SpokaneMan
Veteran Member
Beat the hell out of your fruit tree's trunks with a baseball bat. Just trust me. You will have fruit.
ECON What Will You Do When Inflation Forces US Households To Spend 40% Of Their Incomes On Food?
- Thread starter jward
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SpokaneMan
Veteran Member
Well I don't eat processed food anyhow, so I know I'll be fine. Staples are the way to go, and actually cost less in the short and long term. When your body receives the actual nutrients it needs, you won't be as hungry. Less carbs all the way, since eating carbs makes you hungrier. Cut all wheat and soy first out of your diet, then eliminate gluten. If you only shop for whole foods this won't be a problem, and will save you dollars when they count. My pantry, refrigerator and freezer are mostly always stocked with good nutritious foods for around $100 per week. We just have to adapt a little bit for the savings.
I also believe that most on this forum will be okay since we have been preppers for a long while now. Don't freak out now people. It's just the beginning.
I also believe that most on this forum will be okay since we have been preppers for a long while now. Don't freak out now people. It's just the beginning.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I guess in the large scheme of things we must not eat all that much. I opened two cans of chili and a can of pinto beans and mixed them together. DH had that for brunch and supper, he was fine having it for two meals in one day. We have boiled eggs in the fridg, so he may have two or three of those before he goes to bed. I had a small bowl of his chili. I thawed out a partial package of smoked sausage, and browned that in a skillet. The small bowl of chili and the sausage is all I've had today. I think I'm not hungry is because of eating the sausage. Dh is not a veggie eater and I take enough vitamins to cover not having any vegetables today. I may steam some frozen vegetables later if I get hungry and add butter.
I have a head of cabbage in the fridg that I may cook tomorrow and lots of frozen vegetables in the freezers.
If I had $300 to spend at the grocery in a month I don't think I'd know what all to do with it. Our freezers are full, our shelves are over flowing. We do get some things in commodities, but that adds up to about $50 worth a month, some months maybe a little more or less. I bought a spiraled cut ham about a year ago, but obviously we don't have that very often. Neither of us like turkey, I can't stand duck and I've never had goose and am not looking to try it.
Those two cans of chili got replaced from commodities.
I'm not sure what I spend stocking up for about 18 months, probably more than I'd like to know. But now its just replace what we eat. Like I said before we both know how to eat cheap. I've never gone hungry and if Dh did it was because he didn't like what was put in front of him.
God is good all the time.
Judy
I have a head of cabbage in the fridg that I may cook tomorrow and lots of frozen vegetables in the freezers.
If I had $300 to spend at the grocery in a month I don't think I'd know what all to do with it. Our freezers are full, our shelves are over flowing. We do get some things in commodities, but that adds up to about $50 worth a month, some months maybe a little more or less. I bought a spiraled cut ham about a year ago, but obviously we don't have that very often. Neither of us like turkey, I can't stand duck and I've never had goose and am not looking to try it.
Those two cans of chili got replaced from commodities.
I'm not sure what I spend stocking up for about 18 months, probably more than I'd like to know. But now its just replace what we eat. Like I said before we both know how to eat cheap. I've never gone hungry and if Dh did it was because he didn't like what was put in front of him.
God is good all the time.
Judy
West
Senior
Can you be more specific on eating raw wheat?
Samuel Adams
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Pop taught us boys to strip the almost “ripe” (within a couple weeks of harvest) wheat berries off the stem, roll ‘em between our palms until the hulls were off, then blow gently on the prize to clean out the chaff.......before stuffing the grains in our mouths for a tasty summer snack.
Grind your wheat, rye, buckwheat and corn kernels coarsely and cook the mix (or separately) like non-instant oatmeal.
Serve with butter and honey or syrup.
You’ll not starve.
Grind your wheat, rye, buckwheat and corn kernels coarsely and cook the mix (or separately) like non-instant oatmeal.
Serve with butter and honey or syrup.
You’ll not starve.
You can make jelly from quince. My grandma Maria used to do that and it was amazing. Such a pretty golden color too...I think you might like it. Just a thought.
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
This actually works.
West
Senior
Good stuff.
