at first.  Try peppers in a small container at first.  Then as your experience grows you can try a raised bed.  You can grow the size from there.  There are so many websites you can go to.  Look around and see what your local climate supports.  Go to you local nursery, they are probably the best resource.

Hopefully you can realize the great blessing that a garden can become in your life.  The ability to cultivate relationships, reap what we sow, and have a healthier lifestyle we provide great happiness in your life.

Prepping 101- Making life’s road a little smoother.

Prepping News

Economics

Germany buying more time with a $1trillion debt?

Is our economy unsutainable?

Gardening

Super Weeds?

Money

Finance 101, Blame the Poor

Extra fun

Talk radio at its finest

Post WWII Germany pictures

Prepping News

Food

Arab World Grapples with Food Shortage

Economy

The Failure of the Unfree Market– the end of the best 72 years

Hmmmm…. A Crack In The Dam?– The MSM starts to see the light

What happens if we bailout Europe?

NOURIEL ROUBINI on the future.

Greece and US inflation.

Step 2- Debt

Step 2- Debt is cancer

Debt is the cancer of this society.  When you have debt, you are under constant burden to pay over time what you have bought yesterday.  The burden to continue working for something which you have used or does not have any value is something you can’t get out from under until it is paid for.

I think one of the principal causes of the distress that exists among us is that people have lived beyond their means.  We have borrowed with largess, mortgaged our homes,  our farms, and taken out home equity loans, only to compete with our neighbors, to compete one with another and appear to have more than we actually do.  This seems to be the “in” thing to do.

Many of us have borrowed money that we might impress our neighbors with our appearance.  If we had not done so, but had lived within our means as well as set aside some for a rainy day, we would be more independent and free.  If you are not paying cash you are mortgaging your future as well as your children’s.  If you live by credit you are placing shackles upon your family.

Have you ever known anyone who went into debt who was as free, as independent, as happy as the person who paid as he went along?

We should begin to retrench and free ourselves from debt, and become free and independent.  If we will due our duty as free people and be wise with our money, we will be blessed and fruitful.  We must curtail our expenses and deny ourselves some worldly pleasure.

That is not to say to not be charitable.  There will be those among you which will be in need of your help.  Those of you who have extra, let them give it to those who do not.

I cannot tell you what is coming in the future.  But there is one thing I can say for certain, and that is if we have money in hand to buy something, and we buy it, no matter  how much it goes down in value it is still ours.

I think almost all of our hardships would disappear if we were willing to forego some of the luxuries of life and get back to a simpler way of life in a rather quiet and unassuming way.  Stay away from the mall and window shopping and return to thrift and economy.

In order to be happy we must be debt free.  You can’t fully prepare for the future if you have to continually work for your obligations.  Make your road a little smoother and get out of debt.

Prepping 101-Making life’s road a little smoother

Step 1 to Happiness

Step 1 to Happiness
As listed last week, I have a 12 step program to happiness.  Here at Prepping 101 we believe in “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”  This old English proverb helps  guide us here.  Let’s get started

Step 1- It should make your life better.

This is the basic tenant of prepping.  What we do makes our life better.  We are better prepared to handle disruptions of systems.  We can make do without the lights for a time.  Knowing this gives great calm and comfort.

Prepping is a way of life not a spectacular program.  We do it because it is right, because it satisfies our souls.  We prepare for a time which is to come and knowing that we have prepared releases our mind on the more prudent things and lets us focus on others.

I made this the first seeing if you are not having fun or it is not making you happy, then you should not do it.  I believe it will bring you great comfort and joy to become prepared for the future.  If you are not then I promise to give you a full refund.

Prepping 101

Prepping News

Debt News

• US Faces Inflation or Default– by Noriel Roubini
• Are you worried about inflation?
• How is you debt load?  Check out these upside down homeowners.
• Is Britain next on the bailout front?
• We Are Out of Money.
• Moody’s to downgrade US by 2013?

Jobs

• Federal Government outpaces the private sector in job creation.  Why is this bad?
• What would you do if this happened to you?
• Are you prepared to feed yourself if you do not have a job?  Food stamps at all time high.

Other

• The Crisco Alternative. I haven’t tried it yet.
• So Monsanto creates Round up Ready, GMO foods and now the weeds won’t die.  Look here.

Prepping 101

In the News

Bernanke admits to printing $1.3 trillion out of thin air.  I sure wish I could do that.

Are we killing ourselves?

Is the Government debt explosion subsiding?  Are we going to be OK?

Is Europe going bankrupt?

Prepping- A 12 step recovery program to happiness.

Prepping 101

12 Step Program

1. It should make your life better.
2. Get out of debt
3. Grow food
4. Store food
5. Develop you own plan
6. Save money
7. Get an education and a job
8. Exercise
9. Be Charitable
10. Emotional Stability
11. Renewable Energy
12. Other Basic Preps- insurance

Over the next few weeks I will discuss each point into detail. I am going to try and do some podcasts for each to get into greater detail.

Prepping 101- Making Life’s road a little smoother.

In the News

Inflation up 2%

In the News

Wholesale food prices on the rise

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wholesale-prices-rise-in-apf-299827519.html?x=0&.v=4

A Country decides to store 3 months worth of food?

http://business.maktoob.com/20090000462258/UAE_eyes_three-month_food_stockpile/Article.htm