Spring has sprung.
Yesterday I planted 93 tomato plants. The family wants to make tomato sauce this year. I have the rest of my raised beds ready for planting and one new one to construct yet.
Here is my next gardening project. I need to make this weed patch into a new raised bed.
We have also planted about 1/2 acre sweet corn and about 1/4 acre of peas. This has not been a good year for peas. I had to replant the peas and then the weather got hot. It has been in the 90 degree range here for over a week and that is not good weather for peas. We will see what happens in the end.
We are just about ready to plant 2 acres of feed corn for our project and animal feed. Will keep you posted on what is happening.
Here is the latest attack on your freedom to survive.
This is the latest effort of the EU to gain total control of the people. This was the stratagem used to gain control of Russia. Control the peoples ability to get food.
The link to the article is http://www.naturalnews.com/040214_seeds_European_Commission_registration.html. This is a trend that we don’t need. It is far more dangerous than the political ramifications as it can cause the gene pool of beneficial plants to be very limited and a small climatic change could drastically limit our ability to grow an adequate food supply.
WOW Gardening is upon us for another year!
It’s spring time and the picture above is a new raised bed for our blackberries. All of my raised beds are not framed and then filled in. This bed is about 75 feet long and 4 feet wide. It was dug down over a foot and filled back with soil, compost, weeds, and wood chips. This will give the plants a great space to grow in. It also provides great drainage. The manure that is mixed into the compost provide nutrition for the plants. I just finished another 75 foot bed for tomato plants.
This year we are growing our garden from open pollinated and or heirloom seeds. I feel that we are a point in time when we gardeners are going to have to collect our own seed. Besides I just don’t trust the hybrid stuff. I heard a rumor the other day at brown russet potatoes that are grown for the super markets now contain a genetically altered gene to produce an insecticide to kill the potato bug. With Obama signing a law to protect Ag-Business from a liability for genetically engineered plants that cause damage to the human population might make getting heirloom potato seed a must and saving your own. In addition the tubers probably will not sprout from the potatoes sold in the store. I planted 40 pounds of Red Potatoes that are of an heirloom variety. This should provide seed for next year and about 500 to 1000 lbs of potatoes for food. Yes they are in a raised bed.
Our first start of tomatoes and peppers are ready to be re potted. My Son-in-Law planted sweet banana peppers today, he thinks that sweet pepper won’t get spicy. If we get a hot early summer here in Eastern Washington, he will get a surprise.
I had some fresh asparagus from my garden the other day. It was really tasty fried up with potatoes, tomatoes, some onion and eggs. This was a really tasty skillet breakfast. I love making breakfasts like this but my wife thinks I am nuts.
Get your garden going. It is going to be a great year for gardens.
Bud
Read this post!!!
You need to read the post on Benton City Irrigation. This is what happens when Government agencies get out of hand. We the landowners and consumers lose. Read this post and follow the site for updates. Here is the link: http://www.bentoncityirrigation.com/what-do-retired-folks-do-when-the-irrigation-bill-comes/
If you are concerned please email the contact in that post.
Thanks,
Bud
My Irrigation Bill
Hi,
I paid my irrigation bill today. When I retired in 2003 I did not expect or plan to have a water bill that was nearly as high as my taxes. Our water bill for this year is about $3400. My retirement budget does not include that much water money. Now Ed from BID told me that there was nothing that I could do about it and I had just better learn to live with it. Today a neighbor talked with a lady from the Finley area that had 40 acres of pressurized irrigation and her bill was $1300. I have heard the same story from the Roza Irrigation District and the Sunnyside Area. There is something wrong here. I am assembling a group and team to investigate to see if anything can be done. Since I spent 15 years as a program auditor and served as the point of contact for the law suit against DOE over the Hanford Fire of 2000 a large number of my neighbors have contacted me to do something with this problem I have decided to lead an investigation into this issue. If you have any input or would like to be on a video to describe your challenge with BID contact me at charleslevans@ratmtent1.com.