We live in a very rural 102 year old house on 50 acres in WV with a big creek. There are a half dozen black walnut trees within 300 feet of the house, lotsa oaks, and some hickories (40 acres of woods). We have a small number of hair sheep, and the better half has a 30 ft x 60 foot garden, four 7' apple trees and two 7' plum trees. We keep a bit of cheap emergency food supplies (dried beans & rice), oatmeal, wheat berries, and limited canned meat/beans. Adequate deer, some turkeys and squirrel for hunting. We tried geese (embden), but the buggers selectively ate ONLY the grass in their patch, resulting in weed overtake. Plus unimaginable amounts of crap. And they only lay eggs in the spring. Never again! We discovered that rabbits are a rather high-labor thing unless you don't mind dealing with their daily crap. Plus rabbit meat is low enough in taurine that dogs fed on it in bulk all suffered from early heart failure. So include some other meats in the diet for taurine. Chickens need winter corn, which would be raided by the raccoons. So no chickens for us. Muscovy ducks???
Looking for plans for a wood burning dehydrator.
Looking for plans for a wood burning dehydrator.
Henry Bowman
Veteran Member
You are right as rain, carbs will fill you up short term but make you ravenous in a few short hours. Proteins and good fats stay with you and stave off hunger for a much longer period of time and do not give you a "Sugar " rush you get from the carbs.Well I don't eat processed food anyhow, so I know I'll be fine. Staples are the way to go, and actually cost less in the short and long term. When your body receives the actual nutrients it needs, you won't be as hungry. Less carbs all the way, since eating carbs makes you hungrier. Cut all wheat and soy first out of your diet, then eliminate gluten. If you only shop for whole foods this won't be a problem, and will save you dollars when they count. My pantry, refrigerator and freezer are mostly always stocked with good nutritious foods for around $100 per week. We just have to adapt a little bit for the savings.
I also believe that most on this forum will be okay since we have been preppers for a long while now. Don't freak out now people. It's just the beginning.
It seems to me after reading these comments here that most of the people here will do much better than the average person. If you have a garden, cook from scratch, eat real food instead of fast food and convenience food you will be much healthier and in better shape to weather whatever hiccups might come our way...at least that has been my experience.
I have humble beginnings and have had to count out change to buy milk for my boys when they were young...but we made it through.
Eat from the garden. If you don't have one...it's never too late to start one. If you have surplus from said garden, can it, freeze it, dry it, share it. I have dogs and cats so chickens are out for me but my neighbor across the way has some...I have veggies and fruit...we have a community pantry down the street. When times get difficult it is much easier to get through when you help each other out.
Now coffee...that's another matter. Leave momma her coffee and we'll all be just fine!
I have humble beginnings and have had to count out change to buy milk for my boys when they were young...but we made it through.
Eat from the garden. If you don't have one...it's never too late to start one. If you have surplus from said garden, can it, freeze it, dry it, share it. I have dogs and cats so chickens are out for me but my neighbor across the way has some...I have veggies and fruit...we have a community pantry down the street. When times get difficult it is much easier to get through when you help each other out.
Now coffee...that's another matter. Leave momma her coffee and we'll all be just fine!
I'll only say that this works better on trees which aren't producing due to variety (Northern Spy, and others), or overfertility... they are still putting on tons of lush growth after several years but no blooms.
It may *appear* to work on undernourished or stressed trees, but the flush of bloom and fruit that ensues may well finish a struggling tree off.
It also risks introducing disease into the tree, due to damage to the bark and deeper. Its not necessary to really "beat hell" out of it, but a few solid whacks, enough to cause some limited "bruising" will trigger whatever chemicals that warn of potential imminent demise, and instantly start triggering the fruiting cycle- but without causing damage that will cause problems down the road.
Summerthyme
Judging by the number of folks on this prepper board that were scrambling to get a gun and/or ammo after the covid nonsense started... I don't think most here actually prep beyond a localized temporary event.. a 40% jump in price is going to see some very hard times. Extrapolate that out and joe normie ain't got jack or shit put back!
Based on history, hyperinflation means the ghetto goblins and trailer park brigade starves. They will lash out. Argentina and Venezuela mobs raided the rural areas. If you grow a garden, you very likely won't get to eat it without an armed, trained crew. Almost not worth the effort or unwanted attention for the first year or two.
The fuel issues with Colonial should be demonstrating how fragile JIT food is and how violent the mob is as well in the next few days. TAKE NOTES!
Based on history, hyperinflation means the ghetto goblins and trailer park brigade starves. They will lash out. Argentina and Venezuela mobs raided the rural areas. If you grow a garden, you very likely won't get to eat it without an armed, trained crew. Almost not worth the effort or unwanted attention for the first year or two.
The fuel issues with Colonial should be demonstrating how fragile JIT food is and how violent the mob is as well in the next few days. TAKE NOTES!
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
LOL he's getting in practice. LOL I'm thinking "to him" a bird is a bird is a bird. And my job is to point. If he's not hurting the chickens, I'd just leave him alone, except when I notice and "release" him.
