We Shall Overcome

 Heys gals - we got this!  Do not fret and worry about the situations of the world.  YOU can't fix them - you CAN pray for them and pray HARD!  Otherwise, you CAN only control your little plot of land in this big old world.  Do what you can do.  Learn new things.  Looks at things differently.  Learn to bend and adjust.  Learn to improvise.  Learn to be more self-sufficient.

We got this.  We can do it.  We surely didn't get this far in life to be knocked down by a bad economy or bad governments or some shortages!!!!!

I think this speaks volumes.  Not just by growing a garden or having chickens or whatever - your hands NEED to be productive.  You can make GOOD from almost nothing.  Re-inventing, re-thinking, and re-using things is the key!

When you have meat scraps - you have stock!!!!  I don't care if it is chicken, ham, beef, or turkey bones and fat - you can 'cook' them down with water and you have hearty stock!

You have food scraps from preparing veggies - you have stock.  Do the same things with these.

Buy the clearance fruit and veggies - day old stuff.  You can preserve it for the future.  Can, dehydrate or freeze.  Buy the mis-shaped items.  Inside they are still good!

Do what you can to keep things longer and fresher.  I wrap celery in foil - it makes it last much, much longer.  I keep lettuce in a closed container, or a gallon zip-lock bag (with air removed) and I always add a paper towel to absorb moisture.  That and air is what turns the lettuce.

I keep potatoes and onions (apart from each other) in a dark cool spot (not frig).

I wrap bananas in a plastic bag and tightly seal at the stem end - they last 3-4 times longer

Berries - I finally tried the thing I keep seeing.  Keeping fresh berries in a jar!  IT WORKS!  Now I did it differently than some.  I remove berries from pack - did nothing to them and place in a jar and closed.  I will wash and clean when ready to eat.

These are almost 3 weeks old!  I placed in 3 quart jars and refrigerated.  I have one and a half jars left and they are perfect.  I would think this would work for about any berries.

I saw yesterday where a gal did this with cherry tomatoes (just picked) and had kept them for a month on the shelf.  Not sure if I would trust that - but she swore it worked.

Keeping the items out of the air is the key!

Banana peels in water - sit for a few days and you have free fertilizer for plants and garden.  *Don't do this too often or it will burn plants.  Compost the peels then.

Not just bread!  I froze for future use (double bagged).   I see 4 French bread pizzas with a salad for me!!!!  I can cut that loaf in quarters and BOOM pizza.  Fix and freeze.  I see breakfast sandwiches or snacks with the bagels.  I also see a meal with cream cheese and sliced veggies and maybe some meat on a bagel.  I see garlic toasted bagels.  I could make a version of French toast.  THINK DIFFERNTLY!!!!!!

I have a portable dehumidifier in basement - I use that water in the washer.  If no laundry, I pour into a bucket and use to water plants or throw in the rain barrel.

If you have no rain barrels and live in a dry area - just place a bucket in your shower.  That catches all that clean water that just runs down the drain!  Use it to water garden plants.

You all know my mantra by now!!!

Use less meat

Use ALL leftovers in a new way

Buy cheaply

Shop HOME first

Quit being brand loyal

Grow whatever you can

Make sacrifices - you can get by just fine with less

Plate smaller serving sizes - most eat too much, because it is on the plate!!!!!

HUMMUS

It is easy to make at home and is pretty costly at the store.  This is just one tiny example

Now here is the thing!!!!  Many don't have Tahini in the pantry - any nut butters will work!  Cashew, almond, peanut........  I actually use sesame 'oil' - but only about a tablespoon or less, as it is strong.  I use bottled lemon juice as well.  

Save the liquid from the chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and it can be used as a substitute for eggs in baking.

You can flavor hummus with what you have.  Use a little garlic powder or onion powder (if no minced garlic).  Add a little hot sauce if desired.  Maybe some roasted tomatoes or peppers.  

This is just a little example showing that you can make at home - be creative - use everything and save money!!!!!

Do you have freezer fruit that you have been sitting on for a while?  Make jam, jelly, syrup or preserves.  This is a great way to use it up and make something new and useful.  You can even turn this into gifts or barter items.  Maybe sell a few jars.

Here are a couple of things we just don't talk about.  AMERICA still has the cheapest food prices in the world - even with inflation.  YES, that is a fact.  Inflation can continue (hopefully not) and we still would have an advantage on much of the world.

About 50% of the items that people buy at the grocery with their hard earned money is TRASHED!!!  They throw out leftovers, let things go bad, have no vision of what to do with things, throw it away because it hit some 'magic' date!!!!!!  That is disgusting and unacceptable to me.  What they heck is wrong with people?  Would these people be willing to drive down the street and just throw dollar bills out their windows?  Doubtful.

It is shameful and disgusting.

We are citizens of earth - and we need to be more mindful of it and its resources.  We need to be mindful of what we spend and what we use.  THAT, folks is what we CAN CONTROL!!!!!

So do not fret and worry.  We can do this.  We have each other for support and ideas.  We still have 'some' control - use it.

We shall overcome!

Be blessed!