I have established this web site for info and communications. It will be improved and added to on a continuous basis. I am in the process of setting up a Youtube Channel for our challenge.
I need your support.
Sincerely,
Charles L. (Bud) Evans
GEORGE WASHINGTONS VISION 1777
Here is the vision that I promised to post. I don’t know if it is copy righted but so be it if it is. The credit goes to a web site called Prophecies.
15. George Washington ~
The vision received by George Washington in the winter of 1777 is one of the most fascinating of all American prophecies. Washington told his vision to Anthony Sherman, who recounted it to Wesley Bradshaw, publisher of the National Stripes:
“The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the 4th of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then 99 years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he had come to visit once more.
“Let’s go into the hall”, he said. “I want to tell you of an incident in Washington’s life — one which no one alive knows of except myself; and if you live, you will before long see it verified. Mark the prediction; you will see it verified.
“From the beginning of the revolution we experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when George Washington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777.
“Ah, I have often seen tears coursing down our dear commander’s care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used to pray in secret for aid and comfort. And God brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation.
“One day, I remember it well, the chilly winds whispered through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly. He noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command, said to the latter:
“I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat the question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of the eyes.
“By this time I felt strange sensations spreading over me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to speak but my tongue had become useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly, at my unknown visitor.
“Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy, and yet more distinct to my eyes than before. I began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany death. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All alike were impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
“Presently I heard a voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn,’ while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward.
“Now I beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay, spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world — Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. ‘Son of the Republic,’ said the mysterious voice as before, ‘Look and learn.’
“At that moment I beheld a dark shadowy being like an angel, standing or rather floating in mid-air between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left he cast some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it seemed stationary, and then it moved slowly westward until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.
“A second time the angel dipped from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back into the ocean in whose heaving billows it sank as before.
“A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh; look and learn.’
“And this time the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward. From Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking, I saw a bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light on which was traced the word ‘Union.’ He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation and said, ‘Remember, ye are brethren.’
“Instantly, the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard.
“Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ At this the dark shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa.
“Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one. And through this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw the vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities which I had seen springing up.
“As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ When this voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long and fearful blast.
“Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word ‘Union’ and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome but who immediately, taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.
“Again, amidst the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.
“Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice, ‘While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the union last.’ And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word, ‘Union,’ he placed it upon the standard while the people kneeling down said, ‘Amen.’
“The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, ‘Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three great perils will come upon the republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the republic learn to live for God, his land and Union.’ With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, the progress, and destiny of the United States.” (19)
The first peril foreseen by Washington was that of the War of Independence, the second danger was the Civil War, and the third will be a second revolution and civil war, complicated by the invasion of America by armies from Asia, Africa, and even Europe. The reference to “a light as of a thousand suns” suggests that nuclear weapons might be used to destroy the invaders.
It Is Almost Time To Plant Garden Here
These are last years raised bed and ready to plant this year.
Here in the Lower Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington it is almost time to plant garden. My daughter jumped the gun a little last week and planted some peas. We have tilled and cultivated our pea patch in anticipation of planting peas.
When we plant peas we usually soak the seed over night. This year we are going to try something new. We are going to soak the seed in water that has crushed egg shells in it. This is supposed to increase the needed nutrient for the young seedling and make them more resistant to frost and seed rotting.
One of the fun things for gardeners to do from December to February is to look at all the seed catalogs and decide what to grow in their gardens. I usually grow the old standby plants and try something new. Here is my list for this year:
- Gourds
- Pumpkin
- Beets
- Carrot
- Watermelon
- Banana Peppers
- Cherokee Purple Tomato
- Big Rainbow tomato
- Georgia Rattlesnake water melon
- Black Kim tomato
- Amish Pie pumpkins
- Lettuce
- Beans
- Cucumber
- Radishes
- Green Peppers
- Potatoes
- Sweet Corn
- Little Marvel peas
- asparagus
- What ever else I find.