Years ago we had a Cocker Spaniel and those dogs as a breed haven't been used for hunting in years and years. We didn't have the money to fence him in, and the lady down the street wouldn't keep her chickens in a pen. So every so often he would bring up a chicken.
I tried everything I knew to break him, but nothing worked, it was in his blood. She passed shortly after we moved in, and so did her chickens to various other animals.
People who train dogs may can get that out of them, but I would be worried that it would carry over to other birds and spoil his instinct. But I don't know that.
Doc1
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Americans are spoiled. For generations we've paid far less for our food - as a percentage of a household budget - than do people in most countries. After WWII many European refugees who came to the US were amazed at both how cheap food was here, as well as how much food Americans wasted. In many third world countries, most people spend almost all of their income on food.
If any good comes out of higher prices here, it will be that people will use their food budgets more rationally. Nonetheless, after generations having been raised on fast food junk, I expect even more civil unrest as (certain) people can't get their Burger King "fix" and don't know how to do simple things like cook beans and rice from scratch.
The European refugees I mentioned earlier were civilized people who tended to be extremely well-behaved. When America's inner city warrens begin to empty out over food shortages/expenses, that's when we'll see an explosion of crime and rioting.
Best
Doc
If any good comes out of higher prices here, it will be that people will use their food budgets more rationally. Nonetheless, after generations having been raised on fast food junk, I expect even more civil unrest as (certain) people can't get their Burger King "fix" and don't know how to do simple things like cook beans and rice from scratch.
The European refugees I mentioned earlier were civilized people who tended to be extremely well-behaved. When America's inner city warrens begin to empty out over food shortages/expenses, that's when we'll see an explosion of crime and rioting.
Best
Doc
And this coming on the heels of the "Covid" shortages last spring...
But people do not learn.
Oscar Wilde
Membership Revoked
... yes and no. He is to a degree being facetious.
Truth of this matter is foodstuffs will continue to
increase in cost until there is no longer foodstuffs
to purchase.
Never been to North Korea but I suspect there are
many lessons to be learned from those who have or
still live there.
There are lots of edible wild greens, I can have a modest
vegetarian meal while walking from one end of the place
to the other. Hickory bark can be lifted to access grub worms
should one be so inclined. Beetles abound in the woodlands.
Pine needle tea makes for a healthy beverage.
There are folk who exclaim "if it comes to this I jus dohn wanna
liv no mo". Mehbe, when that point in time is reached attitudes
sometimes change ... so, bone up on your wild edibles.
O.W.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
I agree!!!!
This is why you have a few 5 gallon buckets to bury those seeds, ammo and food. Once the rush of zombies is over, you have a chance to prosper.
ainitfunny
Saved, to glorify God.
"bone up on your wild edibles."
Yeah, I did, so I know that eating "(ANY,
unspecIfied) bark"and "(ANY unspecified) grass" is BS from Ignorant people. It is BAD advice to desperate people dumber than the ignorant (evil?) advisor!
I sense no shred of compassion but rather contempt for those who "have not."
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hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Except nuts.
Nuts aren't greens! Walk n trot is right... in a survival situation, you *can't * survive on salads! Nuts, some roots, and seeds are the "calorie dense" parts you *must* have if you want to survive. I've been an herbalist for over 40 years, and have wildcrafted herbs and edibles at least that long. Greens (chickweed, violet leaves and others were our earliest fresh salads after the root cellar cabbage and carrots ran out) were sources of vitamins and flavor, but not much else.
And you'd better be able to tell the wild carrot apart from Poison Hemlock, or your future won't be your problem!
One of the main reasons I prepped so obsessively is because we've lived a primarily self-sufficient lifestyle for the past 45 years! I KNOW how much food it takes for a family of 6... I grew it! And I know how much time, effort, pure work and LUCK (or God's blessing) it takes to get ANY crop, much less enough to feed you for a year.
I decided I'd rather spend 25 cents a pound for dry beans than grow 500# of them... but once they're gone (all are packed well, with O2 absorbers and heavy mylar), I have the seeds and knowledge to grow the 50# or so we'd probably need for a year... as long as we were uable to keep our lifestock.
Every 8ndian tribe had special words in their language to describe the late winter months. They ALL translate to "the starving time".
Summerthyme
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I agreed with Walk n trot, 100%. I was only adding a note to that posting. Sorry if I was misunderstood. I certainly meant no disrespect.
Nuts are one of the few (there are others) wild growing things that have valuable calories in a compact, easy to gather package.
I have eaten many wild edibles. But I never tried to live in them. Mostly I always was just doing taste tests. I discovered that wild edibles are often not consistent when it comes to taste. They are not like garden produce that all of that particular plant always tastes the same year after year and plant after plant. For wild edibles that could be eaten raw, I started to do taste tests before gathering any so I did not get home with a batch that tasted bitter.
Some garden plants do not have all that much for calories or nutrition either.
SpokaneMan
Veteran Member
You explained it well. But don't you live in Iowa? Are there really any trees there? LOL. I didn't say chop the tree down with a baseball bat. Bruising is the better words of choice, I agree. Humans are the same. When we are aren't producing enough blood flow to an injured part of our bodies, medical history has showed that re-injury is good for said body part to reintroduce blood flow to the affected area, in which that same blood flow would reignite growth. Didn't your Medicine Man teach you this in the Tee Pee?
Much love to ya Summerthyme. Please feel free to bitch slap me. 
Oscar Wilde
Membership Revoked
I'm thinkin you intended to use the word "unidentified" and I agree with you, don't eat anything
that you are unfamiliar with thus my comment to "bone up". It was meant to say become familiar
with edibles nature provided that exist in your region.
I have no contempt for anyone, especially any who might be at a disadvantage
through no fault of their own ... and I suppose there might be a few due to their own
bad judgement.
I hope you are able to overcome that which seems to have infected your spirit.
I will pray for you ainitfunny.
O.W.
I'm actually just west of the Adirondack mountains... believe me, we have trees! Not to mention the 70 acres of prime, managed hardwood timber we had to leave behind <sob>You explained it well. But don't you live in Iowa? Are there really any trees there? LOL. I didn't say chop the tree down with a baseball bat. Bruising is the better words of choice, I agree. Humans are the same. When we are aren't producing enough blood flow to an injured part of our bodies, medical history has showed that re-injury is good for said body part to reintroduce blood flow to the affected area, in which that same blood flow would reignite growth. Didn't your Medicine Man teach you this in the Tee Pee?
I agree it works. But some folks get a little, er... overenthusiastic... if limits aren't specified!
Summerthyme
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
Here you will find that competition is tight for tree nuts when it comes to the wildlife.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
You explained it well. But don't you live in Iowa? Are there really any trees there? LOL. I didn't say chop the tree down with a baseball bat. Bruising is the better words of choice, I agree. Humans are the same. When we are aren't producing enough blood flow to an injured part of our bodies, medical history has showed that re-injury is good for said body part to reintroduce blood flow to the affected area, in which that same blood flow would reignite growth. Didn't your Medicine Man teach you this in the Tee Pee?
I live in Iowa, ST lives in New York State. Good luck beating the wildlife to tree nuts here. BON we have a ton of hazelnuts here in the state, the wildlife will beat you to the nuts every single time.
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
It certainly is near me! They are faster and much more efficient than I am. Apparently they always know when the right time to start picking is too.
Imrik
Veteran Member
I’ll sell my market gardenbelow store cost and pay off
Victory gardens need to make a comeback.
Which is why I’m trying to get closed, moved and settled. But for those who don’t have much room to farm, look up small homestead videos on you tube. You would be amazed at what folks can do with a half acre or less.
Victory gardens need to make a comeback.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
The blue jays descend by the thousands to pick all of the acorns, and this happens in a matter of minutes.
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China Connection
TB Fanatic
When hyperinflation hits a month's wages won't even buy a hamburger.
40% is wonderful compared to what is down the track..
40% is wonderful compared to what is down the track..
mbabulldog
Inactive
this is why we prep. 2 freezers full of protein and frozen vegetables.
if this is a prolonged challenge, then 400,000 acres of National Forest behind my house gives me options for protein. And once it stops friggin' snowing, I'm going to plant my carrots, onions, and potatoes.
if this is a prolonged challenge, then 400,000 acres of National Forest behind my house gives me options for protein. And once it stops friggin' snowing, I'm going to plant my carrots, onions, and potatoes.
energy_wave
Has No Life - Lives on TB
What if they keep shutting down gas pipelines and refineries. Where do you get the fuel to run an emergency generator?
What if the power grid develops problems and you can't refrigerate?
They could be planing on starving Americans into submission.
Locked down due to a false pandemic, no gas or extremely expensive fuel to stop people from traveling, then high food prices and limited energy.
People will be forced to submit to vaccine passports which may be the first phase of ushering in the mark of the beast program.
And I don't for a minute think this is all Russia. China is behind this making it look like it's between America and Russia so we fight each other while they take over the world.