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- broccoli
There are a couple of things that disturb me as I go through the seed catalogs this year. The number of open pollinated seed and varieties have decreased and the total variety of plants has decreased. These are disturbing because if you want to save your own seed and can’t get open pollinated varieties then you can’t be sure what your seed will produce. These second thing is that if there is less variety of plants then if a disease attacks one variety there won’t be another to take its place that is resistant. Eliminating diversity is not a good thing. There are still some sources for a more diverse variety of plants but they are getting to be fewer and fewer.
It is time to plan your garden. Plan a garden and have fun.
IS SELF SUFFICIENT LIVING FOR YOU?
Self Sufficient Living Corn Crib
IS SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVING FOR YOU?
Many people look at self sufficient living as being away from society. That is a matter of definition and it depends upon what you want. Do you really want to be away from everyone else? To live self sufficiently is that necessary?
Lets look at self sufficiency. I believe that self sufficiency is attainable in degrees. Where I grew up in the Mountains of Montana self sufficiency was a way of life. It did not exclude the rest of the world. There as today to be totally self sufficient is a pipe dream of the first order. You will always need something from someone else. Whether it be parts for your machinery or cloth to make clothes. (A little ice cream on occasion is good too.) Yes nearly all of these things can be produced at home, however, that might not be the best way to be self sufficient.
Sometimes being self sufficient is being able to barter your skills with someone that has a skill in a different area. Trading grain for hay to feed your livestock does not make you less self sufficient.
You need to decide what self sufficiency means to you. It means these things to me:
- As totally self sufficient in all areas of my life that I can reasonably be. (The key word is reasonable.)
- No outside financial help is a must. This means that I will make all of my own expenses, preferably at home on my land.
- Produce as much of our own food as possible.
- Produce as much of our own energy as possible.
- Achieve financial independence.
- Adequate housing and land for my family.
- The ability to survive for one year with minimal outside supplies.
- Neighborhood relationships that allow everyone to survive in a crisis.
Now I need to choose where I am going to set up my homestead. My personal choice is a small rural community with land not too far from a near small town. Where I grew up it was 1/4 of a mile to the nearest neighbor and the next neighbor was 5 miles away. It was 15 miles by dirt road to town. I don’t want that life style today even though it was fun as a child. What I have chosen is 20 acres of irrigated land in a desert in Eastern Washington. The only draw backs are that it is Washington State and the irrigation district charges too much for water delivery. The average rainfall is less than 10 inches a year and the winter temperature lows average in the mid 20 degree to 30 degree range. The growing season is about 5 months or longer. It is a great place to grow food and kids.
I work on mechanical stuff for other people for outside income and trades. My skill is the master tinkerer as I can fix nearly anything. I also do internet marketing and write books for additional income. This with the residual income I have coming in makes me nearly self sufficient. Our plans include getting loose from the power grid by producing supplemental energy from various sources. This is my definition of self sufficient living.
What is Success?
I think any discussion of self sufficient living will require that we define what success is. Here is a section from a book I wrote a while ago that talks about success.
WHAT IS SUCCESS?
There are almost as many definitions of success as there are people writing them. The most common definition is that of a journey. Some have stated it like this “Success is the continual realization of worthwhile goals.” This is a good behavioral based definition but it raises the question, “What are worthwhile goals?” A worthwhile goal to me may not be worthwhile to you. Eradication of all Piranhas in the Amazon: would not be a worthwhile goal to me. The point is that each of us must decide what is important in our lives.
There are strings attached to what we want to achieve. It must not be harmful to humanity and it must provide a service to others. Many of the great figures of history have accomplished goals that were not for the good of mankind. The checks and balances of God and the universe tend to level out these low spots. For continuous happiness we must not violate the rights of others. You have to look deep into your soul to determine what is right and wrong in any situation. There are no hard rules for all cases.
The concept of happiness and success seem to be linked in some way. All of the achievement (goal accomplishment) in the world is not of any value if you are not happy in getting to the goal. When a goal is achieved it does not automatically mean that we are happy and successful. For a lot of us achieving a goal leaves a feeling of emptiness. The accomplishment of a goal always raises the question. “Where do I go from Here?”