What if the power grid develops problems and you can't refrigerate?
They could be planing on starving Americans into submission.
Locked down due to a false pandemic, no gas or extremely expensive fuel to stop people from traveling, then high food prices and limited energy.
People will be forced to submit to vaccine passports which may be the first phase of ushering in the mark of the beast program.
And I don't for a minute think this is all Russia. China is behind this making it look like it's between America and Russia so we fight each other while they take over the world.
Oscar Wilde
Membership Revoked
It was reported such is what happened to that young fella portrayed in the movie "Into The Wild".
Media was trying to imply that he poisoned himself. Fact is he starved to death.
I'm not suggesting planning on limiting your diet to wild greens.
Here, I have enough Lamb's Quarters to fill a bushel basket or two.
There is corn salad by the boatload, plantain and others.
If nothing else it will help to prolong the agony eh.
O.W.
bassaholic
Veteran Member
I live in the Central Valley...surrounded by nuts. I should be good as long as TSHTF in the right season.
On a side note, my buddy in NYC says he's surrounded by nuts as well.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Some seeds are higher in calories and edible. Flax, buckwheat and sesame seeds come to mind and they grow in temperate climates. buckwheat has been known to produce on poor soil. They flower and might be good candidates for guerrilla gardening. Not to many people would look at flower beds and think: food!
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
I have compassion for those that are deserving of compassion.
While it may have been a bit of a smart-assed remark, the North Koreans have survived a really, really long time on their diet.
I wouldn't want to nor wish anyone have to live like that.
I do have contempt for those who take themselves too seriously
ainitfunny
Saved, to glorify God.
This is how FAST AND HOW HIGH Prices are rising! :
On April 29 I found on Amazon
A bulk lot of A THOUSAND single serve wrapped packets of Tasters Choice instant coffee ('enuff for one cup per packet.)single serve packets. It was $108. Free shipping.
It came a couple days later.
A box of 1000 of these:
When it arrived I looked it up on Amazon and the price had been raised to $200 For the same box!
it is now $209 on ebay.
I searched and now nobody had it lower than $200. Not too long ago it was $68-$75.
If you can, buy in bulk but only to save big bucks. I wouldn't buy it again at these prices.
I order from RESTAURANT SUPPLY wholesalers to get lower bulk buy prices! You do not have to own a business to shop at most of them!
On April 29 I found on Amazon
A bulk lot of A THOUSAND single serve wrapped packets of Tasters Choice instant coffee ('enuff for one cup per packet.)single serve packets. It was $108. Free shipping.
It came a couple days later.
A box of 1000 of these:
When it arrived I looked it up on Amazon and the price had been raised to $200 For the same box!
it is now $209 on ebay.
I searched and now nobody had it lower than $200. Not too long ago it was $68-$75.
If you can, buy in bulk but only to save big bucks. I wouldn't buy it again at these prices.
I order from RESTAURANT SUPPLY wholesalers to get lower bulk buy prices! You do not have to own a business to shop at most of them!
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Freeholder
This too shall pass.
I've driven across Iowa several times over the last forty-five years; the first time, I was in awe of the miles upon miles of nothing but corn fields. The last few times (in the last four years) I was amazed at how much of the state -- at least alongside the freeway -- was now forested. And, we stayed overnight at my niece's new home in central Iowa, and there were some really big old trees on the property there. So yes, Iowa does have trees!
To the list of garden flowers with edible seeds, you can add amaranth, which is grown for the 'grain,' and sunflowers. Both may need to be netted or bagged before the seeds ripen, if you expect to harvest them for your own use. Another seed you need to think about saving is the seeds from your pumpkins. I don't know if all winter squash also have edible seeds (need to do some research), but it could be that the seeds from your pumpkin or squash harvest could be as valuable to your diet as the flesh.
Kathleen
ETA: Did a quick search, and yes, apparently all winter squash have edible seeds. (But don't forget to save seeds from a few of your best plants to replant next year.)
To the list of garden flowers with edible seeds, you can add amaranth, which is grown for the 'grain,' and sunflowers. Both may need to be netted or bagged before the seeds ripen, if you expect to harvest them for your own use. Another seed you need to think about saving is the seeds from your pumpkins. I don't know if all winter squash also have edible seeds (need to do some research), but it could be that the seeds from your pumpkin or squash harvest could be as valuable to your diet as the flesh.
Kathleen
ETA: Did a quick search, and yes, apparently all winter squash have edible seeds. (But don't forget to save seeds from a few of your best plants to replant next year.)