I wrote the paragraphs above over ten years ago. I still have not created a good definition for success. I can now tell you what it is not. It is not the size of your bank account, the number of cars that you own or the value of your house. All of these things contribute to your material well being. They do not in themselves make you happy or create great joy in your life. Great personal power is not success. Many people believe that personal power and the accumulated things of life create a successful person. I disagree with the idea that things and power define success. I have never met a man on his death bed that wished he had spent more time making money. Most people preparing to meet their maker talk about family and how they treated their wife. They talk about family and what a mess they made of certain situation. These comments all lead me to believe that true success and joy come from the relationship of our soul and the rest of God’s Children.
The man that raised several children to be successful adults (they don’t have to be perfect) and has remained good friends with his children is more successful than the man that has millions in the bank and his children are waiting for him to die so that they can fight over his money. Wealth in itself is not wrong but it takes a great man to handle great wealth in an honest and upstanding manner.
This book will try to teach a few truths that will help you to be successful both with people and with your banker.
Each of us must define success in our own terms. If you feel that success should make you happy then you must also define what “happy” means to you. This seems like an endless loop but it is not. Happy is only one component of success.
My success is made up of these things:
- Family
- My relationship with God.
- My service to others.
- Enough material possessions to accomplish those things I want to accomplish in life.
- A sure knowledge of where I came from and where I am going.
I consider myself a successful person.
My wife and I have been married 41 years and we love and care more for one another now than when we were younger. One of our greatest pleasures is being able to spend a day together alone. We have raised five children and all of them respect us and are our friends even though they don’t always take our advice.
I know that God lives and is waiting to welcome us home. (I would be happy to explain this on a one on one basis).
I believe that the true measure of success in large terms and small ones is the amount of service that one provides to others. This does not have to all be free service. If you are paid for a service you must render full value for your pay and maybe just a little extra.
No good or bad can be accomplished in this world without things. Things in and of themselves are just things. You must accumulate enough things to provide for your family and to be of service to others. Things are good when accumulated using correct and just principles.
I know where I came from, “Do you?” I will gladly answer any question for you privately and face to face. The other side of this statement is that I know where I am going, “Do You?” In order to know where you are going you must know where you came from. This does not mean that you past will determine you future. Only you can decide where you are going.
I still have not defined success for you. Only you can do that. Your definition of success will require planning, study and a great deal of effort. You must do this to ensure your very survival.
Success will require at least these elements:
- Planning
- Goal Setting
- Action
- Faith in yourself
- Meditation and soul searching
- 100 percent commitment to your plan.
I spent three years writing a mission statement. This is my guiding document. It provides the ground rules that I use to develop my goals and to determine what constitutes success for me. A couple of good books to start with about writing a mission statement are 7 HABITS OF HIGH EFFECTIVE PEOPLE and PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST by Steven Covey.
One place to start learning about success and self sufficient living is learning how to survive you need this book. FOOD AND WATER SURVIVE
Food and Water
This web site is dedicated to surviving in life.
The book FOOD AND WATER SURVIVE: THE SECRET TO SURVIVING AND PROSPERING IN THE 21 ST CENTURY is a good place to start.
Food and Water are the two commodities of the future that will be worth the most. Food and Water is about survival in the 21st century. If you don’t have the information in this book and are not implementing it then you may not survive very well in this century. The information in this book is necessary for you and your family’s survival and well being.
If you are going to wait for this to be a free Kindle book don’t waste your time. It won’t ever be free on Amazon. You might be able to trade a valid email address on one of my blogs for a free copy, someday. The sites are Self Sufficient Forever, The Path to Self Sufficiency or maybe on the Master-Tinkerer’s web site.
Food and Water will be one of the answers to personal and family survival in a time of climatic and economic upheaval.
We know that the next few years are going to be difficult even with out the economic and social upheavals that are plague this country. The author of the book above looked a books full of data before writing that book. It is well worth your reading and is available as a Kindle book.
Visit our Resource Page for more information.







